[William Darbyshire Home Movies: Reel 2]

William (Billy) Darbyshire (1903–1979) was a film enthusiast and traveller who emigrated with his parents from England to Australia in 1911. It may have been this early trip that influenced a young Billy to travel the world later in life and film his travels as he went.

First travelling to Africa for work and to various destinations whilst in service during WWII, Billy would continue to travel after the war throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific and North America. It was in this period, during the 1960s, that he purchased an 8mm movie camera which resulted in a collection of films that capture his travels, taking in the sites of the world from Asia to Europe and Africa to the Americas.

The films were originally made using Standard 8mm film. The quality of the film can be a little challenging as it is jumpy, damaged and scratched at times.

In this film, Billy travels to Switzerland and Copenhagen and then on to Italy. A feature of the film is the sculpture of ‘The Little Mermaid’, a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen that sits on a rock by the waterside at the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen, Denmark. Based on the fairy tale of the same name by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, the small and unimposing statue has been a major tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1913.

Passengers aboard the ship also indulge in some fun dress-up style entertainment.

Selected highlights list:
00:00:42:00 on board a ship
00:00:44:00 a train station and filming from the moving train
00:00:55:00 looking into the cargo hold of a ship where we see cars
00:01:25:00 a riverside park and sculpture
00:01:53:00 a public square and clocktower
00:02:40:00 a boy on a bicycle and a Volkwagon model car in the square
00:03:29:00 a duck and ducklings cross a path in a park
00:03:55:00 a passenger barge on a river in a city
00:04:54:00 a city fountain
00:04:57:00 the sculpture of ‘The Little Mermaid’ in Copenhagen, Denmark
00:05:17:00 wooden house in Christiania, Denmark
00:05:39:00 filming from a train
00:06:09:00 rail crossing over a road and pretty station
00:06:20:00 examples of 1960s European cars
00:06:40:00 shipping
00:06:59:00 horse and carriage rides in an Italian city
00:07:17:00 fountain in a piazza
00:11:50:00 views of what could be the port of Naples
00:12:10:00 train travelling by the camera
00:12:18:00 view from a ship deck
00:12:42:00 shipping in a harbour
00:12:55:00 a town built dramatically into the mountain behind it
00:13:10:00 small boats laden with gear or cargo
00:13:48:00 passengers dress up for a costume party on board their ship
00:14:30:00 ships and boats in a port harbour