Ah yes 'ciggie' and Siggie, makes perfect sense. I had always assumed that it was the escape rope hanging down in the pic and as chugalug says it did not reach the ground. I think the chaps at the front of the a/c are the fire crew wearing their protective boots, or they may be the wreck and recovery team who were also issued with similar boots. Not RN ! I think from a previous post the a/c was empty so no shifting of cargo etc. Just the natural tendency of a taildragger to nose over at the slightest opportunity.
Chugalug's mention of the imminent arrival in service of the Herc was the reason many a Hastings was retired early. As I recall we were having autopilot and other problems as well.
Did my last Hastings trip on Dec. 22 1967 in 343 from Luqa via Abingdon to Colerne. Started the Herc course in the new year.