The Symposium dedicated one day to commemorating & honouring the illustrious and courageous work of Ford in the US Navy during the Second World War, heading the Field Photographic Unit and winning two Oscars for his war films. This event, hosted by Ford’s grandson Dan Ford at Collins Barracks in the National Museum of Ireland included a Screening of John Ford’s Oscar Winning Documentary The Battle of Midway; Talks and Discussions surrounding John Ford’s work during WWII; a portrayal of typical WWII troops at the front lines; and Tours of the National Museum‘s Soldiers and Chiefs Exhibition.
As part of the John Ford Ireland - Film Symposium weekend, June 6th-8th in Dublin, one day will be dedicated to commemorating & honouring the illustrious and courageous work of John Ford who served in the US Navy during the Second World War and headed the Field Photographic Unit and won two Oscars for his war films. The event will include: A Screening of John Ford’s Oscar Winning Documentary, The Battle of Midway; Talks and Discussions surrounding John Ford’s work during WWII; a portrayal of typical WWII troops at the front lines; Tours of the National Museum ‘s Soldiers and Chiefs Exhibition and much more.
11am-1pm: SCREENING, LECTURE & DISCUSSION
Free Ticketed event
Screening - The Battle of Midway screening in the Audio Visual Theatre
Lecture - presented by Lar Joye (Curator of Military History Collections)
Discussion - with Dan Ford on Ford at War.
2pm-5pm: WWII THE SOLDIERS EXPERIENCE (OUTDOOR)
FREE to the public – families welcome.
Interactive, Educational & Entertaining Displays & Talks about the Frontline Soldier’s experience of WWII including, Displays & Briefings of WWII Uniforms & Weapons. Delivered by The WW2 Club in Collins Barracks’ Clarke Square.
2pm-5pm: GUIDED TOURS
FREE to the public – families welcome.
Guided tours of the National Museum of Ireland’s Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition.
Event in conjunction with the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks
About John Ford's work during the War:
Rear Admiral Bagley of the Fourteenth Naval District Department of Defence said to Ford “Your courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service.”
Ford served in the US Navy during the Second World War, he headed the Field Photographic Unit. He won two Oscars during this time for his war films, including Best Documentary for the event’s featured film The Battle of Midway. He also shot footage of the D Day landings (the 70th Anniversary of which falls the same weekend as the John Ford Ireland Symposium). He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received off Midway Island in June 1942, The Legion of Merit for his service during WWII in 1945, an Air Medal in 1951 for his distinguished service while filming Naval and Marine forces in Korea for the Documentary that would become ‘This is Korea’. Ford left active service at the rank of Captain and was later placed on the Honorary Retired List in the rank of Rear Admiral in 1951. In 1973 President Richard Nixon presented John Ford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dan Ford, John Ford’s grandson, will attend the Ford at War event.
NB: As a fitting close to the Ford at War event, Ford’s They Were Expendable - a dramatized account of the role of the American PT Boats in the defence of the Philippines in WWII - will be screened at the Savoy Cinema at 18:30 on Sunday June 8th.