Date of birth:

March 1st, 1910 (London, Great Britain)

Date of death:

July 29th, 1983 (Chateau d'Oex/Vaud, Switserland)

Service number:

44959

Nationality:

British

David Niven, the son of a Army Lieutenant who was killed in 1915 at Gallipoli, attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He graduated in 1930 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the regular Army. But he grew tired of the peacetime Army and resigned his commission which he did by telegram from Canada after he was escaped from Army prison where he was put because of insubordination.
After being a whisky salesman in New York and a rodeo promotor in Atlantic City, he arrived in California in the Summer of 1934 and decided to become an actor.
After the United Kingdom declared war in 1939, Niven, by then a Hollywood star, returned to Britain. Niven and Winston Churchill met at a dinner party in February 1940. Churchill singled him out from the crowd and stated, "Young man, you did a fine thing to give up your film career to fight for your country. Mark you, had you not done so − it would have been despicable.
Niven rejoined the Army and was assigned to the 2nd Motor Training Battalion. But he wanted something more exciting than and transferred to The Phantom Regiment. During D-Day their task was to go around day and night to find all the British, Canadian and American units they could, marking their locations on a map, and passing the information to the main HQ.
Niven also worked with the Army Film Unit. He acted in two films during the war, The First of the Few (1942) and The Way Ahead (1944). Both films were made to win support for the British war effort, especially in the U.S.
He resumed his acting career in 1946 and hardly ever spoke of his war time experiences.
On July 29th, 1983 at 73 years David Niven died in Switzerland due to ALS.

Promotions:
January 30th, 1930: 2nd Luitenant (Highland Light Infantry)
January 30th, 1933: Luitenant (Highland Light Infantry)
September 6th, 1933: resignation at his own request
February 25th, 1940: Luitenant (Rifle Brigade)
? Captain
? Major
? Lieutenant-Colonel

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit:

Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)

Awarded on:

November 8th, 1945

Recommendation:
"Lieutenant-Colonel Niven distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Associate Director and later Director of Troop Broadcasting Services, Allied Expedtionary Forces Programme, G-1 Division, Supreme Headquarters, Alied Expeditionary Force, May 1944 to May 1945. Lt-Col Niven, by his foresight and planning prior to D-Day, materially contributed to the initial success of the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, established by the Supreme Commander for the purpose of providing the Allied Expeditionary Force with an integrated radio service of news and entertainment. He played a vital role in the production of the film entitled "United States", released primarily to British troops to promote a better understanding of their American ally. By his constant efforts and devotion to duty he was instrumental in maintaining the high character of the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme, and thus ensuring its success."


Presented by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

• Photo 1:
• Photo: Findagrave
  
• - Copy of the original recommendation - STIWOT Archive