Royal welch in films!

[sid burns]

I watched a film yesterday called the Red Beret, basically second world war and the Para Reg. The recruits on the course were a mixture of all regiments, with Donald Houston ( Taffy) being a Royal Welch Fusilier.

This got me thinking so apart from the obvious Richard Burton in the Wild Geese (1978) and Where Eagles Dare (1968) shows Burton very early in film wearing the badge, what other films are out there?

Come on then film buffs!!

Sid

[ap1]

I know there's more, but can't think of any. However, we also had another WW2 Officer who was a film actor in addition to Llewelyn and Hawkins:
Major Andre Morell Now I've seen his picture, I know his face.

http://kieranmcmullen.com/2011/03/30...-andre-morell/

[bennyball2]

Not 100% but didn't they were the badge and hackle in the Krays??

[sid burns]

Benny that was the Royal fusiliers I believe a London Reg I'm sure somebody will correct me if I wrong!!

Sid

[jungle1810]

Hello,
Off the cuff Jack Hawkins was a former R.W.F. officer before he joined E.N.S.A. One of his parts was De Witt in the film about the Royal Warwick's at Rorke's drift, amongst others. Desmond Llewellyn who was captured at Dunkirk was also a former RWF officer he is noted for his part as "Q" in a few bond films.
Regards RBD

[Bob Lake]

Desmond Llewellyn, Q in the old Bond movies, was a subaltern with B COy 1 RWF with the BEF 1940. He was captured at Robecque whilst defending the Dunkirk defensive perimeter. He frequently wore his Royal Welch tie when appearing as Q.

David Edwards (I think that's right) was a Royal Welch Fusilier at Colditz whose locksmithing skills were featured in the film 'Colditz' - his great story was that he broke into the commandant's wine cellar consuming the contents of many of the fine Moselle wines and filling the empties with his overburdened bladder. I hope the Germans enjoyed the sparkling Welsh ale but I expect it was a bit young for their refined taste.

Jack Hawkins another famous actor who was Royal Welch - I would imaging he would have chosen RWF paraphernalia in his many war films if he had the chance. Judging by the photo in his wikipedea entry see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Hawkins he was very Regimental. Can anyone enlarge on this?

[Bob Lloyd]

Yes, watch The League of Gentlemen, a b & w film but Hawkins definitely wears his RWF tie. It's about an Army officer planning a bank robbery using all the skills soldiers have. Thought about it when I was serving!! Also of course Hedd Wynn a Welsh language film that was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign language film.

[ap1]

More on Andre Morell. I don't understand how we've missed him. He served as an officer in the regiment for 6 years. His film parts read like a history of post war British Films, including Bridge Over the River Kwai, Ben-Hur and quite a few hammer films. He also appeared in Dr Who, Dangerman, The Proffesionals.....the list goes on. Wonder what his war service was?

And a clip of the man himself as Dr Watson in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" with Peter Cushing as Sherlock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQRQ8MXqS10


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Morell

[jungle1810]

Hello Bob,
Re Jack Hawkins I first heard he served in the RWF from Major John Barchard my Company Commander in "D" Company 2 RWF in Malaya. We were talking about former RWF officers and he mentioned Jack Hawkins to me and spoke of the time Jack served in the RWF, and went on to tread the boards so to speak. We spoke of others but not in depth so I do not know much of Jack Hawkins except he went on to ENSA.
perhaps some more enlightened film buffs can plug the gaps for the forum readers.
Regards RBD

[Bob Lake]

Many of you will not know of how much regimental research is carried out by Lt Colonel Richard Sinnett, the mass of information he has collected, and the vast contribution he makes to Regimental Records and Histories, is an absolute wonder. Following up from the question on RWF in films, I asked him if he could add anything about Major Andre Morell, I attach his reply in full, in which he also identifies the actor Andrew Cruickshank (Dr Cameron in Dr Finlay's Casebook] as a Royal Welchman. That's a surprise new one to me, so whats the tally now?

Desmond Llewellyn, Jack Hawkins, Andre Morell and Andrew Cruickshank. Perhaps we should count Richard Burton in, since he clearly wanted to portray himself as a Royal Welchman, and perhaps Coronation Street's Ken Barlow (Lt William Roache) - his Wikipedia entry contains no reference to an appearance in film.

Any advances?

Bob Lake

Dear Robert,
Sorry to take so long to reply. This was news to me. I had an entry for him in my list of Emergency Commissioned officers, which has his number - 184741, and his commission date in the RWF of 3 May 1941. He joined the 10th Battalion on 3 June 1941 and left on 21 November the same year. After that I know nothing. My guess is that during the war he was with ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) - see Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainments_National_Service_Association . If you google you get plenty of leads including our Forum.
Morell, who died on 28 November 1978 and has an obituary in The Times of 30 November, also has an entry in Wikipedia at <
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Morell> which says that "The onset of World War II interrupted his acting career, and he joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1940. He served with the regiment until 1946, by which time he had attained the rank of major."Another RWF actor was Andrew Cruickshank - see his Wikipedia entry at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cruickshank . This doesn’t mention his RWF service, but Who Was Who, volume 8 does, saying "Served Royal Welch Fus., and GS, 1940-45."I wish I had more time to devote to this, including getting involved in the Forum’s activities, but what with one thing and another, I don’t seem to have the time. It would be kind if you would pass on any of this you want to. Similarly, please let me know of anything else of interest on the Forum.
Regards
Richard