James Webster recalls his time as a submariner and how on a visit to Gibraltar during the war he was berthed alongside HMS Maidstone. He recollects how Gibraltar was floodlit by Spain and why Gibraltar abandoned the blackout so not to stand out from the rest of Spain. He recalls how the Rock was heavily fortified with anti-aircraft guns, the air raids by the Italians and attack by Italian frogmen and rumours of an Italian submarine base across the bay. He also provides an account of the social life in Gibraltar.

Copyright Imperial War Museum (Ser 204 / IWM 013205R05)

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IWM Reel 5 Gibraltar (8 mins 42 secs)

Webster, J B – transcript