HMS Belfast, London Videos

HMS Belfast filmed in action during the Korean War, bombarding the Amgak peninsula at the mouth of the Taedong River, 1952. In her two years of service in Korea, HMS Belfast saw more action than at any point during the Second World War, firing more than 8,000 rounds of ammunition from her 6-inch guns. Blockading the coast along North Korea and shelling shore targets in support of United Nations and South Korean forces on land, HMS Belfast spent more than 400 days on patrol during the conflict. Read more about HMS Belfast and the Korean War here: https://bit.ly/3XPgFc2

HMS Belfast in Korea | IWM
Serving in the Arctic convoys, at the Battle of the North Cape and during the Normandy landings, HMS Belfast was no stranger to active service. But it was during the Korean War where she was to see more action than ever before. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3XPgFc2

Battle of North Cape | HMS Belfast | IWM
On Christmas Day 1943, the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and five destroyers left their base in Altenfjord, northern Norway to intercept two Arctic Convoys, transporting essential supplies to the Soviet Union. HMS Belfast would play an important role in the engagement that followed - The Battle of North Cape. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VCWdMC

HMS Belfast and the Korean War | IWM
Stationed in the Far East at the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, HMS Belfast was to play a pivotal role at the forefront of the intense action to come. Watch in full and find out more: https://bit.ly/3XPgFc2

John Harrison on HMS Belfast | IWM
Veteran, John Harrison recounts his experience of a magnetic mine hitting HMS Belfast in the Firth of Forth, 1939. The damage to the ship was so severe that she was out of action for three years. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43g1jA8

Veteran John Harrison on HMS Belfast | IWM
"It was just like... Heaven"... Veteran John Harrison describes his first impressions of HMS Belfast, joining her crew in 1939 and serving off the coast of Great Britain and in the Atlantic. Watch the interview in full: https://bit.ly/43g1jA8

The Guns of HMS Belfast | IWM
During her life in service, HMS Belfast's primary armament was her 6-inch guns, which required over 200 men working over 8 decks to keep firing. In this video we take a look at each step required to fire the guns, from the Gun Direction Platform to the Shell Room. Watch in full: https://bit.ly/3VhfgvI

St Patrick's Day | Band of the Irish Guards
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today also marks 86 years since HMS Belfast was launched on 17 March 1938. This year we were pleased to welcome the Band of the Irish Guards onboard for a very special performance, which you can watch in full below. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=411855098091223 Credit: Band of the Irish Guards © UK MOD Crown Copyright 2024

Ron Yardley | HMS Belfast | IWM
What was it like to serve on board HMS Belfast at Christmas? Ron ‘Norman’ Yardley was a wireless telegraphist on the ship during the Korean War. He was just 18 years old in 1950 and serving far from home that Christmas. In this video Ron remembers how his parents sent a traditional treat to him. Learn more about Christmas onboard HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3PEMzE6

HMS Belfast in the Far East 1961-1962
Feeling the heat? Did you know that whilst stationed in the Far East, the sailors of HMS Belfast used to cool off in shark infested waters by swimming inside a big net attached to the ship. In this clip the crew can be seen enjoying taking some free time to swim and play water polo. © MGH 4488

HMS Belfast and D-Day
On this day in 1944, HMS Belfast led the way bombarding two of the five beaches chosen for the D-Day landings. This was Operation Neptune - the naval component of D-Day involving almost 7,000 vessels. Watch IWM curator John Delaney explore the significance of what the ship and her crew did that day - and hear the voices of the men who were on board and witnessed the events first-hand. Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp

Deck hockey on HMS Belfast, 1961-1962
Fighting fit! For the several hundred men on board HMS Belfast, sport was a way to blow off a bit of steam. Apart from the regular physical training sessions, the men would play a game peculiar to the Royal Navy called deck hockey. This would have been like traditional hockey, but with a coil of old rope as a puck, and a ‘pitch’ cluttered with all the obstacles presented by the ship’s deck. In this clip, the crew of HMS Belfast can be seen playing a game of hockey on the Quarterdeck, 1961-1962. Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp © MGH 4696

Crossing the Line Ceremony - HMS Belfast
The ‘crossing the line’ ceremony is one of the oldest traditions in the Royal Navy and takes place when a vessel crosses the equator. As part of the tradition crew members who have not previously ‘crossed the line’ must pay homage to King Neptune and his 'royal court'. Donning elaborate costumes, the crew of HMS Belfast can be seen here participating in the ceremony on return to Singapore from Australia, 24 September 1961. The M.A.A (Master-at-Arms) Ken Etheridge is pictured in seaweed rags dressed up as King Neptune, with his queen L.T.O (Leading Torpedo Operator) Osbourne. As part of the ceremony, small presentations were made to the 'royal court'. This included a medallion chain for Captain Morgan Giles, and a green beret to Lt. (R.M) Purser. © MGH 4488 Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp

A Shackleton MR.1A of 205 Squadron RAF drops mail
Onboard HMS Belfast you can find the Mail Room where post would have been sorted for the crew. Post from home often provided the only link with family during long months at sea. ‘Anybody in England that wanted to write to any ship in the Royal Navy, the address was always the same: “HMS Belfast” or whatever name ship it was, "care of GPO London”. And that address would find any ship in the world’- Keith Davie, Boy Seaman, 1948-1950 In this video a Shackleton MR.1A of 205 Squadron RAF drops mail to be retrieved at sea and brought on board. Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp © ADM 2129

Homecoming of an Unknown Warrior
At 11am on the 11 of November, we commemorate the signing of the Armistice which marked the end of the First World War. In this video titled Homecoming of an Unknown Warrior, the coffin of the Unknown Warrior is transported from France onboard HMS Verdun to Dover before being laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on the 11 November 1920. Any visitors to HMS Belfast on Friday 11 November are welcome to join us on the Quarterdeck to hear the ringing of the ship's bell before a two-minute silence to remember all of those who have suffered and died in conflict. © IWM 505

HMS Belfast Opening Ceremony
On the 14 October 1971, after 24 years of active service, HMS Belfast took up her moorings in a specially dredged berth in the Pool of London. IWM had been investigating the possibility of preserving a Second World War cruiser from as early as 1967, which led to the formation of a trust headed up by one of HMS Belfast’s former captains, Rear-Admiral Sir Morgan Morgan-Giles. This trust eventually succeeded in salvaging HMS Belfast from the scrapyard, safeguarding her for future generations and today HMS Belfast is the last remaining vessel of her type. In this clip from IWM Collections, Belfast can be seen sailing under Tower Bridge before taking up her permanent moorings. Learn more about the life of HMS Belfast: https://bit.ly/3cB8Bsp © ADM 4524

The Engine & Boiler Rooms | HMS Belfast | IWM
During the Battle of North Cape 1943, HMS Belfast operated at full power for 17 hours straight as she pursued the powerful German battle cruiser, Scharnhorst. Scharnhorst was one of the most dangerous German warships of the Second World War. After a running battle, under hammering gunfire, and hit by torpedoes from British and Norwegian ships, Scharnhorst was sunk just after 7:30pm on the 26 December 1943. What was it like for the crew working below deck in the Engine and Boiler Rooms during the battle? Here, Conservation Manager, Andy Curran describes what the experience would have been like in the latest video from the IWM Youtube channel. Watch in Full: https://bit.ly/3Vv2G9E

HMS Belfast in the Far East 1961-1962_©MGH 4488
Did you know that the sailors of HMS Belfast used to cool off in the shark infested waters of the Far East by swimming inside a big net attached to the ship? In this clip the crew can be seen enjoying taking some free time to enjoy a swim and a game of water polo. © MGH 4488

It is with great sadness that we announce that Bernie Bristoll, a volunteer on HMS Belfast, passed away last week. Bernie began volunteering with IWM in March 2018 and also served onboard as a Leading Telegraphist during the ship’s final commission in 1962-63. Bernie greeted every visitor with a smile and a friendly comment as he sat in the Bridge Wireless Office with his Morse Key, album of photographs, and a never-ending anthology of stories. On most days, Bernie refused to take a lunch break, and would often insist on staying beyond the end of his 'watch' so as not to disappoint anyone in the queue waiting patiently to meet him. Everyone who had the privilege to meet Bernie will have a different story to tell. All will have experienced the delight as he tapped back their name in fluid Morse Code far more rapidly than they had 'transmitted' it to him on their Morse key, and seen the expressions of wonderment on the faces of our youngest visitors when he correctly announced their names. Smiles and laughter characterised every encounter with him. The warmth and generosity with which Bernie shared his memories was treasured by members of the HMS Belfast Association, the ship's staff and volunteers, and the thousands of visitors who regularly named him as the favourite part of their visit.

HMS Belfast arrives at the Pool of London 1971
Today, 21 October marks 50 years since HMS Belfast took up residence on the River Thames and opened to the public as a museum on Trafalgar Day 1971. This footage, captured a week earlier shows HMS Belfast travelling under Tower Bridge through the Pool of London. Learn more about HMS Belfast and plan your visit today: https://bit.ly/3aWqOfF © IWM ADM 4524