Actors, Politicians, and Celebrities

Discussion in 'General' started by morse1001, Mar 24, 2006.

  1. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Harkness ;-) A bit of small mystery :)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Shaw

    http://carryonfan.blogspot.com/2017/09/whatever-happened-to-denis-shaw.html

    Has as one posted "comment" for example that : "Denis was the wireless operator in a Sherman tank on D-Day. 'A'Squadron 24th Lancers.(my dad was the driver)* " * Nb. Their note (Nb2 - The attribution says "unknown" ) - so it could have been posted by anyone whose father was a driver on D-Day. 'A'Squadron 24th Lancers.

    Albeit I can't see him (Dennis Shaw) on here:
    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/24th-lancers-regimental-nominal-roll-and-postings-august-1944.62037/

    So I'm not sure... he may also have been an ex 24th Lancer (who just happens not to be obviously on the Nominal roll at disbandment), though I can't actually see a record for that at the mo...
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  2. harkness

    harkness Well-Known Member

    Indeed!

    Here are his parents:

    1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
    8 Laings Corner, London Road, Mitcham M.B., Surrey
    NAME - DOB - OCCUPATION
    Ernest F Shaw - 02 Apr 1895 - Dental Surgeon
    Dorothy A (Alice) Shaw - 21 Feb 1900 - Unpaid Household Duties

    (Ernest Findlay Shaw lived at this address until his death in 1957)

    Their son, Denis Findlay Shaw, was born in 1921.

    A Squadron, 23rd Hussars, address list:

    Shaw_DF.jpg

    So, no doubt that the above D F Shaw was Denis Findlay Shaw, the actor.

    As you say, the only 'evidence' of his being with 24L is that post by Unknown. Place your bets!
     
    Ramiles likes this.
  3. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    upload_2020-2-7_21-10-36.png

    Bonita Granville, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz at the Mocambo nightclub in West Hollywood, 1943
     
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  4. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Actor Max Von Sydow dies aged 90

    [​IMG]

    "Actor Max Von Sydow, who appeared in films and TV series including The Exorcist, Flash Gordon and Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 90.

    His family announced "with a broken heart and infinite sadness" that the Swedish-born actor died on Sunday
    ."
     
  5. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Wikipedia has the following
    On 1 October 1942 he took a train from Waterloo to Wool in Dorset, where he reported to the 30th Primary Training Wing at Bovington, the headquarters of the Royal Armoured Corps.[3]

    Walker later graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys. The salute at his commissioning parade was taken by General Eisenhower. He went on to command a Sherman tank and to participate in the Battle of the Reichswald with the 4th Armoured Brigade. He left the Army having attained the rank of captain.[3]
    Murray Walker - Wikipedia


    Also...

    Walker worked in advertising for Dunlop and Aspro.[6] Following this, he was employed as an accounts director by the Masius advertising agency, with clients including British Rail, Vauxhall and Mars. He did not retire from this until the age of 59, long after he had gained fame as a commentator. Walker created the slogan "Trill makes budgies bounce with health" – an advertising slogan for bird seed in the 1960s – as well as the slogan "Opal Fruits, made to make your mouth water."[9]
     
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  6. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

  7. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Donald Pleasance who plays the camp forger in The Great Escape was actually a POW in Stalag Luft I after his Lancaster was shot down in 1944. He was a wireless operator and had nearly 50 combat missions under his belt although having started the war as a registered CO.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Huh, Pleasence's Wikipedia article is quite interesting. Initially a conscientious objector, he changed his mind after the bombing attacks on London. And he played King John in the classic 50s Robin Hood! :)
     
  9. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Like many a British actor he excelled at creepy villains a tradition that was to be continued by Alan Rickman. Another British actor who could play a good baddy and who had WW2 service was Peter Ustinov who also wrote an interesting WW2 novel - The Loser. Ustinov was a friend of that other British actor cum soldier David Niven.
     
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  10. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Robert Newton enlisted in the Navy (harrar Jim lad what else did ye expect) and spent over two years on Russian convoys
    Dirk Bogarde reached the rank of Captain and served in both European and Pacific theatres
    John Gregson served on minesweepers and survived a torpedoing
    Kenneth More served on HMS Aurora and HMS Victorious
    Jack Hawkins served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers
     
  11. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    An early US star - the original Rin Tin Tin was part of a WW1 German Army dog unit in 1918! Of course in the silent era the accent wasn't a problem :whistle:
     
  12. MongoUK

    MongoUK Junior Member

    I believe, with a heavy dose of "ish", that Ustinov was reportedly Niven's batman. My grandad served with Niven in Phantom.
     
  13. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    Yes I'd heard the story too but AFAICT their paths did not cross during the war.Ustinov served with the Royal Sussex before being transferred into the Army's cinema unit as a script writer working for Carol Reed. He and Niven apparently met post war.

    Could Ustinov have played Niven's bat man in some film?
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
  14. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Niven and Ustinov were both in The Way Ahead, though I can't recall if they shared a scene.
     
  15. MongoUK

    MongoUK Junior Member

    Yep. As idler says. I also can't remember!

    I have a photo that I think MAY have been at Denham Studios. David Niven, Leslie Howard, Sally Gray, possibly Leslie Dwyer all in one photo. I wish I had more info on it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2020
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  16. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    There may be some truth in the Ustinov/Niven story. It would appear though to be an act rather than the usual officer/batman relationship.
    From Wiki:
    Niven also worked with the Army Film and Photographic Unit. His work included a small part in the deception operation that used minor actor M. E. Clifton James to impersonate General Sir Bernard Montgomery. During his work with the AFPU, Peter Ustinov, one of the script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman. Niven explained in his autobiography that there was no military way that he, a lieutenant-colonel, and Ustinov, who was only a private, could associate, other than as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act".
    and then BBC Obituary to Ustinov: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1260975.stm
    He later claimed the highlight of his inauspicious military career to be his spell as batman for David Niven. The two were to become life-long friends.

    Somewhere I have Niven's autobiography but I can't find it to check.

    Tim
     
  17. MongoUK

    MongoUK Junior Member

    Yep, now I've re-read it, that's what had been said before.
     
  18. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    You have some of "The First of the Few" cast there, and no doubt it's an excellent photo.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
  19. MongoUK

    MongoUK Junior Member

    That's what I thought, although Leslie Howard in a tux with a big moustache always throws me off.

    Struggling to name the second lady in the shot, but I think this would have been whilst Niven was 2iC to one of the Phantom squadrons, Tony Warre stands to his right (12th Lancer officer, who I think my grandad was driver for, who is also in the pic). I also think a beaming David Niven seems out of Hollywood character too haha

    There seems to be other familiar faces there too, but I'm never sure whether through films or regiment pictures.
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Thanks for posting the photo,, and having now viewed it "The First of the Few" can be discounted I think!

    That has me stumped, can't think of a Leslie Howard film in which he wore a moustache.

    Backstage at a theatre maybe? With Mr Niven and assorted squaddies having been in the audience? More digging required as it's beyond me at present.

    Again, thanks for posting, I like a mystery!

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     

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