Sir Frederick Arthur Montague 'Boy' Browning (20 December 1896 – 14 March 1965) was a British Army officer, considered the "father of British airborne forces". He was Commander of the British 1st Airborne Corps and Deputy Commander of the 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden. While planning this operation, he uttered the phrase that will go down in history:"I think we are going a bridge too far".
Training and World War I
Educated at Eton College and then Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Frederick Browning was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards in 1915. During the First World War, he fought on the Western Front, and received the medal of the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery during the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. He married the novelist Daphne du Maurier in 1932, with whom he had two daughters and a son.
World War II
During World War II, he commanded the 1st Airborne Division and the 1st Airborne Corps. He led the latter during Operation Market Garden, traveling by glider to the scene of the assault. In December 1944, he became Admiral Mountbatten's Chief of Staff for the South East Asia Command.
Post-war
After the Second World War, he became military secretary at the War Office from September 1946 to January 19482. Then he became treasurer to Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh. In 1952, after the accession to the throne of Elizabeth II, he became treasurer to the Duke of Edinburgh until 1959.
At the cinema
1977:In the film A Bridge Too Far, Dirk Bogarde plays General Browning during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.