I find it a remarkable coincidence that the Royal Navy’s frigate, HMS Cumberland, is involved in the Libyan crisis operating from Malta.

This also happened during the Libyan crisis in July 1958, when the previous HMS Cumberland, a heavy cruiser, was involved. HMS Cumberland, the heavy cruiser, was scrapped the following year and HMS Cumberland, the frigate, is to be scrapped next year.

In July 1958, I took some 8mm cine film as the huge cruiser left Grand Harbour for Libya with troops embarked and lining the aft decks. The cruiser was too large and too close to the Upper Barrakka to be framed in one shot, so I have patched together some still shots to give a complete picture; unfortunately of poor quality.

Because the ship was moving some objects in the background appear twice.