Roy Urquhart

Robert Elliott " Roy " Urquhart, CB, DSO (* November 28, 1901; † 13 December 1988) was a British general. Urquhart was awarded mainly as commander of the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden, for his achievements during this operation he received, among other things, the Dutch Bronze Lion known.

Life

Urquhart was educated at St. Paul's and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and then the Highland Light Infantry assigned. With this unit he remained stationed in India by 1940. 1941 to 1943 he commanded the 2nd Battalion the Duke of Cornwall 's Light Infantry of the 51st ( Highland ) Division, which was stationed in North Africa, he also served as chief of staff. After promotion to Brigadier he commanded the 231st Brigade of the division.

Urquhart was Brigadier General Staff ( roughly equivalent to a chief of staff ) in the XII Corps of the British armed forces, to the command of the 1st Airborne Division was conferred on him in 1944. The former commander of the division, Major General George F. Hopkinson had been 1943 killed in Operation Slapstick in Italy, his successor Brigadier Ernest " Eric " Down led the 1st Airborne Division transitional and took over 1944 the command of the 9th Indian Airborne Division.

Ironically, Urquhart tended to airsickness and had therefore never acquired a command over an Airborne unit. His first combat mission was the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. After the 1st Airborne Division had lost three quarters of its soldiers in the Battle of Arnhem, she was no longer used in the Second World War. Urquhart, who was still active in many bars, went into retirement in 1955.

This and That

In the film A Bridge Too Far Urquhart was played by Sean Connery.