Come face to face with a group of sailors posing with the ship’s cat on board HMS Belfast in this scene reproduced
from IWM’s Film Archive.

During the Second World War, cats played a vital role on board warships. Valued for their practicality in protecting food stores and maintaining hygiene, they also provided sailors with comfort and companionship during the hard realities of war.

Using rare archival footage from IWM’s unique collection, this flip book brings to life a group of sailors posing with the ship’s mascot on board HMS Belfast during the Second World War.