"A Bridge Too Far", Movie casting mirrored real personages

The movie “A Bridge Too Far”, based on Cornelius Ryan’s best selling book of the same name, chronicling the WWII Operation Market-Garden (Battle of Arnhem), premiered in 1977 with an all-star cast. Each of the major actors/actresses were already an established star unto themselves. Although not garnering any significant film awards, it represents one of the last truly epic historical war films produced.

Am not certain who was responsible for casting the characters in the movie, however Joseph E. Levine and his son Richard produced the movie and Richard Attenborough was the director. (Author's note: Subsequently have learned that the casting director was Miriam Brickman.) With only a few noteworthy exceptions the coincident physical features of the actors portraying the actual significant personages was, in my opinion, rather remarkable. This is obviously the case with some of the individuals more than others. See if you don't agree in the similarity in facial appearances in the following examples:

Knowledgeable individuals will recognize Maj. General Frost in his final rank, not his rank of Lieut Colonel, commanding 2nd Bn, the Parachute Regiment, at the time of the battle.

Lieut. General Frederick Arthur Montague "Boy" Browning GCVO KBE CB DSO, OC, 1st Allied Airborne Army. (played by Dirk Bogarde)

Lieut. General Sir Brian Horrocks KCB KBE DSO MC, OC, XXX Corps (played by Edward Fox)

Maj. General Robert “Roy” E. Urquhart CB DSO OC, 1^st Airborne Division ( played by Sean Connery)

Maj. General Stanislaw F. Sosabowski, OC, 1^st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade ( played by Gene Hackman)

Brigadier J.O.E. Vandeleur DSO & Bar, OC, 32nd Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division (played by Michael Caine)

Maj. General John D. Frost CB, DSO MC, as Lieut Colonel, OC, 2nd Bn, the Parachute Regiment (played by Anthony Hopkins)

Maj. General James M. Gavin U.S.A., OC, 82nd Airborne Division (played by Ryan O’Neal, and not as good a resemblance as some of the others)

Maj. General Maxwell Taylor, OC, 101st Airborne Division (played by Paul Maxwell)

Brigadier Gerald Lathbury, OC, 1st Parachute Brigade (played by Donald Douglas)

Major Brian Urquhart (named “Fuller” in movie), Intelligence Officer, 1st Airborne Corps (played by Frank Grimes)

Mrs. Kate Ter Horst (played by Liv Ullman)

SS Obergruppenführer (Lieut General) Wilhelm Bittrich, OC, II SS Panzer Corps (played by Maxmillian Schell, again not quite as good a resemblance as some of the others)

SS Standartenführer (Maj General) Heinz Harmel (named ”Ludwig” in movie), OC, 10th SS Panzer Division (Frundsberg) (played by Hardy Kruger)

Field Marshal Walter Model, OC, Army Group B (played by Walter Kohut)

Major Allison Digby Tatum-Warter DSO, OC, A Company, 2nd Bn, The Parachute Regiment (named “Carlyle” in movie) (played by Christopher Good)

SS Hauptstrumführer (Captain) Paul Graebner, OC, Reece Bn, 9th SS Panzer Division (Hohenstaufen) (played by Fred Williams)

A "Gallimaufry" of Militaria

As most bloggers quickly realize, it is a real challenge to keep coming up with new subject matter which will be of continuing interest to the viewer. In addition even with reasonably good equipment, I’m not the best of photographers. Specific apologies for shadow and glare on a couple of frames due to overhead lighting configuration and obstructions out in front, including a group of four descending miniature British paratroopers.

With that being said, thought I would present what some fellow Scots refer to as a “Gallimaufry”, which translated means a hash of odds and ends. Hopefully viewers will spot something of personal interest, somewhat analogous to going into an antique militaria shop or sections of a museum. The subject matter ranges from British and Commonwealth badges (predominately Scottish and Special Forces), to a grouping of the special forces insignia of the former Soviet Union. The Soviet grouping was collected in the brief window of 1989-1991, and to the best of the author's knowledge is righteous, i.e. all pieces genuine.

It should be stated from the outset, that while there are a significant number of rather scarce genuine pieces, however the seasoned collector will immediately spot some likely “fillers”, i.e., reproductions, due to the well established rarity of the real insignia.  This is principally due to the fact that in the condition they are in, the real article can only be found in regimental museums or advanced private collections, and would be at prohibitive prices if made available to the average collector. However, a significant number of these insignia were acquired in Great Britain on midshipman cruises as early as the summer of 1955.

Viewers are invited to check back, as I will be expanding the number of photographs as well as descriptions for persons who may not be that familiar with certain types of insignia. In addition if you have a question about a specific item, please don't hesitate to mention it in the comments, and I will try to respond in the same comments section.

An assortment of regimental titles and formation badges
of the British Army and rating badges of the Royal Navy

Various WWII British Armed Forces shoulder titles, formation
 badges, and skill-at-arms insignia

Same frame from a different angle

Another assortment of WWII British Airborne Forces and
 Combined Operations insignia, as well as Army Formation
and Skill-at-Arms badges

Same frame from a different angle

A significant assortment of WWII British Special Forces
insignia including Airborne Forces, Royal Marine
 Commando, Special Air Service, and Canadian Parachute
 Corps

A look at some WWII vintage RAF brevets, British Army
 Skill-at-Arms badges, Shoulder titles and Formation insignia

Same frame from a different angle

An assortment of British Special Forces insignia including
Royal Marine Swimmer-Canoeist qualifications (Special Boat
Service), Fleet Air Arm Pilot's wings, Special Air Service
Regiment, Chindits, Parachute Regiment brevets and
 Drop Zone badges, and Canadian Airborne insignia

A grouping of insignia from the Gordon
Highlanders and affiliated regiments from
the London Scottish, to Canada and
 South Africa

A close-up presenting a chronology of the
 cap badges of the Gordon Highlanders
throughout the "Life of a Regiment"

Predominately cap badges of Scottish Regiments of the
Canadian Army, also included are the Canadian and
 Australian Army Intelligence Corps, Lord Stratcona's
 Horse and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Basically the cap badges of the Scottish Regiments of the
British Army

A drum-major's baldric of the 1st Bn of
the Parachute Regiment 

A detailed close-up of the baldric showing
the battle honors "Bruneval",
"Normandy Landing"  and "Arnhem
1944"

The blazon of a regimental side drum
of the 1st Bn 92nd Gordon Highlanders

Details of the uniform of a Lieut-Colonel
of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders circa 1936

Further details of the same uniform

Principally the special qualification badges of Royal Marine
Mountain Leader, Swimmer-Canoeist, and other specialized
qualification distinctions, as well as Royal Navy Rating badges

A variety of special forces insignia of the former Soviet Union
including Airborne Forces (VDV), Naval Infantry and Spetsnaz

A grouping of Parachute Regiment, Glider Pilot Regiment,
Special Forces, and Royal Marines, as well as Canadian
Airborne Forces

A variety of British and Canadian Airborne and Special
Forces, also note the crossed lances of the Musical Ride
of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Another grouping of British special forces insignia including
the Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines, Special Air Service,
Canadian Airborne and the Royal Navy Submarine Parachute
Assistance Group

Airborne and Special Forces of Canada, as well as RCMP
 Emergency Response Team and British Gulf War insignia 

Uniform of a Lieut-Colonel of the Parachute Regiment - Falklands circa 1982

The following series of photographs are of the No. 2 Dress (Service Dress) uniform of a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Parachute Regiment circa 1982 (Falklands War). Although comprised of all authentic elements, the uniform has been “re-constructed” to represent that of the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion (Green lanyard) of the regiment, who was present for the total action.

Not as well known as Lieut-Colonel Herbert “H” Jones VC MBE (2 Para), his name is Lieut-Colonel Hew William Royston Pike, and he planned and executed the highly successful frontal assault by 3 Para on the Argentinian forces in the critical Battle of Mount Longdon. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for this action. He had been previously appointed a Member of the Military Order of the British Empire (MBE). Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of Lieut-General, and appointed Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB), before retirement in 2001.

Here is a photograph of Lieut-Colonels Pike (left) and Jones (right) standing on the flight deck of HMS Hermes during the voyage south to the Falklands in late April 1982. A second later photograph shows Lieut-General Sir Hew W.R. Pike MBE DSO KCB, prior to his retirement in 2001.

Essentially the complete uniform was acquired in 1987, not that many years after the conflict with Argentina. As I can best recall the uniform had belonged to a Captain or Lieutenant of 3 Para (by number of pips), but there was no name anywhere on the uniform. There was a label inside the coat labeled "Burton Tailored"(still a major high street clothier in the UK). It is fabricated out of fine khaki barathea wool. The original owner may well have served in the Falklands Conflict. The ribband bar represents Lieut-Colonel's Pike's awards subsequent to the issue of the South Atlantic Medal, including his DSO. (Author's note: The ribband on his uniform for the DSO is in error. It should be red with blue edges, not as shown, which is for the Military Order of the British Empire (OBE). This has since been corrected with the addition of the DSO ribbon.