@rabidmidgeecosse1336 Indeed. I didn't learn about my Piegan Blackfoot great-grandfather's military service as a sniper in World War I until just a few years ago, some 50 years after he had crossed over, as I was taught to call it. So, I understand completely. He must have been a very great man. You must be so proud of being his relation. Thank you for sharing his story with us.
My grandfather never talked about his experiences either, except once when a low flying plane went over his head while he was digging in his allotment, and we found him shortly afterwards trying to defuse a potato. In general, I find it better not to look too closely at a man's war records. If he doesn't want to tell you about them, there's probably a very good reason for it!
Christopher Lee was on a talk show abroad and they were discussing his wartime experience, He mentioned being in Popski's Private Army. He showed his host an old ID card from (i think) the SAS saying he was still welcome in all over the world with this card! and mentioned he collected special forces badges but there was one he never found! However the host had got one for him! He was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. A real English Gentleman. Also, My Dad was in the Home Guard 39-45, It was only in the week prior to his passing he revealed he was one of Churchills army!! He said "I don't think they will have time to shoot me now" We never knew til that day, Not even my Mother!!
Sounds like the mission of the stay behinds. They were trained in partisan tactics. There were hideouts built all over England for them. There's a documentary. Pert of a series about Hitler invading. Anyway, all of these people were sworn to the Official Secrets Act.
Christopher Lee had a reserved seat at the table on top of Mt. Badass. Single malt scotch with just one ice cube , thank you. Seriously, his wiki entry doesn't even fully skim over his career as an operator, and I guarantee you that Dick Meadows and Dave Stirling where there escorting him to his chair. One of the things I always loved about Lee was that he was very particular in his use of language. He collected Special Forces patches and was **always** careful to properly pronounce the name of any given unit in it's native tongue. For example, towards the end of his life he mentioned in an interview that he never had the chance to get a GSG-9 patch [the German counter-terror police unit]. But he didn't pronounce it as an English speaker would, 'gee-ess-gee nine'. He pronounced it as a German would, 'geh-ess-geh noyn'. In German the pronunciation 'nine' means 'no', and that's a little trap that most English speakers trip over at least once. Furthermore, when asked the full name of the unit he pronounced 'Grenzshutzgruppe' perfectly. And he did this with Asian units, Slavic units, African units and so on. If he was interested in the unit, he pronounced their name properly.
I had the pleasure to work on a film where we had Mr. Lee over for a short time. An absolutely sweet man, and a real gentleman; not just acting the part. He had a sort of magic in him; any room he was in, even if quietly in the background, somehow became better -hard to describe.
It is called Charismic Charactor. I could elude more but will restrain it to this. It is easy to tell, who or who not has it in times of strife. A few that do, MIGHT survive long enough to expose a piece of it to other's.
My father also served in the military during WWII, out east. He rose to the rank of Major, but rarely ever talked about his service. I do know that he had the military cross, but I never did find out what it was for. He was very humble...
Sir Christopher was what we call a badass! Chris, you neglected to mention his music career. He was the oldest person to ever have a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at 91.
I love these wartime biographies of famous actors! Could we also please see some wartime biographies of famous actresses? Audrey Hepburn could be a really interesting one to start with. :)
I think I speak for everyone when I say that I saw Christopher Lee tell Peter Jackson what a person should sound like when they get stabbed. I knew this man had been to dark places and done darker things than I have ever been able to imagine. Rest in peace Mr Lee
I have always admired Christopher Lee, but until this video I did NOT know that he had served in the Finnish army at the age of 17! Thanks so much for more insight into his life!
As usual, a superb video Chris. The link between Christopher Lee and Ian Fleming is one of those things that if someone told you, you wouldn't believe. Thanks for your efforts.
You'll find Fleming is thought to have based Bond on Bagnold, at least in part. The Intelligence world is far larger than Regimentals, Kipling's Kim hints at the depth you won't find in normalcy. Kim's Game goes to a transcendental level, as did my own training in Pelmanism.
Years ago, I met an older man (my age now) wearing a green beret with a badge I didn't recognize. "OSS?", I asked. He just smiled and said, "Odds and ends". Lee probably had the same story. PS The LRDG was not a forerunner of the SAS. It was a recon outfit and operated independently although it ferried SAS members to their operations for a time. The Spec Ops outfits of the Desert War and the campaigns in the Mediterranean were often quite informal when it came to who was in or not. To that end, 2nd Commando Brigade spent about a year on the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia, working with the partisans
A few of the LRDG vehicles survived a blast through Libya and Egypt. Somehow, a few ended up in Fremantle, Western Australia. To this day, in the town of Wubin, north of Perth, in the Wheat Museum, in Desert Colours, there is a Dodge (I think) used by LRDG. My uncle was a wireless operator. His tales were about LRDG camaraderie and tea around a Benghazi boiler-never a story of the trauma they obviously faced. The WHEAT Museum in Wubin... The old truck had a long and happy life on a farm.
Christopher Lee was a fascinating bloke and his autobiography is well worth a read. I was always amazed, of all things, by the quality of his singing voice. I noticed the Italy Star among your grandfather's medals. I had a great uncle who fought at Alamein, but the medal he most treasured was that Italy Star; he said it was the hardest won.
The real international man of mystery as well as the greatest British Character villain the more of the years I’ve learned about Sir Christopher Lee and his wartime career and he did a very good Sherlock Holmes and he’s buy all accounts a truly kindly and patient man ❤ thanks for uploading
Cheers Chris, another great story. I particularly liked the way you handled Lee’s secret war. Not easy when the records aren’t available, but you handled it with balance and respect.
I don’t think someone who lived such an amazing life, needed to make up stories about his military career. If he said he was connected to special forces, I for one believe him.
History is not about believing. It is about reviewing available evidence to see whether it is consistent with other evidence (Lee's is not), comes from one or limited sources (the wiki is almost entirely from his autobiography). He made a story about his life for employment as an actor. It is a fairytale
Good point but it's perfectly possible he did exaggerate. Actors don't have small egos and like to be the centre of attention but I don't know anything about what sort of person he was.
I was going to remark that one of his very lesser known roles was an animated film called The Last Unicorn. He voiced the king in the film called Haggard. A wonderful tribute to a man who accomplished so much in his life, and I just think that his service to the British as a Nazi Hunter more than qualifies him as a World War II hero. Gracias amigo y nos vemos pronto.
My own father was a fighter pilot in WWII, but in the Asian side of things, with the Flying Tigers. He never spoke of his experiences either, but I do have his flying scarf, heavy silk with the US flag on one end, and the Nationalist Chinese flag on the other.
Excellent video Growing up in the 70s and 80s, he was the best Dracula with the late Peter Cushing going after him. When we went to the London Dungeon, there was his waxwork🧛♂️.
my Grandmother's brother was Gregory peck's (and other LA actors) personal trainer. he was also a Commando and in 1 SAS 2 PARA, and actually trained them in PT.
Two points of note - firstly, I think he was a member of the Special Forces Club in London. They are pretty good at sniffing out walts. Secondly - he was a great Heavy Metal performer - and released an album of HM covers when in his 80s!
Sorry, I shall explain. Walt is short for a Walter Mitty character, based on the story and old film starring Danny Kaye. It's used of a man who claims to have done something he has not - what is called in the US 'Stolen Valour'. Happens a fair bit in the UK - a senior copper was recently sacked for wearing a medal he wasn't entitled to.
@@alanlawson4180 If I remember the story correctly Walter Mitty was basically just a harmless daydreamer, imagining himself as a hero of all sorts in order to escape his ho-hum existence.
Fascinating biography, thanks! I didn't know he volunteered for Finland! Or that he spoke so many languages. I only remember him speaking English on film, would have been cool to see him speak German playing a German officer in WW2! I think I'll break out my James Bond collection and watch The Man With The Golden Gun again!
Hi Chris, my late father was a pilot in 208 squadron in Italy, he told me many years ago that Christopher Lee was the Intelligence Officer for another squadron in the same wing. He remembered it as 112 squadron, which was in the same wing, as there were 4 squadrons per wing, I assume 1 of the other 2 squadrons was 260.
Love ya work Chris, but this one was brilliant! I’d heard the “can you keep a secret “ incident, but I was unaware of most else. Two anecdotes to give you food for thought (but no definite answers) 1) re Mr Lee’s friendship with Tito. A friend of my parents, ‘Uncle Albert’ had served in the British army WW2 (WO1 RA) & saw service in what became Jugoslavia. Post war, Uncle Albert & Aunty Eileen were able to holiday anywhere in Jugoslavia, always with friends Albert had made during the war. They did not have to pay for accommodation anywhere. Details of his wartime service? I have zero information. #2) with respect to ‘what does an intelligence officer do?’, we can get an inkling by examining some of the war service of one Bert Jacka (I believe he had attained the rank of captain, and was intelligence officer for 14 Bn). Singly or leading a group, this officer leads reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines. Or an intelligence officer may sit in an office, annotating reports. But for general security, neither could tell you about what they had done. Keep up the good work. 👍🇦🇺
While in collage I became friends with an elderly couple. The husband was a US Army intelligence officer in North Africa. Although we had many discussions, he never talked about what he did during the war.
A great episode, thank you! As a very young man, my dad was a medic at Monte Cassino, serving in the 2nd Polish Corps of the British 8th Army. It's wild to think that Christopher Lee was connected to that mission, as well as to the 8th Army in general. Cheers!
Lee was my father's patient for 30 years. He was the one of the most intellectual patients, speaking at least six languages. His principal role in WW2 was extremely risky - under cover with the SOE, and more so with the SIS, in Yugoslavia - much more so than his service with the RAF. His acting roles were simply to make money.. I remember his laughs. Oddly, he greatly admired the culture and music of 19th century Germany, and maintained a long link with the all-beautiful, aristocratic family who runs the Castell pencil company.
I loved his role in the American comedy 1941 where he played a Kriegsmarine captain opposite Tashiro Mifuni's character on a Japanese Submarine. Spoke perfect German!
That was brilliant! You are right to point out the "Silence" our Fathers and GrandFathers kept surrounding thier experiences in the Wars...except GrandFather who told me never to trust any politician.
In my experience, a lot of ex-servicemen tended to open up about their experiences as they got older, sensing that their time was nearly up. I was always too shy to ask "what did you did in the war?" but sometimes an anecdote would come out of the blue.
From various interviews it clearly comes across that Lee was educated, a true gentleman, articulate, intelligent and talented (linguistics and acting). I don’t think he would deliberately mislead anyone about his time in the military. If he’s alluded to operating as part of the special forces in its infancy then looking at his military career you can piece together all the elements that were there to contribute to a kind of “special” career. Shame he has passed away; what an actor and what a charismatic gentleman.
Great video, excellent, excellent character and his mysterious war operations. In fact, he never scared me in his horror films. He was too good-natured and friendly to scare. And the remarkable role of the Kriegsmarine submarine commander, acting alongside Mifune? Only Spielberg. Congratulations!!
A superb actor and gentleman. He was a very close friend of my favourite all time actor Peter Cushing (“the dream team”) I have NO DOUBT he either served alongside or with SF’s. Men of that generation kept their country’s secrets and didn’t feel the need to boast about every achievement, unlike today’s “celebrities”.
Another great story Chris! I believe Christopher Lee when he says he worked with or was in special forces during WW2. There will always be detractors to cast aspersions, and if he said he was part of it, then I very much tend to believe him. I didn't realise he had died nine years ago? Tempos fugit.
YEEESSS, the video I've personally been awaiting and hoping for ever since your one about the Cockleshell Heroes, the film of which this great man stars in for a few minutes as I've now seen for myself at last, Chris old bean. And now that you HAVE delivered it at last, well, I can certainly say that Sir Christopher certainly does/did have a lotta intriguing mystery surrounding his WWII service, which continues to be exactly that to this day almost a decade on from his death, but if it comes down to his personal desire never to speak of it due to what he experienced in the war, which is completely understandable for VERY clear reasons as to why, or if he was advised on not to openly and publicly speak of it by his wartime bosses, then I absolutely respect the great man for that. That said, and to speak of course of his acting days, well obviously it's Saruman from the absolute AMAZINGNESS of THE movie trilogy of all time aka of course LOTR, and of course the deadly triple nippled assassin figure of the Man with the Golden Gun aka Francisco Scaramanga, which I'll always fondly remember Christopher as, but gee, I STILL haven't even seen the first, and the ONLY one of the collection that's classed as good watchable and enjoyable classic horror material, Dracula from 1958 even after all this LONG long time FFS, and I've been meaning and wanting to do so for YEARS. Well, now that it's come into Prime availability, time I FINALLY corrected that. And wow again on the real life family connection Sir Christopher and Mr Bond Creator Man himself Ian Fleming had, NO WONDER Lee became Francisco Scaramanga in one of his book's media versions during the run of the sadly also late great Sir Roger Moore, haha
I'm a veteran, and never speak about my wartime experiences with anyone except my psychiatrist and my psychologist. I believe Sir Christopher Lee would not need stoop so low as to embellish his wartime contributions to his country. I keep my medals in a locked safe, where they belong, along with the horrors I witnessed and experienced. To say nothing about the horrors I committed.
Tito connection is an amazing fact, given that both of my grandads were Tito's partisans.I never knew vampires made for great spies, well done mr. Green, you are among the foremost youtubers there are.❤
Another excellent video by The History Chap. If you are planning to do a video on Ian Fleming here's some information from my ancestry database. You mentioned that Estella Marie Lee divorced Christopher Lee's father in 1928. She was to remarry Harcourt St Croix Rose who had a sister called Evelyn Beatrice St Croix Rose whose birth was in Kensington, Greater London, on the 10th January 1885. She wed Valentine Fleming in January 1906 in the registration district of St George Hanover Square, London. Valentine was born in Newport on Tay, Fife, on the 18th July, 1882, and was the son of wealthy Scottish banker Robert Fleming. Valentine and Evelyn had four sons, Peter Fleming, Richard Fleming, Michael Fleming and Ian Fleming whose birth was at 27, Green Street, Mayfair, Greater London, on the 28th May, 1908. Valentine Fleming was the Conservative m.p.for South Oxfordshire from 1911 to his death in 1917. His death was due to being killed in action by an attack by German aircraft at Guillemont Farm, in the Departmente of the Somme, on the 20th May, 1917. He was a major in the Queen's Own Oxford Hussars. Ian Fleming wed Ann Geraldine Mary Charteris (1913-1981), previously the wife of Sir Esmond Cecil Harmsworth (the 2nd Viscount Rothermere) who were divorced on the 7th February, 1952 in London. She wed Ian Fleming on the 24th March, 1962, in Jamaica. Ian Fleming was killed by a heart attack on the 12th August, 1964, in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, which is in Canterbury. Also of note is their son Casper Robert Fleming who was born in Paddington, Greater London on the 12th August, 1952. Not only was "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" written for him but Casper had an abnormal life which led to his death by suicide on the 2nd October, 1975, in Chelsea. To quote from some information that I uploaded: "hidden away were four automatic pistols and a large amount of ammunition. The guns were in working order, easy to load and lethal. But where they were discovered added to the danger. This was no shooting club or private armoury. This was a school study, littered with exercise books, Latin primers, a cricket bat and pads propped in the corner and a general air of schoolboy mess. For much of the year, it was the Eton College 'home' of 17-year-old Caspar Fleming, the much-troubled son of James Bond creator Ian Fleming- and a boy whose life would end in tradegy."
Relatives I have , or rather had, who fought in WWII also never talked about it - hardly ever except when drunk. As one explained in a loose moment; those who did not suffer much or were totally indifferent were the ones who wrote books and gave lectures on their experiences. In that vein, he like many others, shook their heads in disdain ( and sometimes angrily) on US americans recounting exploits.
Great video, I think you have cleared up a few things about Sir Chrisgtopher and his secret life, I have a suspicion he did far more than lets on. What about the WWII Double VC winner Captain Charles Upham from New Zealand. Thanks
In an interview during the filming of Lord of the Rings, Lee talked about this. He had to play the death of Saruman stabbed in the back by Wormtongue. He refused to make the sound that Peter Jackson wanted, saying that he had been an assassin during the war, and knew exactly what sound a man made when stabbed in the back, and that was the only sound he was willing to make.
I've always for as long as I can remember, believed he served in the Balkans, I have no clue where I read or heard this, probably in the early 90's when I looked in depth at the British involvement with Tito. That interest developed after speaking to those Bosnians during the conflict who had a deep affection for the British. I probably still have my notes somewhere in a folder, in a bag, in a box, in another box, in my loft! I've recently discovered photos and documentation from my time out there in the early/mid 90's.
@kkupsky6321 not entirely. My father in law served on destroyers in the Far East and saw some horrific things . He wasn't sworn to secrecy but just didn't want to talk about it
@@BootsontheTable I had to ply my pop with a lot of whiskey for a story. Trauma is terrible. Shame when it’s frowned upon to try and work thru it. Don’t wanna seem like a mad person… stigma had a big part as well.
I had the honour and privilege to be friends with one such incredible man. I meant him in his 70s. He knew I was in the army and recounted his landing on a beach on D Day and a few other incidents over time. At his funeral, I talked to his closest surviving relatives. They said he never ever talked about his time in uniform.... War is awful and if you have been you know!
I think that not talking about their experiences, was a 'thing' with that generation. Certainly my Dad, who was a tail gunner on Lancaster bombers, and Mum, who worked in plotting rooms, in WWII, very rarely spoke about the war at all. One or two little tales of training but nothing else. Not even about how or where they met. Nice video Chris.
I am absolutely convinced that my Dad who fought along side with Major Roy Farren operation Tombola SAS . That he mentioned that he served with Cristopher Lee .
Thank you History Chap i have been waiting for this....good job. Lee did have a collection of special forces badges from around the world and that could be a clue.
Another great presentation Chris, thank you Sir. It's that bit of intrigue that is in many stories that gives us more and more interest. Dare I mention Jack the Ripper?
Very interesting video. Hopefully more people know more about him than that of an actor. Like most of our men and women during the war they maintained a dignified silence about their roles.
Wow, great intrigue. By far the best film "I think" that Mr Lee starred in was The Wicker Man. Not to detract from the horror movies that my dad would let us watch as kids whilst my num played hell about it.
He said it was his favourite film, Edward Woodward felt the same. I always remember it for a certain Britt Ekland. I think that's why my dad let me watch it as a kid.
I had two uncles who served in Yugoslavia during the war. They said they were initially Parachute Regiment, transferred to SAS, then to SOE for Yugoslavia. So it is possible that he was in both SAS and SOE. Provided my uncles weren't spinning me a line.
My grandad would never speak of his service, but his medals tell their own tale. That generation never needed to blow their own trumpets.
it's unfortunate when a veteran of a younger generation feels the need to blow their own trumpet.
likewise, but I wish he had, there's so much about My Grandfather's wartime service that i don't know.
Thanks for the feedback & for watching my video.
@rabidmidgeecosse1336 Indeed. I didn't learn about my Piegan Blackfoot great-grandfather's military service as a sniper in World War I until just a few years ago, some 50 years after he had crossed over, as I was taught to call it.
So, I understand completely. He must have been a very great man.
You must be so proud of being his relation.
Thank you for sharing his story with us.
If he were to speak, he would not know were to begin. So much happened in that time that we would not comprehend these days.
My grandfather never talked about his experiences either, except once when a low flying plane went over his head while he was digging in his allotment, and we found him shortly afterwards trying to defuse a potato. In general, I find it better not to look too closely at a man's war records. If he doesn't want to tell you about them, there's probably a very good reason for it!
Funny not funny.
Thanks for your feedback.
Christopher Lee was on a talk show abroad and they were discussing his wartime experience, He mentioned being in Popski's Private Army. He showed his host an old ID card from (i think) the SAS saying he was still welcome in all over the world with this card! and mentioned he collected special forces badges but there was one he never found! However the host had got one for him! He was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. A real English Gentleman.
Also, My Dad was in the Home Guard 39-45, It was only in the week prior to his passing he revealed he was one of Churchills army!! He said "I don't think they will have time to shoot me now" We never knew til that day, Not even my Mother!!
RIP your dad sir. That wonderful generation.
Sounds like the mission of the stay behinds. They were trained in partisan tactics. There were hideouts built all over England for them. There's a documentary. Pert of a series about Hitler invading. Anyway, all of these people were sworn to the Official Secrets Act.
Yes, your correct. It was a German television interview and the badges were of a German secret unit. I think it might be on here 'TH-cam'.
@@zippy5131 Belgian tv show, Belgian gendarmerie - Groupe Diane
@@mikewallace8071 Nice one, could not remember exactly. Now to find it again. Cheers bud.
Christopher Lee had a reserved seat at the table on top of Mt. Badass. Single malt scotch with just one ice cube , thank you.
Seriously, his wiki entry doesn't even fully skim over his career as an operator, and I guarantee you that Dick Meadows and Dave Stirling where there escorting him to his chair.
One of the things I always loved about Lee was that he was very particular in his use of language. He collected Special Forces patches and was **always** careful to properly pronounce the name of any given unit in it's native tongue. For example, towards the end of his life he mentioned in an interview that he never had the chance to get a GSG-9 patch [the German counter-terror police unit]. But he didn't pronounce it as an English speaker would, 'gee-ess-gee nine'. He pronounced it as a German would, 'geh-ess-geh noyn'. In German the pronunciation 'nine' means 'no', and that's a little trap that most English speakers trip over at least once. Furthermore, when asked the full name of the unit he pronounced 'Grenzshutzgruppe' perfectly. And he did this with Asian units, Slavic units, African units and so on. If he was interested in the unit, he pronounced their name properly.
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The Wikipedia skims over his military career because it was really quite unremarkable.
I had the pleasure to work on a film where we had Mr. Lee over for a short time.
An absolutely sweet man, and a real gentleman; not just acting the part.
He had a sort of magic in him; any room he was in, even if quietly in the background, somehow became better -hard to describe.
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.
It is called Charismic Charactor. I could elude more but will restrain it to this.
It is easy to tell, who or who not has it in times of strife. A few that do, MIGHT survive long enough to expose a piece of it to other's.
Thank you Chris. I have to admit that Christopher Lee was a great actor.💂♂️🫡👍
Thanks for watching my video
My father also served in the military during WWII, out east. He rose to the rank of Major, but rarely ever talked about his service. I do know that he had the military cross, but I never did find out what it was for. He was very humble...
Thanks for watching my video & fr sharing the details of your father.
Sir Christopher was what we call a badass! Chris, you neglected to mention his music career. He was the oldest person to ever have a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at 91.
Thanks for watching my video & your interesting feedback.
I love these wartime biographies of famous actors! Could we also please see some wartime biographies of famous actresses? Audrey Hepburn could be a really interesting one to start with. :)
Thanks for watching my video. Will add your suggestion to my ever growing list.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that I saw Christopher Lee tell Peter Jackson what a person should sound like when they get stabbed.
I knew this man had been to dark places and done darker things than I have ever been able to imagine. Rest in peace Mr Lee
+dallassoller7443. A poor b*stard, who gets stabbed in the back, shouldn’t make much noise.
Anyone could tell you those things. Lee had no such background. He made it all up like the Walter Mitty character
@@郑颍 Rubbish. Only a person who has stabbed someone else or been stabbed can tell you what it's like.
@@martinputt6421 Walter Mitty ... no records exist beyond his fanciful autobiography
@@郑颍 Easy for you to say such things now Sir Christopher Lee is dead. Bet you wouldn't have dared say such things to his face.
I have always admired Christopher Lee, but until this video I did NOT know that he had served in the Finnish army at the age of 17! Thanks so much for more insight into his life!
Thanks for watching my video.
As usual, a superb video Chris. The link between Christopher Lee and Ian Fleming is one of those things that if someone told you, you wouldn't believe. Thanks for your efforts.
You'll find Fleming is thought to have based Bond on Bagnold, at least in part. The Intelligence world is far larger than Regimentals, Kipling's Kim hints at the depth you won't find in normalcy. Kim's Game goes to a transcendental level, as did my own training in Pelmanism.
Thanks for watching my video.
Years ago, I met an older man (my age now) wearing a green beret with a badge I didn't recognize. "OSS?", I asked. He just smiled and said, "Odds and ends". Lee probably had the same story.
PS The LRDG was not a forerunner of the SAS. It was a recon outfit and operated independently although it ferried SAS members to their operations for a time. The Spec Ops outfits of the Desert War and the campaigns in the Mediterranean were often quite informal when it came to who was in or not. To that end, 2nd Commando Brigade spent about a year on the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia, working with the partisans
Thanks for watching my video
A few of the LRDG vehicles survived a blast through Libya and Egypt. Somehow, a few ended up in Fremantle, Western Australia. To this day, in the town of Wubin, north of Perth, in the Wheat Museum, in Desert Colours, there is a Dodge (I think) used by LRDG.
My uncle was a wireless operator. His tales were about LRDG camaraderie and tea around a Benghazi boiler-never a story of the trauma they obviously faced. The WHEAT Museum in Wubin... The old truck had a long and happy life on a farm.
@@jmpersonal2402 FWIW most of the LRDG trucks were Chevrolet, but I don't doubt the desert troopers took what was available.
I enjoy these stories of actors at war, please do more.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Christopher Lee was a fascinating bloke and his autobiography is well worth a read. I was always amazed, of all things, by the quality of his singing voice. I noticed the Italy Star among your grandfather's medals. I had a great uncle who fought at Alamein, but the medal he most treasured was that Italy Star; he said it was the hardest won.
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
The real international man of mystery as well as the greatest British Character villain the more of the years I’ve learned about Sir Christopher Lee and his wartime career and he did a very good Sherlock Holmes and he’s buy all accounts a truly kindly and patient man ❤
thanks for uploading
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Cheers Chris, another great story. I particularly liked the way you handled Lee’s secret war. Not easy when the records aren’t available, but you handled it with balance and respect.
Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.
I don’t think someone who lived such an amazing life, needed to make up stories about his military career. If he said he was connected to special forces, I for one believe him.
History is not about believing. It is about reviewing available evidence to see whether it is consistent with other evidence (Lee's is not), comes from one or limited sources (the wiki is almost entirely from his autobiography). He made a story about his life for employment as an actor. It is a fairytale
TH-cam preventing me from telling you how S×T-U'P!I;D you are. Cee yoU Next Tuesday
Good point but it's perfectly possible he did exaggerate. Actors don't have small egos and like to be the centre of attention but I don't know anything about what sort of person he was.
Guy was a blow hard constantly implying service he didn't do.
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As a child in the 60’s he scared the life out of me. A great actor. RIP.
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I was going to remark that one of his very lesser known roles was an animated film called The Last Unicorn. He voiced the king in the film called Haggard. A wonderful tribute to a man who accomplished so much in his life, and I just think that his service to the British as a Nazi Hunter more than qualifies him as a World War II hero. Gracias amigo y nos vemos pronto.
And he even did his own synchronisation in the German version of the movie.
Fun fact. He came into working on that film with a copy of the book with highlighted bits he refused to leave out of the film.
@@gimzod76he took the same approach with Saruman in LOTR.
Unfortunately he was fascinated by evil. ? Catharsis perhaps?
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My own father was a fighter pilot in WWII, but in the Asian side of things, with the Flying Tigers. He never spoke of his experiences either, but I do have his flying scarf, heavy silk with the US flag on one end, and the Nationalist Chinese flag on the other.
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
Don't forget "Jinnah", Lee's personal favourite and in my opinion his finest performance.
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That and the Wicker man, one movie that bombed another that he returned his pay for just to help it get off the ground.
Excellent video
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, he was the best Dracula with the late Peter Cushing going after him.
When we went to the London Dungeon, there was his waxwork🧛♂️.
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my Grandmother's brother was Gregory peck's (and other LA actors) personal trainer. he was also a Commando and in 1 SAS 2 PARA, and actually trained them in PT.
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Two points of note - firstly, I think he was a member of the Special Forces Club in London. They are pretty good at sniffing out walts.
Secondly - he was a great Heavy Metal performer - and released an album of HM covers when in his 80s!
whatever a walt is.
Sorry, I shall explain. Walt is short for a Walter Mitty character, based on the story and old film starring Danny Kaye. It's used of a man who claims to have done something he has not - what is called in the US 'Stolen Valour'. Happens a fair bit in the UK - a senior copper was recently sacked for wearing a medal he wasn't entitled to.
@@alanlawson4180 aah, so relevant to british nostalgics, sitting around waiting to die.
@@alanlawson4180 If I remember the story correctly Walter Mitty was basically just a harmless daydreamer, imagining himself as a hero of all sorts in order to escape his ho-hum existence.
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Fascinating biography, thanks! I didn't know he volunteered for Finland! Or that he spoke so many languages. I only remember him speaking English on film, would have been cool to see him speak German playing a German officer in WW2! I think I'll break out my James Bond collection and watch The Man With The Golden Gun again!
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Hi Chris, my late father was a pilot in 208 squadron in Italy, he told me many years ago that Christopher Lee was the Intelligence Officer for another squadron in the same wing. He remembered it as 112 squadron, which was in the same wing, as there were 4 squadrons per wing, I assume 1 of the other 2 squadrons was 260.
Lee was army and served with the Airforce or was it the other way around.
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David Niven was also secretive about his special forces service. I'm going to look up your channel in case you did a video on him too!
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Love ya work Chris, but this one was brilliant! I’d heard the “can you keep a secret “ incident, but I was unaware of most else. Two anecdotes to give you food for thought (but no definite answers)
1) re Mr Lee’s friendship with Tito. A friend of my parents, ‘Uncle Albert’ had served in the British army WW2 (WO1 RA) & saw service in what became Jugoslavia. Post war, Uncle Albert & Aunty Eileen were able to holiday anywhere in Jugoslavia, always with friends Albert had made during the war. They did not have to pay for accommodation anywhere. Details of his wartime service? I have zero information.
#2) with respect to ‘what does an intelligence officer do?’, we can get an inkling by examining some of the war service of one Bert Jacka (I believe he had attained the rank of captain, and was intelligence officer for 14 Bn). Singly or leading a group, this officer leads reconnaissance patrols behind enemy lines. Or an intelligence officer may sit in an office, annotating reports. But for general security, neither could tell you about what they had done.
Keep up the good work. 👍🇦🇺
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While in collage I became friends with an elderly couple. The husband was a US Army intelligence officer in North Africa. Although we had many discussions, he never talked about what he did during the war.
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@@TheHistoryChap If there is a "badass" club in heaven, Christopher Lee will find a seat at the table.
A great episode, thank you! As a very young man, my dad was a medic at Monte Cassino, serving in the 2nd Polish Corps of the British 8th Army. It's wild to think that Christopher Lee was connected to that mission, as well as to the 8th Army in general. Cheers!
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Lee was my father's patient for 30 years. He was the one of the most intellectual patients, speaking at least six languages. His principal role in WW2 was extremely risky - under cover with the SOE, and more so with the SIS, in Yugoslavia - much more so than his service with the RAF. His acting roles were simply to make money.. I remember his laughs. Oddly, he greatly admired the culture and music of 19th century Germany, and maintained a long link with the all-beautiful, aristocratic family who runs the Castell pencil company.
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A Brilliant Story Well Told!!!!
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Lee was a very under rated actor. I have seen several B movies he was in (not Dracula ones) and he was masterful in his roles.
Loved him in “The Wickerman.” Loved Britt Eckland even more in it! Mama Mia!
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Christopher Lee was my favorite actor. RIP old chap.😢
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I loved his role in the American comedy 1941 where he played a Kriegsmarine captain opposite Tashiro Mifuni's character on a Japanese Submarine. Spoke perfect German!
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Another great ripping yarn!
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Finally covering the legend himself!
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That was brilliant! You are right to point out the "Silence" our Fathers and GrandFathers kept surrounding thier experiences in the Wars...except GrandFather who told me never to trust any politician.
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In my experience, a lot of ex-servicemen tended to open up about their experiences as they got older, sensing that their time was nearly up. I was always too shy to ask "what did you did in the war?" but sometimes an anecdote would come out of the blue.
My grandfather was mentioned in despatches in Burma. Rescued 2 pilots at sea in the face of Japanese strafing attacks. Great content!
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From various interviews it clearly comes across that Lee was educated, a true gentleman, articulate, intelligent and talented (linguistics and acting). I don’t think he would deliberately mislead anyone about his time in the military. If he’s alluded to operating as part of the special forces in its infancy then looking at his military career you can piece together all the elements that were there to contribute to a kind of “special” career. Shame he has passed away; what an actor and what a charismatic gentleman.
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Great video, excellent, excellent character and his mysterious war operations. In fact, he never scared me in his horror films. He was too good-natured and friendly to scare. And the remarkable role of the Kriegsmarine submarine commander, acting alongside Mifune? Only Spielberg. Congratulations!!
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Brilliant! thank you.
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Brilliant Chris more please ❤
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A superb actor and gentleman. He was a very close friend of my favourite all time actor Peter Cushing (“the dream team”) I have NO DOUBT he either served alongside or with SF’s. Men of that generation kept their country’s secrets and didn’t feel the need to boast about every achievement, unlike today’s “celebrities”.
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Another great story Chris! I believe Christopher Lee when he says he worked with or was in special forces during WW2. There will always be detractors to cast aspersions, and if he said he was part of it, then I very much tend to believe him. I didn't realise he had died nine years ago? Tempos fugit.
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Really enjoyed this presentation. I’ve always enjoyed Lee’s theatrical characters.
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YEEESSS, the video I've personally been awaiting and hoping for ever since your one about the Cockleshell Heroes, the film of which this great man stars in for a few minutes as I've now seen for myself at last, Chris old bean.
And now that you HAVE delivered it at last, well, I can certainly say that Sir Christopher certainly does/did have a lotta intriguing mystery surrounding his WWII service, which continues to be exactly that to this day almost a decade on from his death, but if it comes down to his personal desire never to speak of it due to what he experienced in the war, which is completely understandable for VERY clear reasons as to why, or if he was advised on not to openly and publicly speak of it by his wartime bosses, then I absolutely respect the great man for that.
That said, and to speak of course of his acting days, well obviously it's Saruman from the absolute AMAZINGNESS of THE movie trilogy of all time aka of course LOTR, and of course the deadly triple nippled assassin figure of the Man with the Golden Gun aka Francisco Scaramanga, which I'll always fondly remember Christopher as, but gee, I STILL haven't even seen the first, and the ONLY one of the collection that's classed as good watchable and enjoyable classic horror material, Dracula from 1958 even after all this LONG long time FFS, and I've been meaning and wanting to do so for YEARS. Well, now that it's come into Prime availability, time I FINALLY corrected that. And wow again on the real life family connection Sir Christopher and Mr Bond Creator Man himself Ian Fleming had, NO WONDER Lee became Francisco Scaramanga in one of his book's media versions during the run of the sadly also late great Sir Roger Moore, haha
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Sir Christopher Lee is a man of his word. He kept his oath. A true military man.
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@@TheHistoryChap No, thank you for the enlightening presentation. I learned something I never knew.
Really enjoyed Lee in his roll as Rochefort in The Four Musketeers.
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I'm a veteran, and never speak about my wartime experiences with anyone except my psychiatrist and my psychologist. I believe Sir Christopher Lee would not need stoop so low as to embellish his wartime contributions to his country.
I keep my medals in a locked safe, where they belong, along with the horrors I witnessed and experienced. To say nothing about the horrors I committed.
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Thank you for your service.
Tito connection is an amazing fact, given that both of my grandads were Tito's partisans.I never knew vampires made for great spies, well done mr. Green, you are among the foremost youtubers there are.❤
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Another thoroughly enjoyable episode. Fangs very much!
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Amazing post, thank you
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Phenomenal lecture
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Another excellent video by The History Chap. If you are planning to do a video on Ian Fleming here's some information from my ancestry database. You mentioned that Estella Marie Lee divorced Christopher Lee's father in 1928. She was to remarry Harcourt St Croix Rose who had a sister called Evelyn Beatrice St Croix Rose whose birth was in Kensington, Greater London, on the 10th January 1885. She wed Valentine Fleming in January 1906 in the registration district of St George Hanover Square, London. Valentine was born in Newport on Tay, Fife, on the 18th July, 1882, and was the son of wealthy Scottish banker Robert Fleming. Valentine and Evelyn had four sons, Peter Fleming, Richard Fleming, Michael Fleming and Ian Fleming whose birth was at 27, Green Street, Mayfair, Greater London, on the 28th May, 1908. Valentine Fleming was the Conservative m.p.for South Oxfordshire from 1911 to his death in 1917. His death was due to being killed in action by an attack by German aircraft at Guillemont Farm, in the Departmente of the Somme, on the 20th May, 1917. He was a major in the Queen's Own Oxford Hussars.
Ian Fleming wed Ann Geraldine Mary Charteris (1913-1981), previously the wife of Sir Esmond Cecil Harmsworth (the 2nd Viscount Rothermere) who were divorced on the 7th February, 1952 in London. She wed Ian Fleming on the 24th March, 1962, in Jamaica. Ian Fleming was killed by a heart attack on the 12th August, 1964, in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, which is in Canterbury.
Also of note is their son Casper Robert Fleming who was born in Paddington, Greater London on the 12th August, 1952. Not only was "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" written for him but Casper had an abnormal life which led to his death by suicide on the 2nd October, 1975, in Chelsea. To quote from some information that I uploaded: "hidden away were four automatic pistols and a large amount of ammunition. The guns were in working order, easy to load and lethal. But where they were discovered added to the danger. This was no shooting club or private armoury. This was a school study, littered with exercise books, Latin primers, a cricket bat and pads propped in the corner and a general air of schoolboy mess. For much of the year, it was the Eton College 'home' of 17-year-old Caspar Fleming, the much-troubled son of James Bond creator Ian Fleming- and a boy whose life would end in tradegy."
NB: Ian Fleming's wedding to Ann was the 24th March, 1952.
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I love your positive demeanour and the work you put into these stories. I’d love to hear your version of the British army moves into Tibet.
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Relatives I have , or rather had, who fought in WWII also never talked about it - hardly ever except when drunk. As one explained in a loose moment; those who did not suffer much or were totally indifferent were the ones who wrote books and gave lectures on their experiences. In that vein, he like many others, shook their heads in disdain ( and sometimes angrily) on US americans recounting exploits.
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Great video, I think you have cleared up a few things about Sir Chrisgtopher and his secret life, I have a suspicion he did far more than lets on. What about the WWII Double VC winner Captain Charles Upham from New Zealand. Thanks
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In an interview during the filming of Lord of the Rings, Lee talked about this. He had to play the death of Saruman stabbed in the back by Wormtongue. He refused to make the sound that Peter Jackson wanted, saying that he had been an assassin during the war, and knew exactly what sound a man made when stabbed in the back, and that was the only sound he was willing to make.
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Thank you.
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I've always for as long as I can remember, believed he served in the Balkans, I have no clue where I read or heard this, probably in the early 90's when I looked in depth at the British involvement with Tito.
That interest developed after speaking to those Bosnians during the conflict who had a deep affection for the British.
I probably still have my notes somewhere in a folder, in a bag, in a box, in another box, in my loft! I've recently discovered photos and documentation from my time out there in the early/mid 90's.
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Thank you for your latest video!
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Another little history gem - as usual - splendidly narrated 🎉
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Great stuff. Keep it up.
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Thans for the video !
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Thanks for making this, I appreciate your approach to history that isn't always completely clear.
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Great stuff! Interesting as always. Keep up the good work Chris!
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Another fascinating story - that generation seldom talked about their experiences - especially when they were exposed to horrors
They didn’t talk because they were trained not to.
My Uncles, who fought in Europe, did not talk about their experiences unless they were with other combat vets.
@kkupsky6321 not entirely. My father in law served on destroyers in the Far East and saw some horrific things . He wasn't sworn to secrecy but just didn't want to talk about it
@@BootsontheTable I had to ply my pop with a lot of whiskey for a story. Trauma is terrible. Shame when it’s frowned upon to try and work thru it. Don’t wanna seem like a mad person… stigma had a big part as well.
I had the honour and privilege to be friends with one such incredible man.
I meant him in his 70s. He knew I was in the army and recounted his landing on a beach on D Day and a few other incidents over time. At his funeral, I talked to his closest surviving relatives. They said he never ever talked about his time in uniform.... War is awful and if you have been you know!
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Really nice story thank you
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Thanks for this article ,would never have heard of this escapade
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I think that not talking about their experiences, was a 'thing' with that generation. Certainly my Dad, who was a tail gunner on Lancaster bombers, and Mum, who worked in plotting rooms, in WWII, very rarely spoke about the war at all. One or two little tales of training but nothing else. Not even about how or where they met. Nice video Chris.
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I've been looking forward to this
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Wow! Thank you for this amazing vid.
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Wonderful!
Great coverage!
I knew quite a bit already, but this video introduced me to quite a few new & interesting facts!
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New favorite channel!
Love the small but so tasty bits of history.
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I am absolutely convinced that my Dad who fought along side with Major Roy Farren operation Tombola SAS . That he mentioned that he served with Cristopher Lee .
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Nice one Chris, been looking forward to this one, terrific documentary mate 👍
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Thank you History Chap i have been waiting for this....good job. Lee did have a collection of special forces badges from around the world and that could be a clue.
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Very Interesting Video And Very Fun To Watch Thank You Chris!
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Another fascinating episode
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The man was a true legend.
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That was fascinating and leaves questions that we may not be able to answer
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Another great presentation Chris, thank you Sir. It's that bit of intrigue that is in many stories that gives us more and more interest. Dare I mention Jack the Ripper?
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❤ You Master History Gentleman are a National Treasure
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Excellent. Keep them guessing.
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Always wnjoy your videos!
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Thanks for this interesting story.
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Thank you very informative and exciting
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As always sir, its a lovely video.
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Very interesting video. Hopefully more people know more about him than that of an actor.
Like most of our men and women during the war they maintained a dignified silence about their roles.
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Another Great Video , but one small Correction , Yes Christopher Lee did play Dracula 10 Times but only 7 of them were Hammer Productions ..
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Wow, great intrigue. By far the best film "I think" that Mr Lee starred in was The Wicker Man. Not to detract from the horror movies that my dad would let us watch as kids whilst my num played hell about it.
I saw that recently. I don't think it holds up and is often bizarre just for the sake of it. I prefer his Hammer films by far.
He said it was his favourite film, Edward Woodward felt the same. I always remember it for a certain Britt Ekland. I think that's why my dad let me watch it as a kid.
@@anorthernsoul5600 I think you might be onto something there. Ha
@@lyndoncmp5751 Fair enough. The book is better, even though apparently it was based on the film, rather than the other way round.
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Brilliant video I really enjoyed this about a great actor.
He's earn our respect
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Great stuff
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I had two uncles who served in Yugoslavia during the war. They said they were initially Parachute Regiment, transferred to SAS, then to SOE for Yugoslavia. So it is possible that he was in both SAS and SOE. Provided my uncles weren't spinning me a line.
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Amazing video love your passion!
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