Post by Administrator on Mar 7, 2012 7:53:39 GMT 10
A rare film shot on Castellorizo on 10 September 1943, the day of its liberation by the British, has recently become available.
The film was shot by a French contingent which reached the island soon after a British naval unit had seized the island in the immediate aftermath of the Italian surrender. This was three days prior to the arrival of the Kountouriotis, the first Greek ship to arrive after the island's liberation.
Here are four shots from the film with accompanying commentary:
This image shows the quay area which is virtually unchanged today. In the background is the Italian mercato, or 'Nea Agora'. Two French naval officers may be seen doing their first patrol around the harbourfront, while local children play around them.
This image shows the scene near the square of Mesi tou Yialou. The single-storey building in the background is the cafe of Eleftherios Mazemas which doubled as a billiards room. At centre left, just at the entrance to the cafes of Hatzikomianou and Yiannifou (Sergis), members of the local population converse with some of the Italian troops who have only just surrendered authority to the Allied forces.
Here is a close-up of some of the Italian troops and locals outside the Nea Agora.
And, finally, here is an image that shows some of the Allied vessels in the harbour that morning. Close inspection will reveal locals in small row boats receiving food and other supplies.
This film is a remarkable document that records the situation on the island at a critical moment in its history. In only a few short weeks the island would be heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe and the islanders, already demoralised and starving, shipped to the camps of Cyprus and Gaza.
Nicholas
The film was shot by a French contingent which reached the island soon after a British naval unit had seized the island in the immediate aftermath of the Italian surrender. This was three days prior to the arrival of the Kountouriotis, the first Greek ship to arrive after the island's liberation.
Here are four shots from the film with accompanying commentary:
This image shows the quay area which is virtually unchanged today. In the background is the Italian mercato, or 'Nea Agora'. Two French naval officers may be seen doing their first patrol around the harbourfront, while local children play around them.
This image shows the scene near the square of Mesi tou Yialou. The single-storey building in the background is the cafe of Eleftherios Mazemas which doubled as a billiards room. At centre left, just at the entrance to the cafes of Hatzikomianou and Yiannifou (Sergis), members of the local population converse with some of the Italian troops who have only just surrendered authority to the Allied forces.
Here is a close-up of some of the Italian troops and locals outside the Nea Agora.
And, finally, here is an image that shows some of the Allied vessels in the harbour that morning. Close inspection will reveal locals in small row boats receiving food and other supplies.
This film is a remarkable document that records the situation on the island at a critical moment in its history. In only a few short weeks the island would be heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe and the islanders, already demoralised and starving, shipped to the camps of Cyprus and Gaza.
Nicholas