Here's a quote from IMDB After Great Britain declared war in 1939, he was one of the first actors to go back and join the army. Although Niven had a reputation for telling good old stories over and over again, he was totally silent about his war experience. He said once: "I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war."
Excellent quotation. I am in reminded that in 1942, whilst awating my call-up I was living near Luton and commuting daily to London. One day when stopping at Welwyn Garden I was surprised to see a very dashing young officer board the train, none other than David Niven.
A very classy man and seemingly quite wise as well. I have read that he was the only British actor in America to voluntarily give up his career during WW2.
Niven was a bit like Ian Fleming an interesting war with fingers in lots of Pies - Phantom, Commandos etc.
lets not forget his acting genius,especially his military roles,sheer brilliance,always looked the part,great man.
Personal Number: 44959 Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel Name: James David Graham NIVEN Unit: Highland Light Infantry; Rifle Brigade London Gazette: 31 January 1930 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33575/page/652/data.pdf The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 30th Jan. 1930: — H.L.I.— James David Graham NIVEN. London Gazette : 31 January 1933 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33907/page/674/data.pdf The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts.:— 30th Jan. 1933. H.L.I.— J. D. G. Niven. London Gazette : 5 September 1933 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33975/page/5801/data.pdf H.L.I.-Lt. J. D. G. Niven resigns his commn, 6th Sept, 1933. London Gazette: 4 April 1940 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34823/supplement/1978/data.pdf Rifle Bde. James David Graham NIVEN (44959), late Lt., H.L.I., to be Lt. 25th Feb. 1940. London Gazette : 8 November 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37340/supplement/5461/data.pdf The KING has been pleased to grant unrestricted permission for the wearing of the following decorations which have been conferred on the undermentioned personnel in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies: — DECORATIONS CONFERRED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Legion of Merit, Degree of Legionnaire. Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John David Graham NIVEN (44959), The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own).
Mentioned briefly in Jellicoe's IWM interview: 124546 George Patrick John Rushworth JELLICOE, Coldstream Guards, 8 Cdo, SAS, SBS
He did mention something of the war in The Moon's A Balloon. Mainly just his film work e.g. working with Peter Ustinov in The Way Ahead. Niven did mention an event in the final days of the war when he found a disguised senior German officer trying to get home and he let him go. Adam
If I recall correctly (it's been a while), Sheridan Morley's biography The Other Side Of The Moon says more about Niven's war service than Niven himself did in print; however, not sure how reliable a source Morley was.
For some reason this came up on my Youtube suggestions page. David Niven talking about how he received an Iron Cross.
That is a coincidence, I've been watching Dick Cavett re-runs on Youtube. Woody Allen, Orson Wells, Dickie Burton and Groucho Marx to name but a few. They are often very interesting viewing.
Agreed, a lot of the old interviews with movie stars are great. I don't know how Youtube works. I was watching "The Way Ahead", which stars Niven a few days ago, so perhaps that is why they directed me to this interview. There are some good old war movies on Youtube which I haven't seen for years.
I had been watching some old footage of Woody Allen, whose films I have always enjoyed watching. I wonder if Cavett's back catalogue has been recently uploaded and that is why such links to our particular viewing have been made? In any case, I'm pleased to have stumbled across them.
Here is Orson Wells speaking about being in the company of several world leaders at various moments during his life: