David Niven Bio

[wesd]

GOOD DAY, I was readig David Niven's autobiography, "THE MOON'S A BALLON". There is one story that he tells about "the question" you know you do have something on under that thing, we have all been asked, (my come back is "sure shoes and socks"). Well back to his account, he tells of helping the pipe major into bed after rather lively party at the sargeants mess. Quote "I had put him to bed, and valiantly trying to get his kilt off while he was thrashing around and muttering obscenities in Gaelic, we suddenly unveiled an elderly pair of green regimental boxing shorts. There is always speculation about what a true Scot wears under the kilt; here was additional evidence that it is a very personal decision." Very personal indeed and nobodys business. Personally, my rule has to do is one, is it very windy outside and will there be any small childern near.

One more thing Niven tells that just before he was to be commission he filled out form from the War Office. He was to name in order of prefernce three regiments into which he desire to be commissioned. He wrote as follows;
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, The Black Watch, and Anything but the Highland Light Infantry. The HLI was not a kilted regiment, so with standard military wisdom that all us vets know about he landed in the HLI.

[JackK]

I remember reading Niven's book, it was a good read by and about a man with real class and style.

Jack