The Promise - Para's in Palestine

4 parter starts on the 6th Feb on Channel 4.

It looks very good !

 

Nice one Andy, will look out for it.

 

Here you go mate:

The Promise - The Promise - Channel 4

 

Andy, you ever see this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warriors_(TV_series) the guy who directed the Promise ,Peter Kominsky......was involved in the making of this I thought it was really good....you?

 

Yep I remember Warriors and very good it was too.

 

Anyone watch this tonight? Its excellent and from what I can gather based on a true story from a Paras diary.

 

Anyone watch this tonight? Its excellent and from what I can gather based on a true story from a Paras diary.
I missed it ..............but I will watch it tonight thanks to V+ AND 4 ON DEMAND, was that Diary a published book Andy? only Para book I really know of in regard to Palestine is 'Cordon and search'.

 

It really is good mate and I'm surprised by how little it is being discussed on here. They have even appeared to have tailored to all the geeks out there on authenticity.

Ref the diary it starts with his time (A Sgt from Armley in Leeds) in Belsen Concentration Camp after its liberation with a lot of original footage I've never seen before.

His granddaughter is reading his diary as she travels to Israel with a jewish friend on a gap year. Without giving too much away the granddaughter reads about the death of one the Paras in her grandfathers diary and visits the CWGC cemetery somewhere in Israel and discovers a bit more in the cemetry than what she has read in the diary.

The story is 50% modern day with the young girl in Israel and 50% with the Sgt in Palestine.

I really can't fault it mate.....Its that good

 

Well i will defo watch it tonight mate my Dad, when he was alive always had a dislike for the Jews, because of that time and their killing British Soldiers, and in particular the Para's losses.........as for lack of intrest take you pick mate you have Para's in the thread so that will put some off and you have not used the word Arnhem

 

and you have not used the word Arnhem




There's a bit where some of them are off duty and in a local cinema watching a film. At the end the National Anthem starts and all the squaddies stand up to attention in Civvies (As you do) and all the Jews in the cinema start boo'ing.

The Para Sgt has the same sentiment as your father - Slightly miffed as he had liberated Jews from Belsen.

I think you'll enjoy mate......Watch out for the Cockney Airborne Signaller, reminds me of me

 

Heads up part two tonight.........oh hang on it appears only me and Andy are watching it shame on those who have missed it as it is really good ,only fault I would have is to my knowledge Paras never liberated any Concentration camps and were never at Belsen, if anyone can tell me other wise...........

 

It is indeed excellent, and due to get better.

I have slowly been developing an interest in the post-war conflicts Britain was involved in - nice to see something on the telly acknowledging one of them.

Not all of the guys were wearing para cap badges in ep.1.

Pete

 

Pete - there was a cockney Signaller amongst them....I have decided to be him for the duration of the series

Jase, I don't think they liberated it, I was under the impression they rocked up afterwards in the series. I don't know what units were actually there though. What did you think of seeing the graves in Palestine? I'm assuming they are actual graves ?

Andy

 

Watched ep 1 on 4OD last evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wartime accuracy was pretty spot on apart from Airbone at Belsen; shame this was inaccurate as kit etc had been well researched.

Steve W.

 

Most excellent so far. It'll be interesting to see where they take it.

...I have slowly been developing an interest in the post-war conflicts Britain was involved in - nice to see something on the telly acknowledging one of them.


Me also. Currently involved in research about the Cyprus Emergency and EOKA. Like Palestine, another very difficult situation for Britain and again between a rock and a hard place.

Lee

 

Pete - there was a cockney Signaller amongst them....I have decided to be him for the duration of the series

Jase, I don't think they liberated it, I was under the impression they rocked up afterwards in the series. I don't know what units were actually there though. What did you think of seeing the graves in Palestine? I'm assuming they are actual graves ?

Andy
Andy, in regard to the graves its covered in part here see post 24, The Promise - Channel 4 (6 AB Div in Palestine) as for turning up after im not sure that happened either the Sgt said he was in Belsen, 6 weeks! again artistic licence to tie in to the Jewish angle.Looks like they are buried in Ramleh cemetery. " There are also 891 war graves of other nationalities from both wars, and 525 non-war burials, many from the RAF and garrison stations that were at Ramleh in the inter war years and until the end of the British Mandate in Palestine in 1948." CWGC :: Cemetery Details

 

Cheers-Shame it doesn't link to real people in the cemetery. Ho hum-I still think its great so far

 

Cheers-Shame it doesn't link to real people in the cemetery. Ho hum-I still think its great so far
Have to agree its good watching and thats how to wear a beretB) eh mate!

 

Have to agree its good watching and thats how to wear a beretB) eh mate!

Aye-That was one of the first things I noticed which made me think it was going to be good. That said it must be remembered the airborne massive wear their berets completely different today from the rest of the army, ironicaly they wear it like a 'HAT'

 

chatting to my veteran of 6AB Div - he went to Palestine

He said no Para went to Belsen - they were diverted away from Belsen

Insignia etc (wings,pips) werent worn as it made you a target

other than that he said its pretty accurate