A rare recording from the mid 1970's. The complete episode of "This is your life" featuring General John Frost. I came on the end with 2 PARA band (a small part of it anyway)
@MASTERATCOD4 What the Fk are you spouting?? Apart from utter crap. Have you actually looked around recently here in Britain Western Europe even the United States.. we're literally facing the biggest threat in many generations Frost is a legend he was known for his incredible bravery and exploits during a number of dangerous Operations in WW2 so disagree all you like you have absolutely no idea..too much water swimming around it's affected your judgement.
I met general frost once...i had to go around his house ,which was a farm....and repair his television......he was a very modest ordinary kind of man....god bless him.
I remember that farm well as I went to it as I worked very locally to there and asked his wife if he could sign my After the Battle issue Arnhem which he kindly did. Years later when I read his book I wished i had taken that instead and felt a bit embarrassed about taking around just a magazine to sign when he had written a book. I still have that signed copy of the magazine which I am proud of. I only found out from a friend I was working with at the time so couldnt really believe somebody so famous was living so close to where I was working.
"It would be easy for me to say that is a touch of madness,but I think it probably is the most imperishable part of the human spirit,and that is the courage you and your men showed in war and battle. Anthony Hopkins Beautiful quote and so true.God Bless General Frost and all the brave men who faught and died for their country.
My late father served in the American ArmyItalian Campaign in WW2.I love reading WW 2 history and watching WW2 movies.My mother grew up in London during the war.ABridge Too Far is one of my special favorite film and books.Anthony Hopkins is my favorite actor.I love his beautiful words about courage and wanted to share them.Thank You for your reply.
@@kdryan21 I agree hundred percent what you commented the first time. Sometimes is hard to describe people or situations in a video that is being watched in RU-vid.
I remember reading about him being a technical consultant (naturally) on the film A BRIDGE TOO FAR. Colonel Frost was watching a scene in which Anthony Hopkins (who played Frost in the film) was at Arnhem under the bridge and moving through sniper fire. Mr. Hopkins waited until there was a lull in shooting and quickly sprinted across the open area from one doorway to another as the sniper shot at him and missed twice. It was a well done scene and the director was happy with it. Colonel Frost, was not. '"See here, Hopkins" he said... "A British Paratroop commander would walk that distance briskly, but not run as you did, in order to show his absolute disdain for the German Sniper. Do it again."
Anthony Hopkins played the scene as human instinct to run from gunfire,but as he so beautifully stated in the This Is Your Life program,he has the greatest respect for courage.I love his portrayal of Lt Colonel Frost in A Bridge Too Far.
A great Brit if there ever was one. Frost and his men were from the old school, ie they got on with it did whatever job they had to came home(with God's will) and didn't think twice about the great sacrifices they made.Not like today!!!!
+Sean Atkinson Why try to compliment the heroes of the past by slagging off the young men and women of today - that just shows a loose intellect. I've got mates who've served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghan and they've done the same in different circumstances. The old boys of 1944 no doubt were comparing John Frost's generation unfavourably with that of 1914-18, 1914 with 1899, 1899 with 1879, 1879 with 1854, 1854 with 1815 and it goes on. Lazy.
Now where exactly have I "Slagged off the young men and Women of today" you clearly don't understand what I was saying there and as such don't feel the need to explain my self to you.
and one final thing I too have friends, many friends serving all over the World so please before you accuse me of anything get your facts correct. Also a "loose intellect" WTF planet are you living on??
Thank you so much for uploading this. A true hero and he and his men are so humble it's inspiring. Also reminded me with warm regards for my youth :-) Thx again.
A real War Hero and legend who served with a host of heroes, as Eamonn says. In 2023, lunatics are desecrating our war memorials while cowardly politicians and police look the other way.
I remember these men of the wars. First class people. Humble, wise, experienced and humane. We even had a few of them in our parliament once. Compare this with the dregs who have taken over our once proud, sovereign and patriotic establishment.
Ich finde den amüsierten Blick um 2:00 ziemlich angebracht, als wollte ich sagen, wie kann dies möglicherweise der Höhepunkt meines (eigentlich aller) Lebens sein. Ein wahrer Soldat. 👍
I am ex 2 Para and ex-Red Devils Freefall Team, on the day John Frost died I was in the back of a Hercules C130 doing a parachute display into Depot Para 1993 - I remember that we were told of his passing as we were only a few minutes from jumping. R.I.P. John Frost
thanks for this. My view on Market Garden. It was a hugely ambitious plan. It relied on several crucial missions being accomplished. Above all blame the Germans for this mess, not allied commanders and troops assigned the grim task of clearing land the Germans invaded and occupied. Having read a lot of reliable sources (ignoring the film Bridge Too Far as a factual source) i think the tanks could not get through to Arnhem as the road was not open, simple, they had already done a great job getting through and those narrow Dutch roads were easily defended by the Germans, who had fully occupied this area for years, had time after the battle started to prepare their defences and were reinforced quickly. the tanks saw some bitter fighting and did achieve much of their mission. the Germans had reinforcements from France and from Germany which made a huge difference. Radio communication was a big problem. The drop zones were far from the objectives. The infantry fighting was very intense and without relief it was impossible to indefinitely hold on to ground taken. Again, the germans reacted quite quickly. All-in-all it was incredibly bold and complex. Perhaps there was pressure from the allied command to stop an organised German retreat, stop the V1 and V2 bombing of England, get to Berlin before the Russians etc etc. Above all my respects to the allied troops and their bravery. Also respect to the local people of the Arnhem area. To the German people I hope you will keep to your own borders in future and not invade any neighbours. Peace to all. Lest we forget.
Blame the Germans for not just surrendering and walking away? You do understand this was a war, right? Don't blame the Brits for ignoring the evidence of two Panzer divisions in the area or that they knew the German army had retreated across the Scheldt Estuary and towards Arnhem. Don't blame the fact that the British 1st decided to drop 6 MILES from their target and over 3 days during daylight. Don't blame the fact that XXX Corps was advancing up a road that only allowed one tank width for the whole column and couldn't be deviated from. Don't blame the crappy radios they knew wouldn't work... No, just blame the Germans...
The Allied Top Brass (Browning) knew about the Panzers north of Arnhem but ignored it. Who sent radio's that failed to work? Who scoped the road for the Tanks (30 corp) to get to Arnhem? You blame the Germans!!
I think the reason that TIYL ended was due to they just dont make men like General Frost or Douglas Bader anymore. This programme also shows a difference in social change too; smart dress, respect for rank and person even in retirement and embracing our proud history and heroes.
Forget John Wayne, Robert Michum, Richard Widmark, and the rest. Watch a "Bridge Too Far", and access Robert Redford crossing the Our (?, right) River. No spoiler alert, watch that scene ,towards the last 1-2 hour, 45 minutes, and you'll see what a lot of combat veterans fron a couple of wars were reluctant to admit, but then did. Mr. Redford's scene toes totally against the grain of what Hollywood portrays, but is SO on the money
They did their best at arnhem due to the circumstances but six thousand were captured which makes one wonder Did they run out of ammo or fighting spirit!
A lot of good men died trying to execute Monty's crack-brained plan. Don't forget two US Army Airborne Divisions and a Polish Brigade were part of the idiot plan. This doesn't take away from individual courage, it does show the utter foolishness of Monty.
Yes a daft scheme. But look at it in context. They had three under-employed airborne divisions. Eisenhower was trying to get the war finished. Monty had won a few battles. And because (apart from Slim) he was the only British general (not in captivity) who had won battles, he carried a lot of weight. And the plan was tempting....
As a American I agreed It just about Monty and Patton each other try beat each other race to Berlin Market Garden shouldn't plan in the first place Hitler still got over 100 thousands of troops and tanks like they surprised our boys in battle of the bugle in December 1944 a half months after market Garden
As a American Every thing went wrong on Market Garden it shouldn't plan on the first place Monty should listen the Dutch underground plus Monty want beat Patton to Berlin and General frost did his Job to hold the bridge but 30 crop never came
erm maybe the fact that the 82nd didnt do that brave river crossing alone it was with 20% or so British sappers or maybe the part where Redford is show giving it to the tankers that crossed the bridge which in fact never happened. or what about the part where Gavin you 82nd leader didn't attack his objective till days later and only with the help of 30 corps did it eventually get taken
Gavin was ordered by Monty to wait for XXX corps and take the Groesbeek Heights because Monty was afraid of being flanked from there and wanted it for a headquarters. Never mind that it was almost totally unoccupied; Monty had to have it and nothing was going to change that. You can't blame Gavin here.
Kevin Ryan no I think you mixed up a bit there it was gavin that was worried about and attack from reichwald wood south east which would come days later. He told boy browning about his worry which browning then agreed what browning didn’t tell gavin was how much of his forces he should hold back to secure the groesbeek heights. Gavin used his whole forces and didn’t even attempt as attack on his MAIN OBJECTIVE till 36 hours later or maybe more memory not as sharp on specifics. Yet at the same time a force or roughly 750 men managed to make it to the Arnhem bridge and hold it for 4 days was it? Am not blaming gavin solely but his part has just as much blame as browning should. What pisses me off is people bash monty yet it was his planning and leadership that lead to d day being successful and North Africa and nearly a successful job with market garden. Had it not of failed at Nijmegen and market garden had succeeded then everyone would have a different tune. The whole idea of market garden was to end the war faster and on that basis was worth the try
John Cornell agreed... I have served. Although it very short, but long enough to understand what it means when the soldier hold a leader in high regard. Which the men did, they loved monty and that alone is enough to enforce my beliefs about him. He was a capable and fair leader. The one thing I might have criticism of is his ego of not wanted to believe once the yanks joined the war that Britain was a Junior partner. But again I understand it as I to feel the same. Uk was alone from Dunkirk to the time USA got more involved. And by the uk I do mean the imperial forces to but they was on the other side of the world.
Wow, this is what's called Damage Control... Effed up operation. I mean spectacularly... Only 30 years later you just make touching movie and a Saturday special documentary. More of a family get together where you paint the picture you want... Well done you Brits.
The main reason the op failed was Gen Gavin of the 82nd airborne. His major objective priority was securing Nijimgen bridge, which he delayed by nearly two days into his op. By then German forces had moved a Brigade sized force to his north making it then XXX Corps job to clean up his mess. Simply put without going into vast details, if he took the bridge as he was supposed to XXX Corps would of reached Arnhem 3 days earlier than where they stopped. That's even if everything else was allowed to happen, fuck ups or not.
It may have been an effed up operation. But having traveled that area when stationed in Europe the people in that area still remember the sacrifices of those during operation Market Garden to this day.
You haven't got a clue. At the time, Frost was a battalion commander, exposed to enemy fire along with his men and leading them from the front. I would suggest watching the film, or even read a book, to see how much he shared the dangers with his men, but I get the feeling it's way beyond you. By the way, he got the MC for leading a commando raid in 1942. That's the 'Military Cross'. It's a medal awarded to officers for gallantry in the face of the enemy...