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Bluejackets' Drill and Exercises - Volley Firing (1898)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

In front of the three-deck gunboat 'Duke of Wellington' at the Portsmouth Naval Depot, sailors form into two ranks at the quayside. The front rank kneels. All the sailors take aim and fire twice. They stand to attention before they break into double time and run a curved path away from the quayside. As they do so another two ranks of sailors form and run close behind them. They carry rifles with bayonets. Another group of sailors pass. Three of these sailors beat drums.