A Bridge Too Far is one of my favorite movies and I've always wondered what happened to one of the main characters in the movie, Colonel John Frost. His battalion was the only one to actually reach the Arnem bridge and held the north end for almost a week. In the end he and his unit were forced to surrender and went into captivity. Does anyone know whether he survived the war and, if so, what became of him after. I'd also be interested in any information on the British Airborne in WW II. How many divisions, where they dropped and so on.
Does anyone know whether he survived the war and, if so, what became of him after. he survived and ended up a Major general. he became a military historian after he left the army and produced many books, including one on 2 Para in the Falklands here is a potted bio of him atout his time at Arnheim Lt Col John Frost
You may be interested to know that 'the chap with the umbrella' in Bridge Too Far dies in the film but in real life survived the battle. The character is based on Major Digby Tatham-Wharter who actually escaped with the aid of the Dutch Resistance and lived on into old age as a farmer in Kenya. He was apparently very surprised to learn when he saw the film that he had died in the battle! If you liked 'A Bridge Too Far' it is worth trying to get hold of 'Theirs Is The Glory' a remarkable drama-documentary made immediately after the war using many of the real participants and genuine locations. Considering that the people involved are not actors and that there were numerous problems connected with filming it is an amazing piece of work. As John Frost had only just been released from POW camp and was not available for filming, his character appears only briefly in the film played by someone else and command at the bridge is exercised by Major Freddie Gough. In my view the best book on the battle and the role of the paras is 'Arnhem:The Airborne Battle' by Martin Middlebrook.
Mark, you must mean the character named Harry. It's good to know that he survived in reality. Thanks for the references, Cornelius Ryan's is the only book I've read on Market-Garden and that was a little hard to follow.
I agree. "A bridge too Far" is very confusing, especially towards the end. I always wondered about that character, Harry from the film. Nice to know the real guy made it!!
It's also not commonly known that although the bridge survived the action during Market-Garden, the original brige was demolished before the end of the war. When rebuilt, in memory of the troops who tried to capture it, it was built as near as the original style as possible rather than a more 'modern' design. The new bridge was named after John Frost and still has a sign with his name on it visible as you cross.
The drive North during the Market Garden operation, was a two pronged affair. My comopany went up on the Eastern rout. A very traumatic drive it was. Sometimes cut off and having to live on captured German rations. No cigarettes! no British food...YUK Sapper
Originally posted by Gotthard Heinrici@Aug 9 2005, 07:04 AM I agree. "A bridge too Far" is very confusing, especially towards the end. I always wondered about that character, Harry from the film. Nice to know the real guy made it!! [post=37447]Quoted post[/post] here is the man himself! View attachment 986
Originally posted by sapper@Aug 19 2005, 03:35 AM The drive North during the Market Garden operation, was a two pronged affair. My comopany went up on the Eastern rout. A very traumatic drive it was. Sometimes cut off and having to live on captured German rations. No cigarettes! no British food...YUK Sapper [post=37846]Quoted post[/post] From what I understand about the battle, German counterattacks from the east were very intense and lasted for weeks after the end of Market-Garden. It must have been very traumatic indeed.
An aside: the intelligence lieutenant who argued about the German armor hidden in the woods, named Urqhart (coincidentally), in later life was a diplomat and circa 1979 was the exec to UN Secretary General Waldheim (who in the war was a Wehrmacht officer).
Originally posted by JCA@Aug 19 2005, 08:43 PM An aside: the intelligence lieutenant who argued about the German armor hidden in the woods, named Urqhart (coincidentally), in later life was a diplomat and circa 1979 was the exec to UN Secretary General Waldheim (who in the war was a Wehrmacht officer). [post=37850]Quoted post[/post] Doesn't life play some funny tricks? That's 'funny' as in strange, not 'ha ha'.
Originally posted by Dac@Aug 9 2005, 06:43 AM Cornelius Ryan's is the only book I've read on Market-Garden and that was a little hard to follow. [post=37446]Quoted post[/post] If you want to read about Arnhem, as opposed to Market Garden as a whole, then Martin Middlebrook's Arnhem 1944, Penguin 1995, is very interesting.
Maj. Gen. Sir John Frost wrote his own story in "A Drop Too Many," which he had to re-issue twice, adding more chapters the second and third times. Readers complained that it came to a crashing halt where he flies home from captivity in a C-47 Dakota. He went on to Palestine and had a tough time there...his wife was wounded in the bombing of the King David Hotel. The bomb missed one of my rellies, who was also in the British Army and quartered there. He was enjoying a round of golf when the hotel blew up. Frost went on to gain knighthood and major general's pips. He attended many festivities for Bruneval and Market-Garden, and the bridge at Arnhem that replaced the one he held is named "John Frost Brug." He also wrote a fine book on 2nd Parachute Battalion (he was honorary colonel) in the Falklands War. Its CO, H Jones, won a posthumous VC there.
Originally posted by Kiwiwriter@Aug 22 2005, 09:24 AM He also wrote a fine book on 2nd Parachute Battalion (he was honorary colonel) in the Falklands War. Its CO, H Jones, won a posthumous VC there. [post=37946]Quoted post[/post] Do you know the name of the book? It sounds like it would be a good read if it's still in print.
Originally posted by Dac+Aug 22 2005, 05:20 PM-->(Dac @ Aug 22 2005, 05:20 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Kiwiwriter@Aug 22 2005, 09:24 AM He also wrote a fine book on 2nd Parachute Battalion (he was honorary colonel) in the Falklands War. Its CO, H Jones, won a posthumous VC there. [post=37946]Quoted post[/post] Do you know the name of the book? It sounds like it would be a good read if it's still in print. [post=37988]Quoted post[/post] [/b] "2 Para Falklands," is the title. It's in paperback.
