“I took ten thousand men into Arnhem. I’ve come out with less than
two. I don’t feel much like sleeping.”
Despite numerous attempts to analyze the failures of the operation
in Oosterbeek and Arnhem in the subsequent years, nothing can
diminish the determination and bravery of the men who fought there,
nor the immense difculty of command under such dire circumstances.
Post-War Life
After the war ended, Urquhart continued his service with the British
Army for a number of years, becoming Director of the Territorial Army
and Army Cadet Force at the War Ofce. He was then made General
Ofcer Commanding, of the newly raised Territorial Army 16th Airborne
Division in 1947. This was followed by command of the 51st/52nd
Scottish Division until 1950. He was subsequently appointed as the
General Ofcer Commanding Malaya Command during the Malayan
Emergency and GOC-in-C British Troops in Austria.
He eventually retired in 1955 with the rank of Major General. He devoted
himself to his family, raising his four children with his wife. His daughter
Elspeth married the prominent politician Menzies Campbell, while Suki
Urquhart became an author and gardening expert.
He maintained connections with veteran organizations and took part in
commemorations of Operation Market Garden. His experiences were
frequently cited in military histories, documentaries, and interviews.
Urquhart lived a relatively private life after retiring from active service
but remained an inuential gure in British military history. He witnessed
the impact of his leadership at Arnhem becoming part of the wider
public consciousness, particularly through the 1977 lm A Bridge Too
Far, in which Sean Connery portrayed him.
Roy Urquhart passed away in 1988, leaving a legacy of courage,
leadership, and dedication to his men and country. He is remembered as
a commander who embodied personal courage, resilience, and tactical
acumen. His ability to maintain morale and cohesion under extreme
adversity made him one of the iconic gures of airborne operations in