Richard Todd and the Pegasus Bridge: D-Day 

Thanks for the video. An actor who did his bit in the war but was modest about it. I always enjoyed his films.

I bumped into Richard Todd in the mid 2000s in Grantham. A small but immaculately dressed man in a tweed jacket, buff waistcoat (bottom button undone) and tie. I rather towered over him but he was very gracious. I thank him for his service and that I was a fan of his films. He was absolutely charming.

Fantastic man and actor. Not only a serving soldier but a Sandhurst trained officer with battle experience.

Actors like David Niven and James Stewart did not have to join up but did and both served with distinction. Richard Todd's experience adds truth to his appearances in war movies.

He is buried between his two sons who died in unfortunate circumstances. Always enjoyed Richard Todd films growing up.

My step-great grandad fought at Pegasus Bridge. He was with Richard Todd since the beginning, my grandparents believe that the reason that he was at Pegasus in the first place is just because of Richard Todd, either signing up because he knew about it from him, or being chosen specifically (some of the reports state how good he was as a soldier). He never really liked films, but when The Longest Day came out, he was adamant on seeing it. Now if you need any confirmation on how good and accurate that film is, his first words walking out of the cinema were "Yep, that's what it was like".

Fine Actor, may He R.I.P.

the beret Todd wore in the Longest Day was the same beret he wore on D-Day.

I'm just coming back from Normandy on the ferry. We were only talking about him when we were at Pegasus Bridge. He's a. Legend, always loved his films, he had great presence. An officer and gentleman.

Watched The Longest Day whenever it was shown on TV.. quite early on I had discovered that he was involved in the Pegasus Bridge Assault in real life and this made the film all the better for it.

remember seeing an interview with Richard Todd re the longest day. He played major Howard of course but after they have captured the bridge and the paras arrive to report it was an actor playing Richard Todd talking to Richard Todd!!!! He said it was a totally weird feeling.

From my memory he was always a decent man & I'm sure his experiences framed him to firm & fair in good measure. 👍

Many thanks, wonderful to see Richard Todd given a memorandum of his increadable bravery, he just shrugged it off really and saw it as just a job that had to be done he was only 25 as a lot of them were very young men. I saw him in a play once where he shot at a picture on the other side of the stage not a very big picture either I tell you he shot that thing bang in the middle and the picture smashed to bits, it was only then I remembered he had been in the war!

I always remember him from "The Dambuster's", such a fine actor, and from hearing this recount, such a fine man ...

Todd was one of the many to whom we owe thanks for our freedom.

The electronic voice drives me mad

"The Dam Busters" leading man himself. As cool as they come. What a hero!

Great guy. True Airborne. RIP.

What a talented and brave man!! I learned a lot about him from this clip. Thanks for posting!! 👍

That was a good clip. I never realised that Richard Todd had been in the military service. He was a great actor and certainly a great man.

I always knew there was more to him than meets the eye

Thank you for this, a great actor, a better soldier !

I always considered Richard Todd to be a fine actor. The part that really amuses me about this story, is the name of the C.O., Lt. Col. Pine - Coffin. It just reminds me of the Monty Python's Life of Brian scene and the joke names - Naughtius Maximus, Sillius Sodus and Biggus Dickus.

Todd's later life was full of tragedy when his two sons both committed suicide. A sad end to a much admired man.

He appealed to me very much. A nice, attractive man and a gentleman. I think it sad that he had a sad personal life.

Brave men all. I have visited pevauus Bridge and pilaid my respects at the grave of lt Denholme and brotheridge. The 1st Casualty on d day at the bridge

The Richard Todd video is factually correct, but, alas spoiled by a poor "robotic" narration.

My Dad was 6th Airborne with him at Pegasus Bridge. Landed same time. Not well known is that 6th Airborn was named to fool Hitler that there were 2nd,3rd, 4th, and 5th. But they were fictitious.

I had no idea. Thank you for sharing.

A Computer reading this and pronouncing things wrong....This man deserves more than this, let WW2TV deal with this and lets make this proud and worthy of the man.

Lt Col Geoffrey ....Pine-Coffin? Did I hear that right? I guess better to tell them up front.

And who was Lord LOO-VAT? Please don't use these awful artificial voice overs they ruin what was otherwise an excellent presentation.

He was one of many of that generation of actors who had done it for real, Niven, Steiger, Ford, Murphy, Stewart and Marvin to name a few. I even believe Noel Coward did a stint in the Fleet Air arm but it was decided by the powers that be he would be better at producing propaganda films . Somehow I couldn't imagine that happening today.

Au moins, lui peut en parler, il y était ce jour là. Respect sir. 👍👏

Fascinating. A well-researched vid. Todd was quintessentially the British stiff upper lip in his roles, and was convincing in all those roles.

Not too bad if you watch it with the sound off.

What an action-filled life! A man of action turned performance artist. May he rest in peace.

There is an occasional hiccup, but this is one of the better computer generated narrations I've heard.

it's nice to here something about the Britts during D-Day ..Seems Todd was a bit of a good guy con artist early on ...well done Mr. Todd and thank you

Jimmy mcardle was a friend of mine (Jim died in 2009) he spoke highly of Richard Todd having served with him in 6 para during the war ( Jimmy is actually captured in a dug out holding a radio during market garden)and in Palestine, he was always there ar regimental gatherings, a tough man in and out of Army, especially regards his two Sons, a british patriot.

BRAVE MEN OF THE PAST, WONDERFUL MEN.

This was very good... seen him in the LONGEST DAY... “ hold till releaved “ and D - Day the sixth of June... Both classic movies... movies Can’t remember the rest of the cast of D-day the sixth of June ??????

I heard that Richard Todd was offered the chance to play himself, in the "Longest Day". However he replied no thanks, I want a bigger part than that.

LOL his superior officer at para training was a fellow named Geoffrey Pine-Coffin? Also, him mentioning that the noise was so incredibly loud on the plane, they couldn't talk to each other, is always overlooked in movies. Even in "Band of Brothers," one of the American paras leans back and then is startled by the rumbling of distant explosions. Impossible to hear over the din your own transport plane is making. One thing the movie "The Longest Day (1962)" got visually wrong was the arrival of Lovat's commandos. In the movie, the director always has the camera focused on Lovat, his bagpipe player and his personal escort. You see very few of the 1,000 others! So I was rather bemused when the paras at the bridge shouted: "It's Lovat!" It really seems like those dozen or so (in the movie at least) paras were relieved by Lovat, his bagpipe player and two other commandos. In the beach assault scenes, the director and producer went all out and had a few companies of army troops stand in as extras so the contrast with the Pegasus Bridge scene is very stark.

Great movie. Good looking guy.

One of my favorite actors from the 40s - 60s. I've only seen part of "The Hasty Heart". I may have to pick up a copy.

Very interesting. I didn't know that about him; that he had an extensive military record.

Richard Todd was basically blind in old age, but could still be seen shopping in Grantham up until his closing days.

"His father was a medic in the British Army in India?" Well actually his father was a Doctor, because the Son's of medics, did not go to Shrewsbury school in the 1920's!

The computer voice with the British accent reading the text, typos included, is hilarious. My favorite (2:25) is, "His battalion, the two-N-D slash four-T-H …"

The picture 1:47 is of Sandhurst School Catford London. Hit by a bomb 20 January 1943.My wife used to teach there. 38 students and staff were killed.

Not keen on the robot voice.

Stout fellow did his bit for britain In ww2 Also like Kenny more he divorced His wife for a younger one

As Todd evidently knew also, I have found this to be quite true. in obtaining opportunities for advancement, It doesn't matter really what YOU know. What matters is what others THINK you know.

Such a complete contrast to that fake hero, John Wayne.

BRILLIANT

My Dad was a Para at the Pegasus Bridge he was blown up by a Mortar and was badly wounded loosing part of his calf Muscle and wounded elbow cutting his tendon he could never completely extend his arm after that and got a full war pension but used to get one of his mates to take to take his medicals when applying for jobs his picture is on the wall of the cafe from the day he remembered the Daughter when he visited many years after his name was Sidney Reeves (I believe his nick name was Didge) from Liverpool mum said they had just got married and Dad volunteered for the Paras because it was an extra shilling.

Hero 💪🇬🇧🇬🇧👏👏

Good video spoilt by a "robot" commentary.

Fun fact: Richard Todd was a battalion commander during the war. He was one of the few British actors who saw heavy combat, unlike the loudmouth Yank, John Wayne. There were couple of actors who participated in the actual D-Day. JAMES DOOHAN, CAN CHARLES DURNING, USA. HENRY FONDA, USN. JOHN FORD, USN. ALEC GUINNESS, RN. DAVID NIVEN, BA. RICHARD TODD, BA.

Didn’t Todd actually know the man he played in the Longest Day movie from being in the military?

I know the family Richard Todd brother used to live in Farnham Royal ,I used to go there on some occasions,Brian Todd went to St Mary's school but by 1979 the family left ,Brian father used work for a well known soft drinks company which I forgot very nice family I did not know what happened to Brian .

Wow, He plays a part in a major war film. Taking a Bridge in the Longest Day. My Father was in the 1st and my Uncle in the 6th. After a bridge too far. occurred, There was not enough men left, So disbanded into the 6th. That's where Dad and my Uncle went to Palestine. To think Richard Todd was one of those men with them. Dad never mentioned him. But saying that, They never said anything about any of it.

Warrior

Apparently he wore the beret in the film that he actually wore on the day. The Longest day as a film was limited . To state everything in one film would have made the Longest film ever. In his autobiography he stated he lived for a while near Toomebridge Northern Ireland.

Hi Mate Good video Your English is far better than my Spanish but a few pointers if you don't mind. 1) If you feel your spoken English is not good enough try to get a friend to do it. As the computer generated voice is very unpopular and it gets so much wrong and is very irritating to most people 2) you need to keep an eye on putting in extra words where they don't belong an example would be the banner in the video. "The D-DAY" it sounds wrong as it should be just "D-DAY" 3) you might want to think about adding a list of your reference articles in the description. It would help to cut down some of the detractors. Knowing a little bit about Todd and Pegasus I was surprised by some of the comments you made so did a bit of quick research and found you were right "Out of interest I actually met Major Howard a Pegasus on D-DAY 1984 and he signed the inside of my WWII British Helmet and have a photo of him doing so" Keep it up and I'm waiting on the next Video Shaun

Fine actor

Following the capture of pegasus bridge,Todd went into a nearby german HQ building and liberated a cast metal german desk eagle.....which would be part of his effects sold by his son upon his death...both the german desk eagle and a later 1960s passport to Todd would turn up at a militaria fair in the uk in 2007.....inscribed to the eagles base the words ..captured by r todd 6 june 1944.

should have been made a sir

I was trying to seeif my dad was mentioned. He was a paratrooper. Has to get to pegasus bridge to hold it during d-day. My dad made it into battle. Hee was shot in the leg. He had a british penny in his pocket and the penny deflected the bullet.

Richard Todd was an extremely famous film star, playing many different roles and personalities with great success. Yet when he died very little was said about it or him. Richard Todd’s problem was that he was not the usual lefty-loon expected of film actors. So he could never be forgiven. Which tells us a lot about British society and politics.

Hold until relieved.

I can't help but think I would have been reluctant to serve under someone named Lt. Col. Pine-Coffin.

Good to have a narrator who can read out simple military terms correctly - eg ‘2nd batallion’ is of course the ‘second batallion’. 1st/4th is…😀

Lt. Col. Pine-Coffin! You couldn't make this stuff up.

Imagine those Germans at Pegasus Bridge: _Oh mein gott, es ist Richard Todd !_ . (blame google if that's wrong).

Good information but awful automated voice.

Not sure I'd be happy to have a CO called Lt Col Pine-Coffin 5:40 😆. Joke name, like Sillius Soddus or Biggus Dickus?

The worst thing about "The Longest Day" is the casting of John Wayne, a man who stayed in Hollywood while other (better) actors did their bit.

No mention of Pegasus Bridge

Interesting facts,but why o why use a robot voice just not right for the period or subject who had a fantastic voice and delivery

The AI voice id very good, but not perfect. An actual person would automatically realize that 2nd is pronounced "second", and that in Cafe de Paris, Paris is pronounced Paree. Having said that, Richard Todd was my boyhood hero, especially after seeing the Dam Busters..

He played the part of Howard and another actor played his part. I believe he originally wanted to play himself but of course he was too old to play himself as the movie was made almost 20 years after the event.

Shame about the computer generated voice, it ruined a well written and interesting documentary. I had to rewind when I was told he was in the two en dee slash four tee aitch batallion! I think he meant 'second fourth batallion.

Dreadful robotic commentary

This features one of the best robot text to voice readers I have ever heard, anybody know what software was used?

I think a parrot could read better. Todd was a fine man and an honorable one.

Great man....... but why, oh why use a second rate computer voice?

The story is interesting but spoilt by the computer generated narration. If you are going to post these videos please get rid of the dreadful computer voice. It mis pronounced many sentences many army units, which insults those brave units.

The narrator's voice seems automated!

Why on earth spoil a truly great video with that dreadful computerised voiceover - totally ruined it!

Obviously no idea of the English language. Excruciating.

I AM A F*CKIN* DALEK!!!

If you must use 'robot narration, you could at least add some style & spice it up a bit with Yoda's syntax . . . : )

Sorry, but very little 'Interest Facts' when you stopped your coverage of Richard Todd's outstanding military career halfway through. Nothing about his exploits in Europe; the Pegasus Bridge; one of the pivotal attacks of that battle. Most disappointing. Richard Todd was an exemplary actor and in 'The Longest Day' the absolute accuracy of that role shone through because he was there, at the bridge in real life, involved in the battle. He always had a 'military' way of carrying himself and thanks to clever camera work in all his major screen roles the world didn't truly realise that Todd was a short man. He barely made the height minimum for military service; of course, later in the war these restrictions were pretty much flexible. A great actor and an exceedingly lucky, brave soldier. I miss him still. Regards, Bill H.

Sound track ruins it. Fourth pronounced 4ST. I mean!

14:10 Its Lord Lovat (one word) not pronounced Low Vat.

The writing appears to be as robotic as the voice.

Enjoyed it apart from the Alexa type voice. Why f"""k up a brilliant video by doing that????

Interesting, I knew that he had served up to an including D-Day. But the most annoying and frustrating aspect of your numerus youtube videos is the persistent use of a computer generated voice over. Don't, just don't, as a native English speaker the complete lack of correct pronunciation and gramma really, really grates. If English is not you native tongue or there is another impediment that causes this then I apologize (USA).