LYCOS RETRIEVER 
David Niven: Highland Light Infantry
built 620 days ago
The son a well-to-do British Army captain who died in the battle of Gallipoli in 1915, "David Niven" was shipped off to a succession of boarding schools by his stepfather, who didn't care much for the boy. Young Niven hated the experience and was a poor student, but his late father's reputation helped him get admitted to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and he was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry. Rakishly handsome and naturally charming, Lt. Niven met a number of high society members while stationed in Malta, and, through their auspices, made several important contacts while attending parties.
Source:
James David Graham Niven (1910–1983) was born in London. He entered Sandhurst in 1928 and became a junior officer in the Highland Light Infantry in 1930. He stayed in the army until 1933, when he resigned his commission and moved first to Canada, then to New York. Coming to Hollywood in 1934, Niven entered the film industry as an extra, and in less than a year he had a contract with Samuel Goldwyn. He appeared in
Source:
After attending Stowe as a boy, Niven trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was to be his trademark. Although he had done well at Sandhurst, Niven did not enjoy his time in the regular Army, in part because he was not accepted for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on which he had set his heart. He served for two years in Malta and two years in Dover with the Highland Light Infantry. While on Malta, he became acquainted and friendly with Captain Roy Urquhart, who would later lead the British 1st Airborne Division in the ill-fated Operation Market-Garden.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Highland Light Infantry