Anyone watch a Bridge too far again?
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
I don't think that is the "myth". The story centres on the fact that trying to reach Arnhem bridge stretched the resources of the parachute brigades too far - and they couldn't hold the bridge long enough to be relieved by ground forces i.e. XXX Corps.
Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks (in charge of XXX Corps. played by Edward Fox in the film) was my great uncle, on my mother's side of the family.Given that I've got Bonnie Prince Charlie (Culloden) on my father's side, I always felt that a career in the military was probably best avoided, for the nation's sake...
You are not too kind to your illustrious ancestors there Sam 68:
General Horrocks was generally a good commander and careful of lives too.
I have his autobiography. The Arnhem campaign was more of a one-off for him.
Charles Edward Stuart was, as far as Stuart generals go, also one of the better ones. His main failing was listening to the wrong advice and not following his own decisions through.
However all of this might make you a descendent of James II who was not so nice!
General Horrocks was generally a good commander and careful of lives too.
I have his autobiography. The Arnhem campaign was more of a one-off for him.
Charles Edward Stuart was, as far as Stuart generals go, also one of the better ones. His main failing was listening to the wrong advice and not following his own decisions through.
However all of this might make you a descendent of James II who was not so nice!
There was some discussion about Horrocks' this weekend, particularly when things started to stall around Nijmigen for XXX Corps.
Some academics have suggested that despite being an outstanding commander, with proven successes throughout North Africa, he wasn't at his best during Market Garden. This was suggested as being down to a combination of exhaustion, he was due to retire but was recalled by Monty, and the result of some wounds that he sustained in Africa.
From the reading of his book, Corps Command (exerts only rather than the whole text) he comes across as someone more than willing to admit his mistakes, rather than applying a little bit of selective memory after the event. Its said that he deeply regreted his choice of route for XXX Corps, and wishes he had made better use of the local knowledge of Dutch officers and resistance. I can't confirm it with a reference, but I heard a story that an scenario featuring an advance to Arnhem was in a Dutch staff officers' exam. If you took the direct route, as XXX Corps did, you failed the exam!
As ever, these things always seem simplier with 20/20 hindsight.
Pete
Some academics have suggested that despite being an outstanding commander, with proven successes throughout North Africa, he wasn't at his best during Market Garden. This was suggested as being down to a combination of exhaustion, he was due to retire but was recalled by Monty, and the result of some wounds that he sustained in Africa.
From the reading of his book, Corps Command (exerts only rather than the whole text) he comes across as someone more than willing to admit his mistakes, rather than applying a little bit of selective memory after the event. Its said that he deeply regreted his choice of route for XXX Corps, and wishes he had made better use of the local knowledge of Dutch officers and resistance. I can't confirm it with a reference, but I heard a story that an scenario featuring an advance to Arnhem was in a Dutch staff officers' exam. If you took the direct route, as XXX Corps did, you failed the exam!
As ever, these things always seem simplier with 20/20 hindsight.
Pete
One of the better war films. Was amazed when I first saw it as a kid by the scale of the air drops and all those DC-3's, replica gliders and attention to detail, not to mention the destruction with the battle scenes. Also good for not being a war film where the Allies win and make the Germans look stupid.
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