Before becoming an actor David Niven had been a young officer in the Highland Light Infantry, but became bored by the routine of a peacetime army that gave little chance of promotion. On the outbreak of war he felt it was his duty to return to Britain and serve, even though he could have stayed in America. Winston Churchill later said to him "You didn't have to come, but it would have been despicable had you not done so !" One suspects that his earlier service and the time he spent in America gave him a great deal of empathy with those under his command and made him well-liked by them. He was modest about his wartime service with "Phantom", but deserves a lot of respect because his job was to go and find the enemy - in effect, to go and get shot at !
I saw a photograph of Niven in the full dress uniform of the Highland Light Infantry a long time ago . Only mentioned the Rifle brigade and commandos here however (?) P/s oh just saw the above comment , that explains it . By the way one actor not mentioned here was Ray Milland , he was an officer in the Royal Horse Guards before the war.
@@Kevin-mx1vi When being asked on his preference of Regiment, he wanted, if I recall, the Scots Guards or the Black Watch and blithely commented "anyone but the Highland Light Infantry" as they wore the "Trews" and not the kilt. The MoD of course are not known for their humour, and he was posted to the HLI.
I really expected to find Richard Todd in this odd list. Some of these are pretty sketchy, but Todd was the real deal - and the fact he was a Paratrooper on D-day near the Pegasus Bridge and later played the part of Howard.... how can he not be on this list!
@@dko9048 Richard Todd - Lt in the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion. His battalion parachuted in after glider-borne forces had landed to capture the Pegasus Bridge near Caen - they were the Ox&Bucks under Howard.
@@HankD13 "Up the Ox and Bucks!! Up the Ox and Bucks!!" is what he shouts when storming the bridge as Howard. 'Hold until relieved' were their orders, and that's what they did. The rest is history.
Others who served are: John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe, Clive Dunn, John Laurie and Arnold Ridley (both WWI and WWII vets), Ralph Richardson, Richard Todd, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Leslie Howard to name a few. The French mime Marcel Marceau gets a special mention as he was a French Resistance fighter (later joining the French army), who saved 70 Jewish children by pretending to be a scout leader and walked them to safety into Switzerland. A brave man!!
Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe of course went on to form “The Goons”, they were all “bomb happy” soldiers, Spike was shell shocked during the Italian campaign, his war memoirs go into some detail about this, he blames his commanding officer who sent him back to the front line after being released from hospital on the grounds that “it would be good for his morale”. Of course it had the opposite effect. His COs response was to demote him to private. After the war Spike became severely bipolar…
I think part of the magic of the war films produced in the 20 years after the war was the fact that so many of the actors had actually served themselves. Richard Todd's performance in the Longest Day assaulting Pegasus bridge being perhaps the most notable as he was there for real in 1944.
Peter Butterworth. Before his acting career started, Butterworth served as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War.[2] While flying in an attack on the Dutch coast off Den Helder in 1940 his Fairey Albacore was shot down by Messerschmitt Bf 109s killing one crew member and wounding the other. After a forced landing on the island of Texel he was captured, becoming a prisoner of war (POW). Sent to the Dulag Luft POW transit camp, at Oberursel near Frankfurt, he later escaped in June 1941 through a tunnel, covering 27 miles (43 km) over three days before a member of the Hitler Youth captured him. Afterwards he joked that he could never work with children again. Two other attempts to escape were made during his time there but he never got beyond the camp grounds. He was subsequently sent to Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, the scene of The Great Escape. Whilst at Stalag Luft III he met Talbot Rothwell, who later went on to write many of the Carry On films in which Butterworth was to star.[3] Having never performed in public before his imprisonment, Butterworth formed a duo with Rothwell and sang in the camp shows. They delivered a song which Rothwell called "The Letter Edged In Black". The performance was followed by some comic repartee which, according to Butterworth's account, provoked enough boos and hisses to have the desired effect of drowning out the sounds of an escape tunnel being dug by other prisoners‘ escape party. After the war, Butterworth kept a photo of the concert party line-up, something which offered inspiration to him when starting a career in acting.[4] Butterworth was one of the vaulters covering for the escapers during the escape portrayed by the book and film The Wooden Horse. Butterworth later auditioned for the film in 1949 but "didn't look convincingly heroic or athletic enough" according to the makers of the film. Within the same camp as Butterworth and Rothwell were the future actors Rupert Davies and John Casson, who was the son of Lewis Casson and Sybil Thorndike.[3] All five remained very close friends after the war ended and they all appeared on This Is Your Life when Butterworth was a subject of the programme in 1975.[5]
My father was an actor and served in WW2 in the Australian Army. He played many roles - usually he was acting the goat, acting the fool, acting out or acting sick. He served with distinction in the 2/13th Malingerers and Malcontents and in a meteoric career, rapidly rose to the rank of acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. He was mention numerous times in dispatches as "always whinging." During a furious battle against the Japanese, near Lae, in New Guinea, he was handed his general discharge papers and told to "f**k off to ( Port ) Moresby and don't come back!" His Lee-Enfield rifle was confiscated because it had never been fired and thus was in perfect working order. Back home in Aussie, he became a freelance wholesaler of motor fuels, tyres, silk stockings and American cigarettes.
He was also an intelligence officer involved in the planning of Operation Market Garden, and went on to play General 'Boy 'Browning in 'A Bridge Too Far'.
'Goon' Michael Bentine was an RAF Intelligence Officer, known to other RAF personnel as a 'Spy'. He was one of the first to enter the liberated Bergen Belsen concentration camp. He described it in 3 brief but so powerful words - The Ultimate Blasphemy...
Peter Butterworth, comic actor perhaps most famous for his roles in the Carry On films, was in the Fleet Air Arm during the War. He was shot down and taken prisoner, but when in transit to a POW camp he escaped and was captured after getting 27 miles by a member of the Hitler Youth. He later joked that he would never work with children again! The best part of his story though is that he was one of the vaulters during the famous 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III. After the War he auditioned to play himself in a movie adaptation of the event but was turned down because he didn't look 'convincingly heroic or athletic enough'!
Donald Pleasance.During World War II, Pleasence was sent to serve in the Royal Air Force.[3] He served with 166 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command.[3] His war plane was shot down in August 1944, during a raid on Agenville.[3] He was placed in the German prisoner-of-war camp. Pleasence was released before the war's end in 1945.[3] Career
Was told to butt out by John Sturges when he offered some advice on German POW camps during the filming of the Great Escape. Sturges was advised by others about Donald's past experience at Stalag Luft 1 . From then on he was asked to provide technical advice.
11} Richard Todd - Served in The Paratroop Regiment and was part of Major Howard's relief on Pegasus Bridge on D-Day. Todd went on to play Major Howard in 'The Longest Day'.
When Christopher Lee was receiving instructions from a director on how he should play a certain scene, the producer said: "I want you to imagine the sound of someone being stabbed to death." The director cringed when Lee smiled gently and said: "I don't have to *imagine* what it sounds like."
This has been put together by someone who hasn't a clue. It has Brit Denholn Elliott as getting the Purple Heart & flying 25 missions with the US Airforce. It also claims he starred in 'THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN'. That's a load of codswallop Denholn Elliott served in the RAF in WW2 as an wireless operator/air gunner. Was shot down in 1942 and became a POW where he started acting.
Denholm Elliott most certainly did NOT serve in the USAF during WW2, he served in the RAF , in Bomber Command in fact, as a navigator i think. I seen to recall that he was shot down and possibly became a Prisoner of war?
Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor Who served in the Royal Navy as well as Jon Pertwee. He served on Motor Gun Boats and took part in a major battle with German E Boats fought in the English channel in 1944.
What about Donald Pleasance! Miss out the guy who played an escaping POW and actually was a POW! At Stalag Lift 1 after being shot down after 60 raids across Germany in Lancasters!
Hugs to Niven! Eliot got around, didn't he? Chris Lee was just a badass, and the fact that he didn't really talk about it increases my respect. Burton was probably a pain in the ass to work with. Pertwee was likely a badass as well. Good on Benny Hill, probably great to work with, but always chasing the nurses around.
You forgot Richard Todd he actually landed at Pegasus bridge the night before D day then went on to play his actual commanding officer in the D Day movie The Longest Day.
I can't watch "The Longest Day" without remembering those scenes of him at that bridge, remembering his orders -- "Hold until relieved... Hold until relieved..."
Should have included Esmond Knight. Served aboard HMS Prince of Wales and wounded in the Battle of the Denmark Strait when a shell hit the bridge. Then in the film Sink the Bismarck, played the role of Captain of Prince of Wales which included that shell hit. Imagine the PTSD re-enacting the battle that almost killed you.
Yes, he lost the sight for a while. I think his sight came back but it was some time later. Imagine at a dinner party someone saying ,pointing at his scars, "I say old chap how did you get those" and he replying "Bismarck" How cool would that be.
His daughter was the actress Rosalind Knight known for The St Trinians films, early Carry ons and most of all playing the legendary Mrs Cresswell in Only Fools And Horses.
According to his book, Bring on the Empty Horses, David Niven was a guest on a yacht off the coast of California the day war broke out. He did not return to Britain till several weeks later.
The first three Doctors in Doctor Who (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and John Pertwee) all served during World War 2. There is not much information about Troughton’s wartime experience, but he served as an officer on Motor Gun Boats in the English Channel. Pertwee said if half the stories told about Troughton were true, the man was a absolute lunatic (as a fighting sailor).
Left out quite a few. Like Peter Ustinov (served in WW2, got 2 Oscars), Rodger Moore (Post WW2, Captain in the Royal Army Service Corps)... Not all served in the war but conscription had many european actors of the 1950s/60s/70s with prior service.
In the film longest Day he played his commanding officer and at one point was talking to himself as another played Todd. I forget the title but I read Todd's book which was a good read especially as he did a lot of training in Yorkshire where I live so I knew the places he named.
Almost.... Todd was a parachute regiment officer on DDAY , his battalion linked up with Maj Howard’s men on Pegasus Bridge. Todd was the int officer for 7th Bn and he met and shook hands with John Howard on the Bridge. In the film Todd, plays John Howard, an d Todd shakes hands with a Para Regt officer ( ie himself)👍
Todd wanted play himself but told he was too old so he played the part of his commanding officer. A young actor played the part of Todd. Todd even wore his original beret, I believe.
Jonny Briggs, known for his time in Coronation street in many films. He was in the 8th Royal Tank Regiment, as I was, but before my time, I think he was national service. He had been invited to reunions of the Regiment but never came.
And was turned down for the role of playing himself in a film about the escape because the producers considered him 'not convincingly heroic or athletic enough'.
You forgot Anthony Quayle... He was a British Army officer who was an area commander of The Auxiliary Units (a quazi-military unit using irregular warfare, if or when, the Nazi's invaded Great Britain). He later joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
Dear old Arnold Ridley, bayoneted in the stomach during the battle of the Somme while serving in the Somerset Light Infantry. Arthur Lowe served in Egypt where he learned Arabic. Clive Dunn was taken prisoner in Greece and spent four years as a POW. John Laurie served in the HAC during WW1.
David Niven recalled that he was stopped by American troops and asked a baseball related question in an attempt to ensure that he wasn't a spy. He admitted that he hadn't got a clue but advised them that he had once starred in a film with Ginger Rogers.
Paranoia reigned during battle of bulge because of english speaking germans infiltrated behind lines Even monty was held captive by us troops Other americans held because of Insufficient knowledge of certain Questions!
The TV presenter Raymond Baxter served in the RAF as a fighter pilot for most of WWII. He said that ended the war with the greatest respect for the US Army as they it were the only military during the war who had ever managed to shoot him down.
Denholm Elliott did not serve in the USAF but the RAF - In the Second World War, he joined the Royal Air Force, training as a wireless operator/air gunner and serving with No. 76 Squadron RAF under the command of Leonard Cheshire.[7] On the night of 23/24 September 1942, his Handley Page Halifax DT508[8] bomber took part in an air raid on the U-boat pens at Flensburg, Germany. The aircraft was hit by flak and subsequently ditched in the North Sea near Sylt, Germany. Only Elliott and two crewmen survived, and he spent the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp in Silesia. While imprisoned, he became involved in amateur dramatics
Originally, when he returned to the UK at the outbreak of WW2, Niven wanted to join the RAF as a fighter pilot. He was knocked back because of his age. At 27 he was considered too old to be a fighter pilot!
I kind of know how that feels : when I went into the US Navy in '83, I turned 27 in boot camp -- just over the age limit to volunteer for submarine duty!
You tube video of Niven on the Dick Cavett show explaining how he got an Iron Cross outside of Cherbourg 3 days after D day. German fighter plane was supposed to drop a bag of them to the German defenders of Cherbourg and missed. Bag was picked up by a friend of Nivens (US Navy Lt.)who gave him one.
Viewers may also look up the biographies of Claude Raines, Ronald Coleman, Leslie Howard, Herbert Marshall, and, especially, Basil Rathbone, for their distinguished service in WW 1.
Not forgetting Nigel Bruce, of course, who played Dr Watson opposite Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. Seriously injured by machine gun fire in 1915. Don't forget Arnold Ridley as well. Seriously injured in close quarter fighting in WW1, including a bayonet to his groin, shrapnel to his legs and a German rifle butt to the head. He re-enlisted in 1939 and served with the BEF in France.
The computer voice was bad enough, but the inaccuracies were unforgivable. And just how could Denholm Elliot be a tail gunner on an American plane in the Pacific, and in a prison camp in Silesia? That is probably the most glaring example, but every actor had inaccuracies of a lesser sort. The descriptions of their military service and civvy life afterwards are bizarre.
Yes, a load of rubbish isn't it? Denholm Elliott serving on a B29 (as if!), which incedentally didn't even go into service until 1944, before flying in an RAF Halifax in 1942, and shot down and taken prisoner! How much of this crap are we supposed to believe?
@@amsuther And then there is Paul Newman who was a turret gunner on TBM Avengers, who flew combat missions while flying off the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill.
Herbert Marshall deserves a mention. He had to have his left leg amputated in 1917 after being shot in the knee while serving in France during the First World War. He returned to acting after the war, and visited hospitals during the Second World War to support amputees and encourage them to remain positive.
I saw Herbert Marshall in person in 1961, when he made a personal appearance at our local movie theater for his film "Five Weeks in a Balloon"! I knew that he lost a leg in WWI, but was amazed at how well he walked on his artificial limb! R.I.P.!
@@anthonysillett6678 He, himself, alluded to it, but others more knowledgeable on the subject note that no-one in that area of service could remember serving with him. Many feel that he hinted doing more than his actual service was. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3165860/How-film-legend-Christopher-Lee-heroic-war-record-claimed-SAS-veteran-Nazi-hunter-stories-don-t-add-up.html www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11742636/Sir-Christopher-Lees-SAS-war-record-was-hammed-up-historian-claims.html
Jon Pertwee wasn't transferred off HMS Hood - he was left behind on Orkney (luckily for him) when the Hood left in a hurry to chase the Bismark. He joined the next available ship, HMS Rodney, which played a large part in sinking Bismark
Well yeah duh, being a Time Lord, Pertwee knew the Hood's fate and ensured he didn't sail with her. He wanted to warn HMS Hood's captain, but couldn't for fear of disrupting the space-time continuum.
Read the wiki page on Christopher Lee's activities in WW2. Volunteered with the Finns to fight the Soviet Army, he said that he would have been killed if he had known how to fire a rifle and ski at the same time, he tripped over a live bomb in a British airfield, piloted British warplanes and strafed and bombed Rommel's Afrika Corp. fought with the Gurkhas at Monte Cassino in Italy, and hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius three days before it erupted. Talked about living a charmed life during combat.
Lees known service reads like the a proto Bond and yes theres a lot thats still buried with him. At 6',7 " he was a practiced swordsman and connected to old European aristocracy.. And a expert on the life and works of JRR Tolkien ... Probably mutch to the irritation of the Director.
Niven was threatened by Hollywood if he dared to leave and enlist to fight for his country. They told him that if he left he would never work in Hollywood again, he defied them and went. A brave man in more ways than one.
An unfortunate addendum to Benny Hill's life is that - though he was a millionaire - he lived extremely frually and died alone in his apartment. It was only some weeks later that the authorities forced open the door to his apartment and found Benny, dead, still sitting in his chair with the TV on. RIP.
I think it was Michael Caine who was returning from a patrol with a squad of about 5. They came across a unit of Chinese soldiers outside their British camp. They couldn’t go around, and they were outnumbered 5 to 1. They decided to just run, top speed, through the Chinese and keep running. It worked. The Chinese were so surprised, they never reacted.
Capt. Wm. Claude Rains was a hero during WW1 His voice was nearly destroyed during a gas attack. The rasp in his voice-very sexy- was the result of scarring on his vocal chords. Ralph Bellamy and Ronald Colman were also wounded in WW1. 'Lest we forget/ lest we forget"🌹Sorry I could not find a red poppy for these brave and gallant gentlemen. A long time ago, there were men whose handsome faces were the reflection of angel souls- not angels that sing, the angels that who fight in the Army of General Michael against evil. Such noble men are no more.
Denholm Elliott joined the Royal Air Force, training as a wireless operator/air gunner and serving with No. 76 Squadron RAF under the command of Leonard Cheshire.[
Denholm Elliott did not fly in the US Army Air Corps, nor did he appear in the Magnificent Seven. If he was shot down and captured in 1942, and spent the rest of the war as a POW he could not have flown in a B 29, because they did not enter service until years later.
The USAF and Magnificent Seven actor was Charles Bronson, you can understand how they got confused as Denholm Elliott was well know for his "Hardman" roles LOL
David Niven nearly got himself shot during the Battle of the Bulge. He was behind American lines when the battle began and soon found himself on the front line due to the German advance. He came upon a U.S. sentry but didn't know the answer to the security question the sentry asked. Luckily for Niven the sentry was familiar enough with Niven to know about his movies and this convinced the sentry that Niven was who he claimed to be.
Army Commando actually, the first Commandos were Army units, and Phantom was an Intelligence gathering and wireless reporting Regiment, also had F Sqn operating in support of the SAS
Where is Richard Todd? Should be number 1 on the list, Parachuted into Normandy in the first wave and supported the holding of Pegasus Bridge.. Went on to Play John Howard in the Longest Day... Did it for real and then played it in the film.
Not many people know of Denholm Eliot's nuanced and subtle performance in the Magnificent Seven. He played the Invisible Swordsman for which he won the Purple Heart.
When I was a Kid, I met a WAAF named Joan Pryce. She danced with Niven and Noel Coward at the NAAFI near Dover. She said that Rex Harrison was RAF but wouldn't talk to anybody less than Air Vice Marshall.
Why has Richard Todd not been included? He served in The Ox and Bucks Airborne Glider Batallion on D.Day and he played the part of his CO. Major John Howard when the film "The Longest Day" was made.
They have combine his record with Charles Branson, sloppy C&P work, computer voice and incompetent proofing. Are well what can you expect from a list that left off Richard Todd and Nigel Bruce.
He obviously wasn't - Lord knows where this came from... Charles Bronson was a B-29 gunner and one of The Magnificent Seven. Some seriously bad editing at work here; makes one wonder what else is wrong.
If DE was in a German PoW camp how did he serve (presumably still as RAF) as a gunner on an American B-29 in the Pacific?!!!! Would the author care to review this entry, please?
You forgot Patrick macnee of The Avengers he served under the Royal Navy some years later in this country upon his death he was given full military honors by the US Navy even though he did serve under the king it was due to him because he was Allied of the war
There's about a dozens more famous Brit actors who were overlooked. Did you know actor and comedian Billy Connelly served in the Paras along with Lewis Collins? Jon Finch, Bear Grylles, and Ian Yule were in the SAS.
@@christineroberts4018 Because getting it wrong draws more reaction which gets more comments which makes more money for the host. Look at how many more comments and hits this page got because of Denholm Elliott. People including myself have the urge to spot errors. It's human nature. Social media exploits that.
@@christineroberts4018 Well, if doing the right thing was easy, then everyone would be doing it. New technology always gets abused. First it was the internet. Now social media.
Wheres Richard Todd? He saw more action than any of them put together. Just being at the battle Pegasus Bridge on D day after going in by gliders. That man had balls.
Hi, I was just about to write my opinion and thought I had better read all the comments. You are correct, I have even heard Blessed say that he was in The Parachute Regiment during his National Service. Bollocks, he served in the RAF Regiment (I checked Wikipedia! The only way he could have got into the Regiment would have been if he signed up for three years in the regular army. I came across a few of them in the early sixties, signing up for that extra year brought them up to regulars pay rate. NS were paid 4 shillings a day less National Insurance etc rounded down to £1 per week. Once a Para, always a Para! Cheers mate. Harera
I would wonder 💭in old films how they got the military things on point ie saluting, marching , weapons handling etc. Only people who’ve been in the forces would spot certain things.
I don't think the actor Denholm Elliott served in USAF (5:18), because one, it didn't exist, it was USAAF, and he served in RAF, as Wireless Op/air gunner in 76 Sqn and actually spent a good part of his service as POW, according to the video, at the same time as his apparent service in USAAF. Christ knows where they got that from.
Lots of inaccuracies & mistakes! After passing through the Royal Military College Sandhurst David Niven was commissioned into the HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY. He left the Arme for an acting career. When the war broke out he re-enlisted in the RIFLE BRIGADE.
Others of note are Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson, both Fleet Air Arm pilots, and Michael Redgrave, Royal Navy, all WW2. Odd man out seems to be James Mason, who registered as a conscientious objector and even refused to do non-combat duties, causing his own family to break with him and, for me at least, somewhat tarnishing his otherwise great career. It's somewhat ironic that he later starred in several war films, even playing Rommel (rather unconvincingly, in my opinion).
There's a funny story about Laurence Olivier in WW II. FAA said he was one of the worst pilots ever. He crashed couple of their planes. As far as James Mason being a CO, get over it. People got over John Wayne being a draft dodger.
Christopher Lee and David Niven were Bad-Asses. Along with Richard Todd, who was in the assault on Pegasus Bridge, if memory serves: you also left out Peter Ustinov.
Lee was nothing more than an Intelligence Officer in the RAF, all the cloak and dagger stuff you hear about him is complete nonsense. Lee himself never said much about his service but used let others fill in the blanks, incorrectly as we see.
I was doing a little research about actors in WW II, and come to find out many of them suffered from supposed ulcer problems which either kept them off the front lines are getting medically discharged.
Denholm Elliot, Bit strange that he was in the USAF ! He was a Radio operator /Air gunner in the RAF Don't remember him in the cast of the Magnificent Seven.
Denholm Elliot .... "The Magnificent Seven" ... I DONT'T THINK SO!!! And what's with the mispronunciation of Brian Blessed's name PLEASE! ... Richard Burton ...lol Exeter College OXFORD! Ummm Exeter College Exeter Devon
His nephew was apparently Ian Carmichael an officer in the 22nd Dragoons in ww2. Richard Greene (Robin Hood) was an officer in the 23rd Dragoons, who like David Niven gave up a Hollywood career to come back to fight for the UK. Jimmy Edwards a Dakota pilot at Arnhem. shot down and burned while dropping supplies to the Paras, served alongside David Lord VC who was killed there. James Robertson Justice a naval officer who apparently ran one of the Shetland Bus service of boats carrying agents to Norway in ww2. There are so many more, Leo Genn, John Mills, Michael Hordern, Conrad Phillips (William Tell),
My uncle was a sergeant under Nivens command in his words a good officer.
Amazing!! Thanks for sharing this 🙏
Before becoming an actor David Niven had been a young officer in the Highland Light Infantry, but became bored by the routine of a peacetime army that gave little chance of promotion.
On the outbreak of war he felt it was his duty to return to Britain and serve, even though he could have stayed in America. Winston Churchill later said to him "You didn't have to come, but it would have been despicable had you not done so !"
One suspects that his earlier service and the time he spent in America gave him a great deal of empathy with those under his command and made him well-liked by them.
He was modest about his wartime service with "Phantom", but deserves a lot of respect because his job was to go and find the enemy - in effect, to go and get shot at !
@@Kevin-mx1vi 👏👏👏 Thanks Kevin for this great history!
I saw a photograph of Niven in the full dress uniform of the Highland Light Infantry a long time ago . Only mentioned the Rifle brigade and commandos here however (?) P/s oh just saw the above comment , that explains it . By the way one actor not mentioned here was Ray Milland , he was an officer in the Royal Horse Guards before the war.
@@Kevin-mx1vi When being asked on his preference of Regiment, he wanted, if I recall, the Scots Guards or the Black Watch and blithely commented "anyone but the Highland Light Infantry" as they wore the "Trews" and not the kilt. The MoD of course are not known for their humour, and he was posted to the HLI.
I really expected to find Richard Todd in this odd list. Some of these are pretty sketchy, but Todd was the real deal - and the fact he was a Paratrooper on D-day near the Pegasus Bridge and later played the part of Howard.... how can he not be on this list!
Thanks for recommendation my friend, we already made a video about Richard Todd!
👉 czcams.com/video/9tSQnBFn-Fc/video.html
Mr Todd was not a paratrooper but a gliderborne trooper of the ox & bucks regiment
@@dko9048 Richard Todd - Lt in the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion. His battalion parachuted in after glider-borne forces had landed to capture the Pegasus Bridge near Caen - they were the Ox&Bucks under Howard.
I definitely agree!
@@HankD13 "Up the Ox and Bucks!! Up the Ox and Bucks!!" is what he shouts when storming the bridge as Howard. 'Hold until relieved' were their orders, and that's what they did. The rest is history.
Others who served are: John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe, Clive Dunn, John Laurie and Arnold Ridley (both WWI and WWII vets), Ralph Richardson, Richard Todd, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Leslie Howard to name a few.
The French mime Marcel Marceau gets a special mention as he was a French Resistance fighter (later joining the French army), who saved 70 Jewish children by pretending to be a scout leader and walked them to safety into Switzerland. A brave man!!
Thank you very much for the information!!
we will take it for future videos 💪
Watch here the new video about rRchard Todd 👉🏻 czcams.com/video/9tSQnBFn-Fc/video.html
@@interestingfacts1379 Thank you!! 😊👍
@@interestingfacts1379 s
Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe of course went on to form “The Goons”, they were all “bomb happy” soldiers, Spike was shell shocked during the Italian campaign, his war memoirs go into some detail about this, he blames his commanding officer who sent him back to the front line after being released from hospital on the grounds that “it would be good for his morale”. Of course it had the opposite effect. His COs response was to demote him to private.
After the war Spike became severely bipolar…
If Richard Todd isn’t in this list something is very wrong.
Thanks for the recommendation, we will incorporate it in the next video 🙌
What about Dirk Bogart. Donald Pleasance and most if the cast of Dad's army.
Also Richard Greene (Robin Hood).
I think part of the magic of the war films produced in the 20 years after the war was the fact that so many of the actors had actually served themselves. Richard Todd's performance in the Longest Day assaulting Pegasus bridge being perhaps the most notable as he was there for real in 1944.
@@CB-fz3li He turned down playing himself because he didn't have enough lines so played his commander instead.
Peter Butterworth. Before his acting career started, Butterworth served as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War.[2] While flying in an attack on the Dutch coast off Den Helder in 1940 his Fairey Albacore was shot down by Messerschmitt Bf 109s killing one crew member and wounding the other. After a forced landing on the island of Texel he was captured, becoming a prisoner of war (POW). Sent to the Dulag Luft POW transit camp, at Oberursel near Frankfurt, he later escaped in June 1941 through a tunnel, covering 27 miles (43 km) over three days before a member of the Hitler Youth captured him. Afterwards he joked that he could never work with children again. Two other attempts to escape were made during his time there but he never got beyond the camp grounds. He was subsequently sent to Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, the scene of The Great Escape.
Whilst at Stalag Luft III he met Talbot Rothwell, who later went on to write many of the Carry On films in which Butterworth was to star.[3] Having never performed in public before his imprisonment, Butterworth formed a duo with Rothwell and sang in the camp shows. They delivered a song which Rothwell called "The Letter Edged In Black". The performance was followed by some comic repartee which, according to Butterworth's account, provoked enough boos and hisses to have the desired effect of drowning out the sounds of an escape tunnel being dug by other prisoners‘ escape party. After the war, Butterworth kept a photo of the concert party line-up, something which offered inspiration to him when starting a career in acting.[4]
Butterworth was one of the vaulters covering for the escapers during the escape portrayed by the book and film The Wooden Horse. Butterworth later auditioned for the film in 1949 but "didn't look convincingly heroic or athletic enough" according to the makers of the film.
Within the same camp as Butterworth and Rothwell were the future actors Rupert Davies and John Casson, who was the son of Lewis Casson and Sybil Thorndike.[3] All five remained very close friends after the war ended and they all appeared on This Is Your Life when Butterworth was a subject of the programme in 1975.[5]
My father was an actor and served in WW2 in the Australian Army. He played many roles - usually he was acting the goat, acting the fool, acting out or acting sick. He served with distinction in the 2/13th Malingerers and Malcontents and in a meteoric career, rapidly rose to the rank of acting, unpaid Lance Corporal. He was mention numerous times in dispatches as "always whinging." During a furious battle against the Japanese, near Lae, in New Guinea, he was handed his general discharge papers and told to "f**k off to ( Port ) Moresby and don't come back!" His Lee-Enfield rifle was confiscated because it had never been fired and thus was in perfect working order.
Back home in Aussie, he became a freelance wholesaler of motor fuels, tyres, silk stockings and American cigarettes.
Dirk Bogarde needs to be on this list. As a witness to the Holocaust, his testemony is remarkable, chilling, and timeless.
He was also an intelligence officer involved in the planning of Operation Market Garden, and went on to play General 'Boy 'Browning in 'A Bridge Too Far'.
Spike Milligan was an artillery gunner in North Africa and Italy, his war memoirs are true gems.
'Goon' Michael Bentine was an RAF Intelligence Officer, known to other RAF personnel as a 'Spy'. He was one of the first to enter the liberated Bergen Belsen concentration camp. He described it in 3 brief but so powerful words - The Ultimate Blasphemy...
Peter Butterworth, comic actor perhaps most famous for his roles in the Carry On films, was in the Fleet Air Arm during the War. He was shot down and taken prisoner, but when in transit to a POW camp he escaped and was captured after getting 27 miles by a member of the Hitler Youth. He later joked that he would never work with children again! The best part of his story though is that he was one of the vaulters during the famous 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III. After the War he auditioned to play himself in a movie adaptation of the event but was turned down because he didn't look 'convincingly heroic or athletic enough'!
Will never forget him from the meal scene in Carry On Up The Khyber
It's often thought that you have to have film star looks to be a hero. Nothing could be further from the truth.
That is just an amazing piece of trivia. Not allowed to portray himself. stunning.
Donald Pleasance.During World War II, Pleasence was sent to serve in the Royal Air Force.[3] He served with 166 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command.[3] His war plane was shot down in August 1944, during a raid on Agenville.[3] He was placed in the German prisoner-of-war camp. Pleasence was released before the war's end in 1945.[3]
Career
Desmond Llewelyn was also a POW.
Was told to butt out by John Sturges when he offered some advice on German POW camps during the filming of the Great Escape. Sturges was advised by others about Donald's past experience at Stalag Luft 1 . From then on he was asked to provide technical advice.
11} Richard Todd - Served in The Paratroop Regiment and was part of Major Howard's relief on Pegasus Bridge on D-Day. Todd went on to play Major Howard in 'The Longest Day'.
Michael Rennie. He received pilot training in the USA. Nobody believed he was an actor until one of his films was shown at the camp!
When Christopher Lee was receiving instructions from a director on how he should play a certain scene, the producer said:
"I want you to imagine the sound of someone being stabbed to death."
The director cringed when Lee smiled gently and said: "I don't have to *imagine* what it sounds like."
This has been put together by someone who hasn't a clue. It has Brit Denholn Elliott as getting the Purple Heart & flying 25 missions with the US Airforce. It also claims he starred in 'THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN'. That's a load of codswallop
Denholn Elliott served in the RAF in WW2 as an wireless operator/air gunner. Was shot down in 1942 and became a POW where he started acting.
Denholm Elliott most certainly did NOT serve in the USAF during WW2, he served in the RAF , in Bomber Command in fact, as a navigator i think. I seen to recall that he was shot down and possibly became a Prisoner of war?
The USAF bit took me off guard too!!
Good point, since there was no USAF in ww2.
They have mixed American actor Charles Bronsons US Army Air Force record in here with Elliots sonehow.
That's what I was thinking also!
I think I read that he lied about medals won?
Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor Who served in the Royal Navy as well as Jon Pertwee. He served on Motor Gun Boats and took part in a major battle with German E Boats fought in the English channel in 1944.
Richard Attenborough was in the RAF during WW2. He certainly deserves a mention.
What about Donald Pleasance! Miss out the guy who played an escaping POW and actually was a POW! At Stalag Lift 1 after being shot down after 60 raids across Germany in Lancasters!
Hugs to Niven! Eliot got around, didn't he? Chris Lee was just a badass, and the fact that he didn't really talk about it increases my respect. Burton was probably a pain in the ass to work with. Pertwee was likely a badass as well. Good on Benny Hill, probably great to work with, but always chasing the nurses around.
You forgot Richard Todd he actually landed at Pegasus bridge the night before D day then went on to play his actual commanding officer in the D Day movie The Longest Day.
If that isn't ironic I don't know what is (unless he played a German officer I guess)
I can't watch "The Longest Day" without remembering those scenes of him at that bridge, remembering his orders -- "Hold until relieved... Hold until relieved..."
Should have included Esmond Knight. Served aboard HMS Prince of Wales and wounded in the Battle of the Denmark Strait when a shell hit the bridge. Then in the film Sink the Bismarck, played the role of Captain of Prince of Wales which included that shell hit. Imagine the PTSD re-enacting the battle that almost killed you.
Yes, he lost the sight for a while. I think his sight came back but it was some time later. Imagine at a dinner party someone saying ,pointing at his scars, "I say old chap how did you get those" and he replying "Bismarck" How cool would that be.
His daughter was the actress Rosalind Knight known for The St Trinians films, early Carry ons and most of all playing the legendary Mrs Cresswell in Only Fools And Horses.
According to his book, Bring on the Empty Horses, David Niven was a guest on a yacht off the coast of California the day war broke out. He did not return to Britain till several weeks later.
The first three Doctors in Doctor Who (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and John Pertwee) all served during World War 2. There is not much information about Troughton’s wartime experience, but he served as an officer on Motor Gun Boats in the English Channel. Pertwee said if half the stories told about Troughton were true, the man was a absolute lunatic (as a fighting sailor).
Hello Bryan, then there is Kenneth More who served in the RN during WW2. Cheers!
My grandad was on MTBs and they were mad, when you are on a wooden boat with 100 octane petrol you develop a devil may care attitude
Like and really appreciate knowing about the service these fine people gave for their Country
Left out quite a few. Like Peter Ustinov (served in WW2, got 2 Oscars), Rodger Moore (Post WW2, Captain in the Royal Army Service Corps)... Not all served in the war but conscription had many european actors of the 1950s/60s/70s with prior service.
Ustinov wanted to serve in tanks because he said he'd much rather go to war sitting down.
11. Richard Todd Like in War Movie "The Longest Day" Really was a Glider Trooper That Took Part on D-Day.
In the film longest Day he played his commanding officer and at one point was talking to himself as another played Todd.
I forget the title but
I read Todd's book which was a good read especially as he did a lot of training in Yorkshire where I live so I knew the places he named.
@@andrewmstancombe1401 Thanks, Good Show.
Almost.... Todd was a parachute regiment officer on DDAY , his battalion linked up with Maj Howard’s men on Pegasus Bridge. Todd was the int officer for 7th Bn and he met and shook hands with John Howard on the Bridge.
In the film Todd, plays John Howard, an d Todd shakes hands with a Para Regt officer ( ie himself)👍
Todd wanted play himself but told he was too old so he played the part of his commanding officer. A young actor played the part of Todd. Todd even wore his original beret, I believe.
@@sambeach2726 Good Show.
Jonny Briggs, known for his time in Coronation street in many films. He was in the 8th Royal Tank Regiment, as I was, but before my time, I think he was national service. He had been invited to reunions of the Regiment but never came.
You missed out Lt CDR Kenneth More CBE RN who should have made the top 10!
Quite so.
Peter Butterworth was actually one of the POW's who devised the real wooden horse escape plan.
Yes, you are quite correct, and well remembered.
And was turned down for the role of playing himself in a film about the escape because the producers considered him 'not convincingly heroic or athletic enough'.
David Niven was a regular army junior officer in the HLI (Highland Light Infantry) before the war, might have been worth a mention.
And a RMA Sandhurst Graduate
You forgot Anthony Quayle... He was a British Army officer who was an area commander of The Auxiliary Units (a quazi-military unit using irregular warfare, if or when, the Nazi's invaded Great Britain). He later joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
Thank you very much for the recommendation, we will take it into account for future videos! 🙌
I was just typing this up when I saw your post. I believe he served in Yugoslavia during his time in SOE.
@@boomslangCA Ok, that is good to know 😃
Several of the cast of Dad's Army served with distinction, but none were mentioned.
Dear old Arnold Ridley, bayoneted in the stomach during the battle of the Somme while serving in the Somerset Light Infantry. Arthur Lowe served in Egypt where he learned Arabic. Clive Dunn was taken prisoner in Greece and spent four years as a POW. John Laurie served in the HAC during WW1.
David Niven recalled that he was stopped by American troops and asked a baseball related question in an attempt to ensure that he wasn't a spy.
He admitted that he hadn't got a clue but advised them that he had once starred in a film with Ginger Rogers.
ha ha ha!
Always the wit. Such a star.
Paranoia reigned during battle of bulge because of english speaking germans infiltrated behind lines
Even monty was held captive by us troops
Other americans held because of
Insufficient knowledge of certain
Questions!
The TV presenter Raymond Baxter served in the RAF as a fighter pilot for most of WWII. He said that ended the war with the greatest respect for the US Army as they it were the only military during the war who had ever managed to shoot him down.
@@kevingray3550 Typical trigger-happy yanks!
All of them not only brave but also great actors.
Each one in his own right. My favorites are Connery,Burton,Niven,Caine et all
Niven was a professional officer in the Highland Light Infantry before he embarked on an acting career. His autobiography is an amazing read.
Till his papier mache 'helmet' folded around his head like a bluebell.
He was an actor before he was a solider .
Denholm Elliott did not serve in the USAF but the RAF - In the Second World War, he joined the Royal Air Force, training as a wireless operator/air gunner and serving with No. 76 Squadron RAF under the command of Leonard Cheshire.[7] On the night of 23/24 September 1942, his Handley Page Halifax DT508[8] bomber took part in an air raid on the U-boat pens at Flensburg, Germany. The aircraft was hit by flak and subsequently ditched in the North Sea near Sylt, Germany. Only Elliott and two crewmen survived, and he spent the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp in Silesia. While imprisoned, he became involved in amateur dramatics
I was going to ask how he flew bombing missions over Japan while in a German POW camp...
Maybe the commenter mistook Charles Bronson, who was a B-29 gunner, for Denholm Elliott. 🤔😂😂😂
@@IncogNito-gg6uh Bronson was American, from Pennsylvania. Not in the list of British actors.
AGREED! Some CZcams videos are click-bait nonsense.
@@howardsmith9342 AGREED! Plus it was the USAAF in WW2, not the USAF.
Originally, when he returned to the UK at the outbreak of WW2, Niven wanted to join the RAF as a fighter pilot. He was knocked back because of his age. At 27 he was considered too old to be a fighter pilot!
I kind of know how that feels : when I went into the US Navy in '83, I turned 27 in boot camp -- just over the age limit to volunteer for submarine duty!
Would have been good to see Dirk Bogarde get a mention, a great actor who saw some hard service.
Yes, especially since he served in Operation Market Garden and later was in the movie about it (A Bridge Too Far).
You tube video of Niven on the Dick Cavett show explaining how he got an Iron Cross outside of Cherbourg 3 days after D day. German fighter plane was supposed to drop a bag of them to the German defenders of Cherbourg and missed. Bag was picked up by a friend of Nivens (US Navy Lt.)who gave him one.
Viewers may also look up the biographies of Claude Raines, Ronald Coleman, Leslie Howard, Herbert Marshall, and, especially, Basil Rathbone, for their distinguished service in WW 1.
Not forgetting Nigel Bruce, of course, who played Dr Watson opposite Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes. Seriously injured by machine gun fire in 1915. Don't forget Arnold Ridley as well. Seriously injured in close quarter fighting in WW1, including a bayonet to his groin, shrapnel to his legs and a German rifle butt to the head. He re-enlisted in 1939 and served with the BEF in France.
@@ivorbiggun710 👍👍👍
There are many more including Peter Sellers Spike Milligan and Michael Bentine.
Don't forget Neddy Seagoon. Harry served in the Royal Artillery.
And Harrry Secombe!
@@paddy864 What about Richard Todd.
And alf garnett Read Spike Milligans books as a signaller during ww2
Also Donald Pleasance served in bomber command and was a pow. Making the great escape must of brought back some horrible memories
The computer voice was bad enough, but the inaccuracies were unforgivable. And just how could Denholm Elliot be a tail gunner on an American plane in the Pacific, and in a prison camp in Silesia? That is probably the most glaring example, but every actor had inaccuracies of a lesser sort. The descriptions of their military service and civvy life afterwards are bizarre.
I was just thinking exactly the same as you! I was expecting more on their (more accurate) military experiences and less of the personal stuff.
Yes, a load of rubbish isn't it? Denholm Elliott serving on a B29 (as if!), which incedentally didn't even go into service until 1944, before flying in an RAF Halifax in 1942, and shot down and taken prisoner! How much of this crap are we supposed to believe?
Think someone may have mixed Charles Bronson's service history .. he served 25 missions on B29's as a gunner and was awarded a Purple Heart
@@amsuther And then there is Paul Newman who was a turret gunner on TBM Avengers, who flew combat missions while flying off the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill.
Herbert Marshall deserves a mention. He had to have his left leg amputated in 1917 after being shot in the knee while serving in France during the First World War. He returned to acting after the war, and visited hospitals during the Second World War to support amputees and encourage them to remain positive.
I saw Herbert Marshall in person in 1961, when he made a personal appearance
at our local movie theater for his film "Five Weeks in a Balloon"! I knew that he
lost a leg in WWI, but was amazed at how well he walked on his artificial limb! R.I.P.!
CHRISTOPHER LEE's war was 100 times more interesting than was spoken about on here
...but, unusually, he is the only one whose secret service has been called into question.
@@idleonlooker1078 maybe but he never spoke about it and did a great deal for my country during the war and we are grateful
@@anthonysillett6678 He, himself, alluded to it, but others more knowledgeable on the subject note that no-one in that area of service could remember serving with him. Many feel that he hinted doing more than his actual service was.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3165860/How-film-legend-Christopher-Lee-heroic-war-record-claimed-SAS-veteran-Nazi-hunter-stories-don-t-add-up.html
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11742636/Sir-Christopher-Lees-SAS-war-record-was-hammed-up-historian-claims.html
@@idleonlooker1078 I think perhaps people can over egg the pudding sometimes but seeing he served I did not I take his word
@@anthonysillett6678 You're entitled to hold your opinion, and I'm stating mine: his service has raised a few questions.
Jon Pertwee wasn't transferred off HMS Hood - he was left behind on Orkney (luckily for him) when the Hood left in a hurry to chase the Bismark. He joined the next available ship, HMS Rodney, which played a large part in sinking Bismark
Whoa!
My grandfather had served on HMS Hood in the 1930s. He lost friends on board.
There might have been four survivors, not just three.
Well yeah duh, being a Time Lord, Pertwee knew the Hood's fate and ensured he didn't sail with her.
He wanted to warn HMS Hood's captain, but couldn't for fear of disrupting the space-time continuum.
@@raypurchase801 ROTFLMAO
Read the wiki page on Christopher Lee's activities in WW2. Volunteered with the Finns to fight the Soviet Army, he said that he would have been killed if he had known how to fire a rifle and ski at the same time, he tripped over a live bomb in a British airfield, piloted British warplanes and strafed and bombed Rommel's Afrika Corp. fought with the Gurkhas at Monte Cassino in Italy, and hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius three days before it erupted. Talked about living a charmed life during combat.
Sorry to say, Christopher Lee was exposed as embellishing his service experience.
@@howardgem You sound like a hater.
Christopher Lees is too short he did much more even fighting with the fins before joining the UK services
Christopher Lee and Anthony Quayle were members of the SOE.
Lees known service reads like the a proto Bond and yes theres a lot thats still buried with him. At 6',7 " he was a practiced swordsman and connected to old European aristocracy.. And a expert on the life and works of JRR Tolkien ... Probably mutch to the irritation of the Director.
Christopher `Lee too short, is was 6ft 6.
David Niven was an officer in the Highland Light Infantry. He served along side actor Michael Trubshawe.
Niven was threatened by Hollywood if he dared to leave and enlist to fight for his country. They told him that if he left he would never work in Hollywood again, he defied them and went. A brave man in more ways than one.
An unfortunate addendum to Benny Hill's life is that - though he was a millionaire - he lived extremely frually and died alone in his apartment. It was only some weeks later that the authorities forced open the door to his apartment and found Benny, dead, still sitting in his chair with the TV on. RIP.
I think it was Michael Caine who was returning from a patrol with a squad of about 5.
They came across a unit of Chinese soldiers outside their British camp. They couldn’t go around, and they were outnumbered 5 to 1. They decided to just run, top speed, through the Chinese and keep running. It worked. The Chinese were so surprised, they never reacted.
There are a lot of older actors who did military service during WW2 and after because of National Service.
Capt. Wm. Claude Rains was a hero during WW1 His voice was nearly destroyed during a gas attack. The rasp in his voice-very sexy- was the result of scarring on his vocal chords. Ralph Bellamy and Ronald Colman were also wounded in WW1. 'Lest we forget/ lest we forget"🌹Sorry I could not find a red poppy for these brave and gallant gentlemen. A long time ago, there were men whose handsome faces were the reflection of angel souls- not angels that sing, the angels that who fight in the Army of General Michael against evil. Such noble men are no more.
Denholm Elliott joined the Royal Air Force, training as a wireless operator/air gunner and serving with No. 76 Squadron RAF under the command of Leonard Cheshire.[
Denholm Elliott did not fly in the US Army Air Corps, nor did he appear in the Magnificent Seven. If he was shot down and captured in 1942, and spent the rest of the war as a POW he could not have flown in a B 29, because they did not enter service until years later.
The USAF and Magnificent Seven actor was Charles Bronson, you can understand how they got confused as Denholm Elliott was well know for his "Hardman" roles LOL
I can imagine it now some American saying, Gee that limey actor actually sailed across the ocean to serve in the USAAF..
Nope RAF
David Niven nearly got himself shot during the Battle of the Bulge. He was behind American lines when the battle began and soon found himself on the front line due to the German advance. He came upon a U.S. sentry but didn't know the answer to the security question the sentry asked. Luckily for Niven the sentry was familiar enough with Niven to know about his movies and this convinced the sentry that Niven was who he claimed to be.
Where's Bill Travers of Born Free fame,
His story makes great ww2 reading .
Respect .
Blimey David Niven was a RM Commando.. Top man.
Army Commando actually, the first Commandos were Army units, and Phantom was an Intelligence gathering and wireless reporting Regiment, also had F Sqn operating in support of the SAS
@@robinloxley205 OK makes sense now.
Denholm Elliott was in the first three Indiana Jones movies as well as the Dan Ackroyd/Eddie Murphy movie 'Trading Places".
Where is Richard Todd? Should be number 1 on the list, Parachuted into Normandy in the first wave and supported the holding of Pegasus Bridge.. Went on to Play John Howard in the Longest Day... Did it for real and then played it in the film.
My uncle served aboard HMS Hood too, but was transferred before it's fateful meeting with the Bismark. He served as a Royal Marine.
Dirg Bogarde...how could you miss him ?
Not many people know of Denholm Eliot's nuanced and subtle performance in the Magnificent Seven. He played the Invisible Swordsman for which he won the Purple Heart.
Wrong!! It was his imaginary horse who won the purple heart.
I had no idea that the RAF was flying B-29s over Japan either.
I wasn't aware that the Purple Heart was awarded for acting.
When I was a Kid, I met a WAAF named Joan Pryce. She danced with Niven and Noel Coward at the NAAFI near Dover. She said that Rex Harrison was RAF but wouldn't talk to anybody less than Air Vice Marshall.
David Niven went to Sandhurst in the 1920’s, was commissioned, but resigned his commission to become an actor.
Unlike John Wayne....David Niven returned to the army. Even volunteered in the commandos.
@@leoperidot482 correct, I saw an interview with him when he spoke about resigning from his (MGM?) contract in ‘39/40.
Denholm Elliot was not in the Magnificent Seven. Strange list you missed quite a few who should be here.
Denholm Elliott
Served in the RAF 76 squadron bomber command and was a POW after his Halifax was shot down
I was hoping Claude Rains, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Herbert Marshall, Victor McLaglen , Cedric Hardwicke and Donald Pleasence would be listed.
I dont remember seeing Denholm Eliot in 'The Magnificent Seven', nor did I realise he served in the USAAF.
Why has Richard Todd not been included? He served in The Ox and Bucks Airborne Glider Batallion on D.Day and he played the part of his CO. Major John Howard when the film "The Longest Day" was made.
HOw could Denholm Elliott serve as a gunner on B-29's over Japan if he was a POW in Germany during the war?
They freed him in 1944?
Not if he spent the rest of the war in a p.o.w camp.I think someone's got him mixed up with another actor
Must be wrong....wasnt in The Magnificent Seven either
They got the info wrong it was Donald Pleasence , he was radio operator , the only 2 people survived after their was shot down plane.
They have combine his record with Charles Branson, sloppy C&P work, computer voice and incompetent proofing. Are well what can you expect from a list that left off Richard Todd and Nigel Bruce.
Denholm Elliot was in the Magnificent Severn and also the USAF as a aerial gunner in a B-29? Really where did you get this gem of information?
He obviously wasn't - Lord knows where this came from... Charles Bronson was a B-29 gunner and one of The Magnificent Seven. Some seriously bad editing at work here; makes one wonder what else is wrong.
If DE was in a German PoW camp how did he serve (presumably still as RAF) as a gunner on an American B-29 in the Pacific?!!!! Would the author care to review this entry, please?
@@markmaki4460 Yes I can see how you could mistake Denholm Elliott for Charles Bronson after all they were so very similar!😂
You forgot Patrick macnee of The Avengers he served under the Royal Navy some years later in this country upon his death he was given full military honors by the US Navy even though he did serve under the king it was due to him because he was Allied of the war
There's about a dozens more famous Brit actors who were overlooked. Did you know actor and comedian Billy Connelly served in the Paras along with Lewis Collins? Jon Finch, Bear Grylles, and Ian Yule were in the SAS.
Have no ideal they missed out a whole lot of them
@@christineroberts4018 Because getting it wrong draws more reaction which gets more comments which makes more money for the host. Look at how many more comments and hits this page got because of Denholm Elliott.
People including myself have the urge to spot errors. It's human nature. Social media exploits that.
You're right that shouldn't be if you want to do this thing do you research right be credible that it and not make money on other people's Corrections
@@christineroberts4018 Well, if doing the right thing was easy, then everyone would be doing it. New technology always gets abused. First it was the internet. Now social media.
Wheres Richard Todd? He saw more action than any of them put together.
Just being at the battle Pegasus Bridge on D day after going in by gliders.
That man had balls.
Brian Blessed was not in the Parachute Regiment. He did his National Service in the RAF Regiment.
Hi, I was just about to write my opinion and thought I had better read all the comments. You are correct, I have even heard Blessed say that he was in The Parachute Regiment during his National Service. Bollocks, he served in the RAF Regiment (I checked Wikipedia! The only way he could have got into the Regiment would have been if he signed up for three years in the regular army. I came across a few of them in the early sixties, signing up for that extra year brought them up to regulars pay rate. NS were paid 4 shillings a day less National Insurance etc rounded down to £1 per week. Once a Para, always a Para! Cheers mate. Harera
Just glancing over Sir Christopher Lee. His story will take hours to tell.
I would wonder 💭in old films how they got the military things on point ie saluting, marching , weapons handling etc. Only people who’ve been in the forces would spot certain things.
My father was in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) from about 1941.
#LestWeForget Thanks for the share.
Christopher Lee had an interesting Military career
I don't think the actor Denholm Elliott served in USAF (5:18), because one, it didn't exist, it was USAAF, and he served in RAF, as Wireless Op/air gunner in 76 Sqn and actually spent a good part of his service as POW, according to the video, at the same time as his apparent service in USAAF. Christ knows where they got that from.
I can imagine Alec Guiness as a temporary naval sub-lieutenant.
Christopher Lee was also voluntary firefighter finnish winter war.
Lots of inaccuracies & mistakes! After passing through the Royal Military College Sandhurst David Niven was commissioned into the HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY. He left the Arme for an acting career. When the war broke out he re-enlisted in the RIFLE BRIGADE.
Thanks for the clarification! 🙌
At first Niven, a Scot, was in the Highland Light Infantry.
Born in London
Others of note are Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson, both Fleet Air Arm pilots, and Michael Redgrave, Royal Navy, all WW2.
Odd man out seems to be James Mason, who registered as a conscientious objector and even refused to do non-combat duties, causing his own family to break with him and, for me at least, somewhat tarnishing his otherwise great career. It's somewhat ironic that he later starred in several war films, even playing Rommel (rather unconvincingly, in my opinion).
There's a funny story about Laurence Olivier in WW II. FAA said he was one of the worst pilots ever. He crashed couple of their planes.
As far as James Mason being a CO, get over it. People got over John Wayne being a draft dodger.
Some seriously dodgy mis-information here folks, be warned.
Richard Todd should be at the top of this list. He even played the commander of the Ox and Bucks at Pegasus Bridge ("Hold until reli
Eved. Hold until relieved.")
Christopher Lee and David Niven were Bad-Asses. Along with Richard Todd, who was in the assault on Pegasus Bridge, if memory serves: you also left out Peter Ustinov.
Lee was nothing more than an Intelligence Officer in the RAF, all the cloak and dagger stuff you hear about him is complete nonsense. Lee himself never said much about his service but used let others fill in the blanks, incorrectly as we see.
Watch here the new video about rRchard Todd 👉🏻 czcams.com/video/9tSQnBFn-Fc/video.html
@@paddy864
czcams.com/video/YwvimQV425Y/video.html
Niven was a British Army officer (Highland Light Infantry) before he became an actor.
And a graduate of Sandhurst!
How does Leslie Howard not make the list?
I was doing a little research about actors in WW II, and come to find out many of them suffered from supposed ulcer problems which either kept them off the front lines are getting medically discharged.
Don't forget Lord Lawrence Olivier-Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm WW2-and Peter O"Toole-Royal Navy Cold War.
One thing I take from this is that ‘coffin’ polisher’ was a job title.
Jabber1974 -yes but Sean Connery made sure he was not found dead in Scotland !!!
Denholm Elliot, Bit strange that he was in the USAF ! He was a Radio operator /Air gunner in the RAF Don't remember him in the cast of the Magnificent Seven.
He was never in the Magnificent Seven. Badly made video
That appears to be a bit from Charles Bronson's biography. I always get those two mixed up. :-)
Denholm Elliot .... "The Magnificent Seven" ... I DONT'T THINK SO!!! And what's with the mispronunciation of Brian Blessed's name PLEASE! ... Richard Burton ...lol Exeter College OXFORD! Ummm Exeter College Exeter Devon
Biggest of them all OLIVER REED
Reed served in the RAMC, but during peacetime. He was born in 1938.
The phantom signals that David niven served in were the sas signals unit
10 of so many
Didn't mention Terry Thomas who was a sergeant in WW11
Terry-Thomas. Why the hyphen? I've no idea.
His nephew was apparently Ian Carmichael an officer in the 22nd Dragoons in ww2. Richard Greene (Robin Hood) was an officer in the 23rd Dragoons, who like David Niven gave up a Hollywood career to come back to fight for the UK. Jimmy Edwards a Dakota pilot at Arnhem. shot down and burned while dropping supplies to the Paras, served alongside David Lord VC who was killed there. James Robertson Justice a naval officer who apparently ran one of the Shetland Bus service of boats carrying agents to Norway in ww2. There are so many more, Leo Genn, John Mills, Michael Hordern, Conrad Phillips (William Tell),