He was referring to the scrim net/ hessian cloth in their helmets. IIRC they removed the pieces of cloth but kept the helmet cover/netting.
I always liked this movie though i havent seen it in a while, next time i do i,ll bear in mind what you say but what i remember i dont think it is… one part that stands out in memory is the soldier who carries the umbrella… later on hes asked why he carrys it and he replys "so they know im british" and im sure he dies or the brit soldier who swims the river alone to deliver a message… i never though anything anti british about it but then i never heard anyone say this or ever knew people thought it No rather im proud that we have the courage to make a film about this… i dont see many others and WHAT A CAST…anti british - I highly doubt it
The soldier with the umbrella was not fictional but a very real person, Major Digby Tatham-Warter. He was not killed either, though by all odds he should have been. He was a superb soldier and an amazing man. More about him can be found here http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/tatham_warter.htm
Guys, That last post is the most important to me. Do not forget the people involved on the ground, both the soldiers and the Dutch people involved. I liked the film (it was a period film, by the Americans, after all, as was the Great Escape) and it does portray some real heroes. I remember my Father telling me about it:- There was one other unforgettable personality among the POW’s at Fallingbostal, who had arrived as a result of the operations at Arnhem in September 1944 when the weary red-berets of the British paratroopers were marched into the camp as evidence that the war was not over. They were led in, tired, hobbling and wounded, by Regimental Sergeant Major John Lord as if they were parading for the King at Pirbright. This had an incredible effect on the Germans. The prisoners at Fallingbostal lined the fence to watch the paras. enter the neighbouring Stalag XIB. “We did not cheer. We came instinctively to attention and John Lord noticing our two medical officers standing with us, gave his party ‘eyes right’ and snapped them a salute which would not have been out of place at Pirbright. The impression it made on the German’s was incredible." Regards, Nick KenFentonsWar.com
Hello Len, If you read this I am working with a Paul Bryant who was also from 1 Para who did all the jump scenes, he has just shown me a picture of your troop with Redford in it. Regards Mike.
This is still being debated. You have just re-opened one of the world's biggest cans of worms. As for me, I think the Germans had something do with it.
"The Longest Day" and "A Bridge Too Far", two American movies, depicting D-Day and Market Garden. How the vast majority of people now envision both operations, is based on these productions.
It really is just a movie, and like my all time favourite move "Zulu", various people have torn its' lack of absolute authenticty apart. I don't listen any more, and still enjoy both. ( when my husband lets me play them!!) Hazel C
It may also have been something to do with the geography and 'exposure' of the routes they had to travel on - after all its a pretty flat country (my Dutch friends dont mind me saying that) with nowhere to 'hide' TD
Well, it's a bit disconcerting to hear or read that they were constantly stopping to have tea, especially when I'm bragging about the 6th Guards Tank Brigade to American friends and acquaintances. My Coldstream Father was a driver/mechanic of a Churchill. I have heard that the terrain was not particularly friendly, nor the Germans! However, thank you for the feedback. Margaret Ann
It's wilful misrepresentation by the critics: while it's almost inevitable that British troops got a brew on whenever they stopped, that doesn't mean they were stopping just to have tea.
Margaret Ann With basically single roads that were actually dykes - i.e. you are above the surrounding land so easy targets, the Germans learnt to take out the 4th or 5th tank, or whatever it might be, so that those in front then became sitting targets. There was then the major task of clearing the situation before you can progress further - or on fact into the 'next situation'. Its certainly not the sort of traffic jam I would care to have been sitting in, but those that were there did. TD
"Maj. Freddie Hennessy, the operations officer of the Guards Armoured Division, which was in the vanguard of the push up the road, compared advancing sixty-four miles on a narrow highway over several major water crossings to "threading seven needles with one piece of cotton, and we only have to miss one to be in trouble."
Margaret Ann Whenever a Churchill Tank stopped- even in the worst battles - the co-driver was out boiling up a brew - now your father would understand this as being normal but the Americans didn't so it became a fact of the loss - covering up the fact that their 82nd Paras didn't make their bridge and the British division had to help them out thus losing their support to the Guards Armoured who were also boiling up a brew… Cheers ex Churchill W/OP
Just for the record, Robert Redford wasn't portrayed jumping out of a 'plane in the movie (I'm not even sure he played a paratrooper). I think you're referring to Ryan O'Neil, who played Gen. Jim Gavin, commander of the U.S. 82nd Airborne, who sustained a back injury on landing.
Hi Margaret Ann, A couple of snippets for you to mention when the US-Brit thing and tea breaks come up again.. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/3545-2nd-irish-guards-what-was-happening-in-april-1945/?p=389296 http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18664-major-jullian-cooks-irish-guards-links/ The majority of the men on the ground had no difficulties in recognising each other's abilities; though in my opinion, criticism of GAD at Nijmegen, by one particular US veteran, gets rather more attention than it merits. Or, you can simply point out their very basic error of confusing one formation with another.