12. Who killed Commander (now Major) Shears, the former American POW who was drafted as a commando to go back and blow up the bridge (played by William Holden)?
From Quiz The Bridge on the River Kwai
Answer:
Major Warden
After Joyce killed Saito, Nicholson raised the alarm. Joyce was shot, so Shears attempted to cross the river and blow up the bridge. He was then shot as well. As he died, he looked up into the face of Nicholson, who in total disbelief said "you". The response from Shears, "you", was spoken with utter contempt.
Major Warden, not knowing if Shears or Joyce were dead or just badly wounded, sent a mortar bomb directly at Shears that killed him, what was left of Joyce and mortally wounded Nicholson.
At this point, Warden turned around and looked into the accusing eyes of the Burmese women porters (who had become close with Shears and Joyce in particular). His scream of "I had to, they could have been captured" captured the character's essence, that the mission was paramount.