New Film - The Forgotten Battle

Why the gliders then?

 

That's a good question. If the storyline demanded a British character seems like there would have been a number of other choices available. Though mostly a Canadian operation, by the end of the battle numerous British units were involved. Here is a map, I think from the Canadian history, that shows the operation to clear the Scheldt:

 

Read, Michel.

 

Regards

Tom

 

Why involve the glider at all? What about 52nd Lowland Div in action for the first time or the numerous artillery regiments and their FOOs supporting the infantry or Commando units? Yes, Arnhem is interesting but it's been done. This is about the Forgotten Battle! Still, looking forward to seeing it...

 

Oh, forgot. The glider that didn't make it to Arnhem is now on display at the Overloon War Museum.

 

The forgotten Battles of The Scheldt & Woensdrecht on "Black Friday" The 13th.
Details of the losses suffered by the Canadian Regiment, The Black Watch.
I had the good fortune to visit the battlefield with a Dutch historian ( Not Mr. Stolpl ) in 2016 along with Canuck ( ex forum member ).
A friend's father was one of the officers wounded on that very dark day of October 13, 1944.

 

According to the Glider Raid report chalk 440 piloted by Miller and Hollingsworth made a safe landing on LZ Z at 13:35 hours

 

Hollingsworth became a POW at Arnhem and was shot and killed by a German guard shortly after his arrival at Stalag XIB, Fallingbostel, on 6th October.

 

Not in this replica, they didn't ;-)

 

Hollingsworth is included in the CWGC database which records him as 14276776 Serjeant Thomas Hollingsworth; 1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment; died 6 Oct 44 aged 21; and buried in Becklingen CWGC cemetery. His parents were Thomas and Gladys Hollingsworth of Wood Green, Wednesbury, Staffordshire. The moving inscription on his headstone reads 'A kind and gentle lad remembered with pride by all who knew him'. The grave concentration report records him being initially buried in 'Orbke' rather than Fallingbostel. This is correct as Stalag XIB was located adjacent to the village of Orbke, which is to the immediate SE of Fallingbostel.

 

Hollingsworth arrived at Stalag XIB, with a group of other prisoners, at about 09:30 on the morning of 6th October. At about 11;30 whilst they were being organised an air raid alert sounded and instructions were given, through an interpreter, for them to return to their accommodation blocks. Despite repeated instructions from the guard to go inside he remained on the steps of his block looking at the approaching aircraft and was shot by the guard.

 

What a tragic story. I wonder why he ignored the instructions. Perhaps he was not mentally firing on all cylinders due to his experiences from Arnhem onwards.

 

Really enjoyed this. Best tv outing since Band of Brothers I reckon.

 

Was I following the movie correctly? Did the British Glider Pilot Regiment sergeant join the Canadians for the assault across the causeway, then join the 52nd Lowland Division for their landing on Walcheren?

 

Oh yeah, no idea who came up with that one, pure film nonsense. Good film though for me! I like the claustrophobia and the overall way it was shot.

 

I thought it was disappointing. The main story lacked substance. They tried to pad it out by adding the crashed glider and Russian front parts of the story, but these didn't really relate to the main narrative.

It's a shame as it looked like they had assembled some decent vehicles and other kit, along with plenty of extras. But even the battle scenes weren't that great.

 

Agree - it was just a pass for me. In many ways a missed opportunity. They had captured some of the atmosphere in parts with the street scenes being particularly good and achieving a likeness to some period photos I have seen. Pleased to see the 52nd Div represented and 25pdr in shot (albeit for a few seconds).
However, it did not stick to telling the story of the 'forgotten battle'. Why deviate with the story of the glider pilot and all the Market Garden stuff? In fact, this seemed to dominate the film. What were they thinking? Imagine if they had followed a Commando or the K.O.S.B landing on Walcheren, for example, and ploughed the big budget into that. Snipers in the cranes on the docks in Flushing etc.. Anyone with no knowledge of the battles in the Scheldt would be left totally confused.
Some poor continuity errors with the glider pilot character exchanging his SMLE for a No4, one frame to the next! As commented above, totally ridiculous that he went into the attack with the Canadians on the Causeway.

 

I thought it was an excellent movie. Sure, a bit of a stretch introducing the glider scenario. But, anything produced by the Dutch is usually very good. This one did not disappoint.

 

The usual discussion. The numbers that went to see it are such that this forum could only dream of. The conclusion therefore is that it is not a bad movie, made for the audience it wanted to attract. At least they now know that the Scheldt was fought over and it was not only D-Day and battle for the Bulge.