Major Fuller
Dirk Lorek
Just watching 'A Bridge too far' (for the umpteenth time btw :-). I
have always wondered if Major Fuller did really exist, and if, if it
was true that he was forced to take a sick leave and what happened to
him later. Did Cornelius Ryan interview him (havn't read the book)?
Dirk
______________________________________________________________________
What am I, Life? A thing of watery salt, held in cohesion by unresting
cells,which work they know not why, which never halt, myself unwitting
where their Master dwells. - John Masefield -
--
Lawrence Dillard
news:b0s3hf$89o$1...@nntp6.u.washington.edu...
>
> Just watching 'A Bridge too far' (for the umpteenth time btw :-). I
> was true that he was forced to take a sick leave and what happened to
> him later. Did Cornelius Ryan interview him (havn't read the book)?
>
> Dirk
Maj. Fuller" was a name made up by the film's producers, probably so as to
avoid unpleasant legal complications following the release of the motion
picture.
There was, in fact, a warning issued by the intelligence officer on the
staff of Lt Gen FAM Browning (Deputy Commander, First Allied Airborne
Army)--one Maj Brian Urquhart (no relation to Maj Gen Roy Urquhart,
commander of British 1st Airborne Div)--that two divisions of II SS Panzer
Corps were refitting near Arnhem after operating in Normandy ( a warning
echoed by a similar timely warning from the Dutch underground).
MG Browning abruptly dismissed Maj Urquhart's warning, which was based on
photo intel. Urquhart promptly produced the RAF photos themselves as
evidence. These irrefutably showed German armor near Arhnem.
MGEN Browning compared Maj Urquhart's attempt to warn him off as resembling
that of a "nervous child suffering from a nightmare," and quickly ordered
the latter on sick-leave for "nervous strain and exhaustion."
At the time author Cornelius Ryan wrote his book, he was apparently not
privy to the ULTRA operation, which work product at the time also clearly
demonstrated not only the presence of armor near Arnhem but also the
presence of elements of the German 15th Army, which had evacuated from
positions along the Scheldt Estuary via the South Beveland Isthmus and via
the Flushing/Breskens ferry during the halt imposed on Gen Horrocks after
his forces entered Antwerp and captured that city's undamaged docks intact,
on the flank of the tenuous route to be followed by Gen Horrocks' forces on
their way to Arnhem.
In his "Corps commander", Horrocks expressed surprise (if not consternation)
at being confronted by such forces, as he had not been warned to expect to
meet up with them.
Martin Rapier
> have always wondered if Major Fuller did really exist, and if, if it
> was true that he was forced to take a sick leave and what happened to
> him later. Did Cornelius Ryan interview him (havn't read the book)?
In short no. He was actually Brian Urqhart (no relation to the commander of
1st AB) and he had an illustrious postwar career with the UN, eventually
being knighted. He wasn't sent on sick leave, but was transferred away from
his post as chief intelligence officer for 1st Airborne Army. His best line,
about whether the airborne carpet was to made of live or dead airborne
troops, was given by Gene Hackman in the film. He ended the war commanding a
squadron of armoured cars (having transferred out of the airborne, still a
Major) and was one of the first troops into Belsen, arresting the
commandant, Obersturmbannfuhrer Kramer and preventing his men from shooting
him out of hand.
I have heard it claimed that his characters name was changed in the film to
avoid confusing the audience!
Interesting transcript of an interview with him here:
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/UN/Urquhart/urquhart0.html
Cheers
Martin