Commando Veterans Forum

Ive been reading Lord Ashcroft's book Special Forces Heroes and it mentions Major Gordon Webb MC of Dieppe fame Its says he did his commando training pre Achnacarry in North West Scotland and was given demolition instruction by the Hollywood actor David Niven. Well,I knew Niven was in some secret outfit called Phantom but thats all. My father did his commando training pre Achnacarry so could he have been taught by David Niven too?? Surely if he had he wouldve told us all in the family ? Anyone know more of Niven's wartime role?

David Niven was renowned for saying virtually nothing about his wartime role. He was reportedly in "A" squadron of a phantom unit, or offically a GHQ Liaison Regiment unit. There is a little bit about the regiment on the link below :

http://www.thewarillustrated.info/211/now-it-can-be-told-phantom-patrols-ghq-liaison-regiment.asp

One of the few things David Niven is recorded as saying about the war is quoted below:

"I will, however, tell you just one thing about the war, my first story and my last. I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war."

David Niven received training at STC Lochailort in the early war years, which was operational as the first Independent Companies, SOE and special forces Special Training Centre from May 1940 onwards.

Thanks for all that Ive been reading Niven's autobiography and theres hardly anything about the war which is a shame .I can understand his feelings but it robs the rest of us doesnt it

Guys

Without giving too much away I highly rcommend you read Michael Munn's book - The Man Behind the Balloon. It is the latest book about David Nivens life and is by far the BEST of any of the Niven books and that INCLUDES Nivens own paged memoirs . Not only does it rewrite the David Niven story but corrects many of the misnomers and untruths. Yet it does it with flair and respect. It is a fascinating insight into Nivens life and suprisingly includes some more depth about Nivens wartime experiences. For example Niven was 'unofficially' at Dieppe with Lord Lovat. Read the book and see for your self.

Steve

hey Steve thanks for that .Im quite a film buff and have the book by Sheridan Morley but it doesnt say much about his army service but i will look up yr suggestion .ta mate

Its an excellent book. Niven had quite a life. yes it does seem he was on the Dieppe raid It was hushed up because he disobeyed orders by going. He lead A-Section of Phantom following Major Mills-Roberts to attack the Hess Battery. Lord Lovat always denied Niven was there but it does seem he was. Niven wouldnt talk about it due to the tragic losses and it being a disaster but the commando side to the raid was a great success wasnt it?

Hi, sorry to crash this thread, but have been searching a long time for information on my Grandad to pass onto my mother and came across this as i know he is linked to David Niven and a Commando Unit.

All i know is, throughout my childhood he always told us he just refuelled airplanes on a runway, up until my grandmother passed away, and a couple of years before he died - where he started telling us different.

He pulled out medals, pictures, letters, and photographs he had taken from Hitlers Bunker (which one i dont know - probably not the big one, but we still have it and its a personal one of Hitler) telling us he served alongside David Niven (for how long i dont know, as you have to understand he only told us little bits every now and then) and that they worked in small groups and did some very amazing sounding things, along with very upsetting - and then some very funny things to boot.

He served and continued after the war ended abroad until he had to be admitted to a sort of sanitarium for a bit after some of the screwed up stuff he did i reckon, quite sad really - and then never spoke of it to anyone.

He had tattoo's they gave each other when they were drunk and stole a tattoo machine of some of the places he served. I know Dunkirk, Malaya/Burma, Farde Islands, Germany and if he lived longer would have probaby told us a lot more - i get the feeling there is lots he didnt tell us.

I have a fair few stories he managed to tell me before he died of a broken heart i imagine and drink, and am very proud of him. I have a few pictures of him, and i know he served in the Seaforth Highlanders also. His name is Harold 'Harry' Greenfield.

One regret i have is that i didnt live closer, as he was taken advantage of towards the end, and his medals were taken along with god knows what else.

I know you guys know a lot, and maybe in some way can help me find out some more information on him.

Thanks

Nathan

Macdonald wrote:

David Niven received training at STC Lochailort in the early war years, which was operational as the first Independent Companies, SOE and special forces Special Training Centre from May 1940 onwards.

I did read that D niven,saw service in France,long range jeep patrols ,with in wooded areas,france..I belive he came from TA Regt Artist rifles[regt] possible four runner off, SAS ghost Sqn,radio communications