British Celebrities in the Armed Forces Quiz

Answer: Searchlight operator

Benny Hill was drafted into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the British Army in 1942. Although he was trained as a mechanic, he did a number of jobs during his time in the military, including mechanic, truck driver, and searchlight operator in Normandy.

In 1944, he transferred to the Combined Services Entertainment division to entertain his fellow troops for the remainder of the war.

Answer: Royal Navy

Olivier joined the Royal Navy reserves in 1940 at the rank of sub-lieutenant. He had flown civilian aircraft in the US, so he trained as a Navy pilot in Britain. He became fully qualified as a Navy pilot in 1941 and was promoted to lieutenant. During the war, he and then-wife Vivien Leigh lived just outside the base where his training squadron was located. Olivier did not fly during any battles during the war, but he did film a number of propaganda films for his country.

He remained with the Navy reserves until he was released in 1944.

Answer: True

David Niven joined the British Army after graduating from the Royal Military College in 1930. This was after WWI and before WWII. He served three years before engaging in an act of insubordination. The story goes that he had a dinner date with a beautiful young woman, but a particular lecture by a senior officer went over its time.

When the class was asked at the end if anyone had any questions, he asked the time, stating that he had a train to catch. He was sent to the military prison for his insubordination to a senior officer, but the soldier who was guarding him at the prison allowed him to escape.

He made his way to a ship that was sailing to the US. He resigned his position in the military via telegraph during the voyage. After a few jobs on the other side of the Atlantic, Niven found himself in Hollywood in 1934 where he started his acting career.

He returned to England in 1939 when war was declared on Germany and re-joined the Army to serve his country during the war.

Answer: Mediterranean Theatre

Guinness volunteered in the Royal Navy Reserve in 1941. He was first given the rank of seaman before being temporarily promoted to sub-lieutenant in 1942. In 1943, he was again promoted, this time to temporary lieutenant. He commanded a landing craft during the Allied Invasion of Sicily.

He remained in the Mediterranean to ferry supplies and people to anti-German Yugoslavian partisan groups in the eastern Mediterranean. He left the military later in 1943.

Answer: Korean War

Michael Caine joined the British Army's Royal Fusiliers in 1952. At the time, Great Britain had a mandatory military service of two years in place for all healthy males. Caine was first stationed at the British Army of the Rhine Headquarters in Iserlohn in what was then West Germany.

He then saw active service during the Korean War. He was exposed to enemy fire on a daily basis. During his time in Korea, he alternated between six weeks on the front facing enemy fire, and two weeks in Seoul, South Korea for much-needed breaks.

He left the Army in 1954 after having spent about one year of this very stressful front line posting during the Korean War.

Answer: Royal Navy, 2

Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy at the young age of 16 in 1946. According to his website, his two tattoos reflected two of his main loves at the time. One read "Mum and Dad" and the other read "Scotland Forever". He was released from the Navy when he was 19 based on medical grounds. Both tattoos were rather small and both were on his right arm.

In an article that was published in 2017, it was reported that the 87-year-old actor still had the tattoos at that point.

Answer: Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle, an American celebrity, married Prince Harry in 2018. He is son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. Before he was married, Prince Harry was commissioned in the British Army on January 25, 2006. He served in the Army for ten years, during which time he served two tours in Afghanistan.

While serving in the military, Prince Harry trained as an Apache helicopter pilot. He resigned from the Army in 2015 with the rank of Captain. Harry and Meghan met on a blind date in 2016 after he had left the military.

Answer: Wales

Richard Burton was born in 1925 in Pontrhydyfen, Glamorgan, Wales. In 1944, he took exams to become a pilot with the Royal Air Force, but it was found that his eyesight was not good enough for that role, so he was trained as a navigator instead. He spent some time in Canada during his training, then the war ended before he saw active service.

He remained in the Royal Air Force for three years before receiving his discharge in 1947.

Answer: No

When the war broke out, Gielgud volunteered to serve in the forces, but was turned away. He was told that men his age (35) were not needed. The government had also decided that performers were more valuable at home to keep the general population entertained and their spirits up. During the war, he toured military camps and entertained the troops by doing readings and by performing in short plays.

He was never able to join the military and remained in show business over the duration of the war.

Answer: Poland

Elliott served as a radio operator and gunner in the Royal Air Force during the war. His plane was shot down in 1942 while his squadron was engaged in an attack on German U-boats. He was captured by the Germans and served the remainder of the war in a German prisoner of war camp in Poland.

While imprisoned, be became interested in drama and entertaining his fellow prisoners. He ended up pursuing the career when he was liberated.