Reach for Glory

The location is set. The properties on North Parade, Southwold, Suffolk and the lighthouse situated on Stradbroke Road as viewed from the sea.

Not quite the correct angle but I could only access the sea via the pier.

The camera pans to pick on John Curlew (Martin Tomlinson) as he cycles into town. Promenade and….

The capture properties remain, but hidden by the greenery.

…….we see him entering East Street in the town of Southwold ….

Not such a clear run for him these days.

…….and then about to enter Market Place as we look towards the sea.

Today he would be facing oncoming traffic.

Having stopped to look at an aircraft’s vapour trail he cycles off down Queen Street.

A few subtle changes if one cares to compare.

But somehow we pick him up on him as he cycles out of town into the countryside. Unidentified location.

He cycles over country roads to meet with his friends. John is late! Greyfriars Monastery ruins, Monastery Hill, Dunwich.

Part of the extensive grounds of the Monastery have been assigned to horses which unfortunately particularly impacts on where one would ideally like to stand with a camera. As is evident, there has been strucural losses since filming but restoration work was carried out in 2008 with further work in 2012 by English Heritage and Suffolk County Council.

They briefly discuss last nights bombing in London and then Lewis Craig (Michael Anderson Jr.), ‘the gang leader’ , leads them in a drink from the stirrup cup to ‘a good hunt’. Greyfriars Monastery ruins, Dunwich.

The sad losses are clearly evident here.

They release a cat from a sack and all head off. Greyfriars Monastery ruins, Dunwich.

Fencing prevented a more accurate alignment.

The cat falls off the cliff into the sea. No tears for the cat when men are actually being killed overseas. So they head back to school in two’s. Greyfriars Monastery ruins, Dunwich looking east towards the sea.

Of necessity, a shot from ground level.

The first day of term starts and the ‘London boys’ make life difficult for new boy Mark Stein (Oliver Grimm), he is Austrian. At the end of the day they go home through the town ‘shooting’ into the air as though they were raiding. Willy Aldrich (Freddie Eldrett) and John Curlew lead the pack. Queen Street looking towards Market Square.

A much less threatening atmosphere these days.

Having seen John Curlew momentarily dream that he was a highly successful fighter pilot we briefly see him on his bicycle pretending to be an aircraft. Unidentified location.

And then a longer sequence of him similarly acting. Unidentified location.

He meets with Mark Stein. Unidentified location.

They cycle off together discussing Mark’s nationality to find that he and his father, now a teacher at the school, are from Vienna. Unidentified location.

Meeting at the beach for a swim the other members of the gang question Mark as to why he is ‘over here’. The Southwold Museum Party suggest Easton Bavents or Covehithe Beach.

The school Cadet Force is assembled. Uniudentified location.

After dispersal Mark walks with his father (George Pravda) before being ‘summoned’ by the gang to join them. Unidentified location.

Whereupon they chase after a lone pupil who's father is a conscientious objector. Junction of Queen St and Lorne Road.

An undisturbed shot taken from the road.

Out of the town…….. York Road looking east back to the town.

The evidence of 'progress'.

…….and further into the countryside. The water tower was also seen in ‘East of Ipswich’.

Substantial background greenery growth in 63 years.

He peddles faster and off the road. Maps and 'Britain from Above' (EAW024300) would suggest that this was at the time of filming a footpath to the 'Pit Stop Café', that operates to this day. Caunsey Road, Southwold, Suffolk.

It looks as though the signpost might still be located on the same mound.

The gang cross the bridge over the River Blyth.

A little more 'Health and Safety' but generally just as it was.

As they finally catch and confront him. He asks “What have I done to you?”, he is punched and falls into the mud.

I can confirm that his landing in the mud would equally happen today.

A church service where the attendees listen to the vicar’s (Arthur Hewlett) sermon. Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Blythburgh, Suffolk

The bench-ends that can be seen here are interesting in themselves.

After the service the vicar asks Captain and Mrs Curlew about their other son Stephen in the army. Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Blythburgh, Suffolk

In retrospect I should have opened the gate to complete the comparative shot.

They decide to call themselves ‘The Grenadiers’. Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, Blythburgh, Suffolk

No congregation whilst I was there, just visitors.

That afternoon John Curlew takes his friend Mark to an uninhabited lonely house, the gangs ‘Headquarters’, where they play. Unknown location.

People are invited to ‘The Red Lion’ pub by Dr Aldrich to celebrate the fact that Lance Freeman (John Rae) has been awarded the Victoria Cross. 2 South Green, Southwold.

It was not a day for outside drinking, unless you were a smoker or wanted to use the mobile.

As the boys watch the adults in the pub John Curlew dreams that it is he, in front of ‘the gang’, that receives the VC from Winston Churchill. The unidentified school premises in the background.

John takes Mark to the cinema with other boys, all of whom leave enthusiastically at the end of the wartime film. ‘Commandos Strike at Dawn’ (1941). The Regal cinema, Ballygate, Beccles, demolished in the 1980’s and replaced by housing 1-3 Old College Close.

A slightly wider shot to show more clearly the result of the re-development.

The group make their way through the town and come across a shop that has a Military Cross medal for sale in the window. No 10 Ballygate, Beccles now a house.

The premises now as a house.

They decide to see if they can buy it. The shop is now No 10 Ballygate. No 3 and No 5 Ballygate, Beccles in the background.

The other side of the road remains much the same.

Having ‘conned’ the shop owner (Edward Evans) into selling it for 6/8d rather than 10/-, they run off. No 6 Ballygate, Beccles to the left with St. Michael the Archangel in the background. With thanks to the Southwold Museum Party for identifying the location of this sequence.

Another shop turned into a house it would appear.

To meet with Mark in the 'High Street', although this is actually Queen Street.

A break in the traffic allowed a considered shot.

They walk menacingly to the junction with Pinkney’s Lane where Lewis shouts out, “Arthur Chettle”

I had to be content with a ground level shot.

The gang spot him and his companions at the East Street end of Pinkney’s Lane.

Once again a ground level camera position.

The ‘Chettle gang’ approach. Capture largely included to reflect the property changes in Pinkney’s Lane.

A clear record of the various property changes that have taken place over the years.

They confront each other where they agree to meet at the ‘Manor House’, seven each side to fight. The cottage doorway in the background where the inhabitants come out is now a window to the right of the wall anchor plate.

A boring shot, but it records the change.

John says to Mark that “tomorrow, one of us will have the medal”. Again, capture largely for historic purposes. Pinkney’s Lane.

A further record of the changes.

John runs home. Lorne Road, Southwold looking west. Identified by the Southwold Museum Party.

In retrospect I should have been further into the road, after all, no traffic.

Jumps onto the garden of No 6 Lorne Road (Happy Cottage) before jumping down into the …….

A telegraph pole and a bush have sprung up since 1962

………rear passageway of No 3 Park Lane and to the back door of the house where he sees that his brother Steven (Alexis Kanner) is home, a conscientious objector.

A fine balcony and staircase has now been installed.

John visits Mark who is afraid to go to school as the ‘Gang’ blame him for running off and their eventual thrashing by the ‘Chettle Gang’. They wish to ‘punish’ him in a pretend shooting. He appears to be looking up Queen Street from the small bay window of the property on the corner with Pinkney’s Lane.

I was not afforded the luxury of a visit to the room itself.

The following morning the town turns out to welcome Lawrence Freeman home. An entrance/exit to the unidentified school.

Mark leaves home for school and ‘to face his punishment’. Unknown location.

The sentence is carried out, but one shot was not a blank. The truth has to be told.

The welcome home celebrations continue unaware of the tragedy that has occurred. Queen Street looking towards Market Square.

It would have been very difficult to assemble that many people during my visit.

The town’s bobby (Frederick Piper) leads the boys to the police station. Pinkney’s Lane looking towards East Street from Queen Street.

I really didn't expect the 'AIR RAID SHELTER' sign to still be there.

Unable to cross the parade they have to stand and watch Lance Freeman and Diane Aldrich (Olivia Breeze) pass by in the 1937 Bentley 41/4 Litre H.J.Mulliner Drophead Coupe. More details regarding the car and its ownership can be read at https://www.realcar.co.uk/view-cars/2043. Queen Street looking towards Market Square.

Celebrations clearly over.