To End All Wars

[SFCRick]

I just watched a DVD my kids gave me for Xmas. To End All Wars staring Robert Carlyle and Kieffer Sutherland. Its based on the true story of the 93rd Argyle and Sutherland Highanders during their time in a pow camp in Thailand during WWII. Very good movie that starts out with the regiment in kilts marching and ends with real film of the true survivors marching in Kilts.
Robert Carlyle is in a few scenes in the POW camp wearing his Kilt.

[macwilkin]

I just watched a DVD my kids gave me for Xmas. To End All Wars staring Robert Carlyle and Kieffer Sutherland. Its based on the true story of the 93rd Argyle and Sutherland Highanders during their time in a pow camp in Thailand during WWII. Very good movie that starts out with the regiment in kilts marching and ends with real film of the true survivors marching in Kilts.
Robert Carlyle is in a few scenes in the POW camp wearing his Kilt.

The movie is based on the autobiography of Ernest Gordon, a survivor of the "Death Railway" which was made famous in The Bridge on the River Kwai. Gordon, who served with the Argylls, later went on to serve as a Dean at Princeton:

http://www.princeton.edu/pr/news/02/q1/0121-gordon.htm

I remember reading a copy of his book, "Through the Valley of the Kwai", which was in the library of the Presbyterian Church I used to attend.

It is a very moving film, especially the ending. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried.

Regards,

Todd

[McClef]

Sounds an interesting movie, wonder how it will compare with the David Lean movie!

But when I saw the title I was expecting something about World War I which was "The War to end all Wars" even though it did no such thing.

[macwilkin]

Sounds an interesting movie, wonder how it will compare with the David Lean movie!

But when I saw the title I was expecting something about World War I which was "The War to end all Wars" even though it did no such thing.

From a historical perspective, it was a much better movie. Whilst Lean's work is the more familiar, the real story of the Kwai Bridge and Col. Phillip Toosey, the senior Allied officer, is far more moving. Some consider Lean's movie to be an insult to Toosey, who acted nothing like Col. Nicholson. In fact, the author of the screenplay, Piere Boulle, reportedly based Nicholson on Vichy French officers in Indochina who collaborated with the invading Japanese.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...s/ww2/kwai.htm

T.

[beloitpiper]

Sounds great! That's one for the Netflix queue.

[Marcel]

I love this film! (To End All Wars)

[James MacMillan]

Thanks - That's a new flic for me, I'll have to put it on my NetFlix list.

[BoldHighlander]

"...in 1941, the 2nd Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were in Malaya when war with Japan broke out. Stationed over 300 miles north of Singapore on the Thai border, their task was to provide the rearguard to the withdrawals. Outnumbered and ill-equipped, they fought with outstanding determination.

In January 1942 at Slim River, the regiment was so depleted by a Japanese tank attack that only scattered groups survived. Several of these groups fought on in isolation in the jungle. The remainder, with only three officers and 90 soldiers under Captain Tom Slessor, began the withdrawal to Singapore.

After a return to and reinforcement in Singapore, this group was joined by courageous Chinese volunteers and a party of Royal Marines who were survivors of the battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repluse. This fighting combination quickly gained the nickname the 'Plymouth Argylls'. With the pipers playing A Hundred Pipers and Highland Laddie, the Argylls eventually crossed to Singapore Island and the causeway was blown.

Two weeks later, the few survivors were taken prisoner and the heroic 2nd Battalion The Argylls and Sutherland Highlanders ceased to exist. Isolated groups fought on in the jungle until they were captured. However, two men, Private Stewart and Private Bennett, remained at liberty for four years, until the return of British forces to Malaya."

(The Scottish Regiments - Diana M. Henderson)

It was from this action that a special association was developed & maintained through the years between the A&SH's and the Royal Marines.

Thanks for the headers, I'll have to look for it!

[Rogerson785]

Netflix is the best thing out there for movie buffs, well besides wearing your kilt out to the pub with your mates. int:

[BoldHighlander]

Just put it on my blockbuster queue