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56-480: Born Free is a 1966 British drama film starring the real-life couple Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson , another real-life couple, who raised Elsa the Lioness , an orphaned lion cub, to adulthood and released her into the wilderness of Kenya . The film was produced by Open Road Films Ltd. and Columbia Pictures . The screenplay, written by blacklisted Hollywood writer Lester Cole (under

112-611: A British musical for her performance opposite Yul Brynner in The King and I . Over the years she appeared in more films but was also very active with television roles and on stage where she continues to make occasional appearances. McKenna has been responsible for helping create and furnish the Gavin Maxwell Museum on Eilean Bàn , the last island home of Maxwell, an author and naturalist , most famous for his book Ring of Bright Water . McKenna and husband Bill Travers starred in

168-672: A Georgian Rake , William Hickey describes a detachment from the "Third Regiment of Guards, principally Scotchmen" dispersing a crowd attempting to release the radical politician, John Wilkes from prison in 1768. In April 1809, the 1st Battalion was sent to the Iberian Peninsula , and served in the Peninsular War in Portugal and Spain. It took part in the crossing of the River Douro on 12 May, an operation that ended so successfully that

224-578: A Song . She attracted attention on TV appearing in Winter's Tale with Sir John Gielgud and Shout Aloud Salvation . McKenna's first film was The Second Mrs Tanqueray (1952), followed by a comedy, Father's Doing Fine (1952). She had a small role in the popular war film The Cruel Sea (1953) and a better part in the low budget comedy The Oracle (1953). She received excellent reviews for her stage performance in The River Line . By June 1953, she

280-562: A drama about the Mau Mau , playing Dirk Bogarde 's love interest. Rank signed her to a long-term contract and director Brian Desmond Hurst said "She has a terrific future, properly handled. She has all the qualities of a young Bergman and a young Katharine Hepburn . McKenna was also in The Ship That Died of Shame (1955). McKenna was given the lead role in the war time drama A Town Like Alice (1956), opposite Peter Finch . The movie

336-763: A former independent boarding school near the market town of Horsham in Sussex. She spent six years in South Africa before returning to the school at the age of fourteen, after which she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama , at that time based at the Royal Albert Hall , London. Aged 19, McKenna spent six months at Dundee Repertory Theatre . She worked on stage in London's West End theatre, making her debut in Penny for

392-635: A lion in Kiunga has been killing goats in a local village. George is sent to kill the lion, which he does successfully, allowing him and Joy to enjoy a holiday with Elsa near the Indian ocean. When they return to the Northern Province, the Adamsons learn that Elsa has caused a massive elephant stampede. John says that they can no longer keep Elsa and must find a zoo. However, Joy instead wishes to set Elsa free, believing

448-625: A photograph when the album was reissued on the Rim label in 1979. Her audiobook work includes The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett , and narration of The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright . McKenna is a vegetarian . She is a patron of Cinnamon Trust , a national charity that helps elderly people to keep their pets. Her autobiography, The Life in My Years , was published by Oberon Books in March 2009. Scots Guards The regiment now known as

504-409: A vast expanse of corn-coloured African plain where lions feed on the carcass of a freshly killed zebra – one knows that Joy Adamson's best-selling book Born Free has been entrusted to honest, intelligent filmmakers. Without minimising the facts of animal life or overly sentimentalising them, this film casts an enchantment that is just about irresistible." The film was one of the most popular movies at

560-548: A zoo would make her miserable. John reluctantly agrees to give the Adamson three months to do so. The Adamsons bring Elsa to the Meru National Park to begin her rehabilitation. They start off by trying to introduce her to a wild lion along with a kill. This does not go to plan as they return the next day only to find Elsa all alone. Elsa continually fails to make a kill, being attacked by a warthog during one attempt. Eventually,

616-488: Is Will Travers . She is the grandmother of actress Lily Travers . In 1975, she released an album of twelve songs called Two Faces of Love , which included two of her own compositions and a sung version of the poem " The Life That I Have " from the film Carve Her Name with Pride . The record was released on the Gold Star label with two line drawings of McKenna by her sister-in-law Linden Travers , but these were replaced by

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672-524: Is a British stage and screen actress, author, animal rights activist, and wildlife campaigner. She is best known for the films A Town Like Alice (1956), Carve Her Name with Pride (1958), Born Free (1966), and Ring of Bright Water (1969), as well as her work with the Born Free Foundation . McKenna was born in Marylebone to a theatrical family and was educated at Heron's Ghyll School,

728-438: Is best remembered for her 1966 role as Joy Adamson in the true-life film Born Free for which she received a nomination for a Golden Globe . It was not only a huge success at the box office but a life changing experience for her and her husband Bill Travers who co-starred with her, portraying game warden and conservationist George Adamson . The experience led them to become active supporters for wild animal rights as well as

784-497: Is forced to kill a man-eating lion and his lioness. He realises too late that the lioness was charging in defence of her three cubs and so, realising the cubs are now motherless, brings them home so he and his wife Joy can raise them. They name the cubs Big One, Lustika and Elsa. When the cubs become too old, Big One and Lustika are sent off to Rotterdam Zoo whilst George and Joy keep Elsa, having become especially attached to her. Years later, George’s boss, John Kendall informs him that

840-610: Is taken out for her final test: joining a wild pride. Despite initially being attacked, Elsa is accepted into a pride much to Joy and George’s relief. A year later, the Adamsons return to Kenya in search of Elsa. They are delighted to discover that she has thrived as a wild lion and is now a mother to three cubs. However, Joy and George decide to let the cubs remain wild instead of hand-rearing them as they did with Elsa and her sisters. The film's credits list lions and lionesses Boy, Girl, Henrietta, Mara , Ugas, and "the Cubs". The film reunited

896-739: The 1745 Rising ; an engraving by William Hogarth shows them marching to take up defensive positions in North London. However, the Jacobite army turned back at Derby , and in July 1747, the Second Battalion was sent to Flanders , where it fought at Lauffeld , before the war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle . In the absence of a modern police force, the military was often used for crowd control; in Memoirs of

952-586: The 1969 film adaptation of the book. McKenna is still actively involved at Born Free Foundational as a Trustee. McKenna was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2004 New Year Honours for services to wildlife and the arts and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to wildlife conservation and wild animal welfare. McKenna and Travers had four children together, one of whom

1008-790: The Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in May 1811, the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812, the Siege of San Sebastián in Summer 1813 and the Battle of the Nive in December 1813. At the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, the Scots Guards were positioned on the ridge just behind Hougoumont . Their light companies, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonnell , held Hougoumont Farm throughout

1064-669: The First Battle of Ypres in November 1914, the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915 and the Battle of Loos in September 1915. In July 1916 the Scots Guards took part in the first Battle of the Somme and in July 1917, the regiment began its involvement in the Battle of Passchendaele . In March 1918 they fought at the second Battle of the Somme and in Autumn the regiment took part in the final battles of

1120-743: The London Regiment at Rochester Row, Westminster became G (Messines) Company, Scots Guards. Regular Recruits to the Guards Division go through a thirty-week training programme at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC). The training is two weeks more than the training for the Regular line infantry regiments of the British Army; the extra training, carried out throughout the course, is devoted to drill and ceremonies. King Edward VII assumed

1176-566: The London Regiment transferred to foot guards regiments and the company became G (Messines) Company, Scots Guards, 1st Battalion London Guards. The Scots Guards and other Guards regiments have a long-standing connection to the Parachute Regiment . Guardsmen who have completed the P company selection course are transferred into the Guards Parachute Platoon, which is part of 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment . This continues

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1232-772: The War of the Spanish Succession ; retitled The Third Regiment of Foot Guards , it moved to London in 1712, and did not return to Scotland for another 100 years. During the 1740-1748 War of the Austrian Succession , the First Battalion served at Dettingen in 1743 and Fontenoy in April 1745, a British defeat famous for the Gardes françaises and Grenadier Guards inviting each other to fire first. Both battalions were in London during

1288-529: The armoured infantry role. 1st Battalion will be equipped with Mastiff Vehicles (and later the Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV)) under Army 2020 Refine and be under the first Strike Brigade. The 1st Battalion will not rotate public ceremonial duties unlike the other guards regiments with F Company performing that role. Following the Integrated Review A (London Scottish) Company of

1344-579: The 1st Battalion deployed to Iraq on a 6-month posting as part of 4th Armoured Brigade . The 4th Brigade relieved the 1st Mechanised Brigade , and joined the Multi-National Division (South East) that was under British command. In 2021, the 1st Battalion moved to Somme Barracks, Catterick Garrison as part of the Army 2020 Refine reforms. On 1 May 2022 (delayed from the originally intended 1 April 2022), soldiers in A (The London Scottish) Company,

1400-687: The 1st Battalion undertook two tours in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation . Both the 1st and 2nd Battalion deployed to Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the early 1970s. In 1992, during their time in Northern Ireland, the Scots Guards were involved in the contentious shooting of civilian Peter McBride: two soldiers were convicted of murder. During the Falklands War in 1982

1456-565: The 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards was deployed to Malaya (now part of Malaysia ) to crush a Communist-inspired and pro-independence uprising during a conflict known as the Malayan Emergency . The 2nd Battalion performed a variety of duties, such as guarding duties, patrols into the dense jungle, and assaults upon MNLA guerrillas. The battalion was involved in an incident known as the Batang Kali massacre , in which they were responsible for

1512-545: The 2nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties in tough fighting. The 1st Battalion, as part of its brigade, joined the 6th South African Armoured Division in May 1944. The regiment took part in many fierce engagements throughout 1944, including those against the Gothic Line , a formidable defensive line. In the years following the Second World War the Scots Guards saw action in a number of Britain's colonial wars. In 1948,

1568-623: The 2nd Battalion took part in the defensive Battle of Medenine , after the Germans had counter-attacked the Allies. In September 1943, the 2nd Battalion, as part of the 201st Guards Brigade of the 56th (London) Division , took part in the Landing at Salerno . In December 1943, the 1st Battalion, as part of 24th Guards Brigade, arrived in the Italian Theatre . At the Battle of Monte Cassino in early 1944,

1624-474: The Adamson's as well as various contributions from people including Virginia McKenna, Tony Fitzjohn (George Adamson's long time assistant) and Sir David Attenborough. On 1st February 2011 the long running BBC series Natural World broadcast episode 10 of series 29 which was entitled 'Elsa: The Lioness that Changed the World'. This episode, narrated by actor Richard Armitage, looked back at Elsa's life and legacy, and

1680-435: The Adamsons decide to leave Elsa for a week in the bush to encourage her to become more independent. However, they find her severely injured, possibly by wild lions. George now believes Elsa cannot survive so must be sent to a zoo, which Joy opposes, wanting Elsa to have her freedom. This proves to be a good decision because Elsa eventually leaves for days at a time, making several kills by herself. When she comes into season, she

1736-556: The French Army were in full retreat to Amarante after the actions in Oporto and its surrounding areas. In late July 1809 the regiment took part in the Battle of Talavera , one of the bloodiest and most bitter of engagements during the war. The 2nd Battalion's flank companies took part in the disastrous Walcheren Campaign in the Low Countries . The 1st Battalion went on to take part in

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1792-639: The Scots Guards traces its origins to the Marquis of Argyll's Royal Regiment, a unit raised in 1642 by Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll in response to the 1641 Irish Rebellion . After the Restoration of Charles II, the Earl of Linlithgow received a commission dated 23 November 1660 to raise a regiment which was called The Scottish Regiment of Footguards. It served in the 1679 Covenanter rising of 1679, as well as Argyll's Rising in June 1685, after which it

1848-759: The battle, a key defensive position on the right flank of the Allied army. The 1st Battalion, part of the 1st (Guards) Brigade of the 1st Division , was part of the British Expeditionary Force which arrived in France in 1914. The Battalion took part in the Battle of Mons in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 and the Battle of the Aisne also in September 1914. The 1st and 2nd Battalions then took part in

1904-409: The book, Born Free. These included a new one hour documentary entitled 'The Born Free Legacy'. It explores the story behind the book 'Born Free' about the lives of Joy and George Adamson with the orphaned lion cub Elsa. It then looks at the huge impact the book, and the subsequent 1966 movie had on the growing wildlife conservation movement. It includes archive footage and clips of interviews with

1960-543: The box office in Britain during 1966. The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: The book Born Free (1960) was followed by two other books, Living Free (1961) and Forever Free (1963). A film sequel titled Living Free was directed by Jack Couffer and released in 1972. While deriving its name from the second book, the film was based on the third book in the series. It starred Susan Hampshire and Nigel Davenport as Joy and George Adamson although

2016-418: The colonelcy-in-chief of the regiment on his accession, and subsequent monarchs have also been colonel-in-chief. Regimental Colonels have included: For many years a Colonel was given the full-time appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Commanding the regiment. After 1986 a Lieutenant Colonel was appointed, but in 1989 the role was retitled Regimental Lieutenant Colonel; this was an honorary appointment, filled by

2072-506: The custodian of the colours and traditions of the 2nd Battalion, which was placed in permanent suspended animation in 1993 as a result of Options for Change . F Company was formerly part of the 2nd Bn as its 'support weapons company', operating mortars, anti-tank weapons, and reconnaissance vehicles. The regiment consists of a single operational battalion, which was based in Catterick between 2008 and 2015, thereafter moving to Aldershot in

2128-403: The episodes aired in the U.S. To Walk with Lions (1999), directed by Carl Schultz , depicts the last years of George Adamson's life as seen through the eyes of his assistant, Tony Fitzjohn . George is portrayed by Richard Harris , and Honor Blackman makes a brief appearance as Joy. On 28th September 2010 BBC Four ran a number of programs to mark the 50th anniversary of the publishing of

2184-628: The execution of 24 unarmed civilians. By the time the battalion left Malaya in 1951 and returned home, it had lost thirteen soldiers. By late 1951, the 1st Battalion was deployed to Cyprus ; and in February 1952, the battalion deployed to the Suez Canal Zone , Egypt . In February 1962, the 2nd Battalion arrived in Kenya , and operated in support of the civil power during the Mau Mau Uprising . In 1965

2240-404: The film was not as well-received as its predecessor. A documentary follow-up to Born Free , titled The Lions Are Free , was directed by James Hill and Bill Travers and released in 1969. The film follows Born Free actor Bill Travers as he journeys to a remote area in Kenya to visit George Adamson , and several of Adamson's lion friends. In 1974, a 13-episode American television series

2296-408: The help received from Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and the Game Department of Uganda . Born Free received critical acclaim. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 88% of 17 film critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.1 out of 10. Vincent Canby waxed enthusiastic about the film, writing in The New York Times , "Almost from the opening shot –

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2352-514: The lineage of the No. 1 (Guards) Independent Parachute Company, who were the original Pathfinder Group of the 16th Parachute Brigade . The Scots Guards is ranked as the third regiment in the Guards Division . As such, Scots Guardsmen can be recognized by having the buttons on their tunics spaced in threes. They also do not wear hackles (plumes) in their bearskins, unlike the other Foot Guards. Since 1993, F Company , permanently based in Wellington Barracks, London on public duties , has been

2408-413: The main force of the Scots Guards began its advance on the western side of Mount Tumbledown . During the course of the battle in the early hours of 14 June 1982, men of the 2nd Battalion "wearing berets instead of helmets" launched a bayonet charge on the redoubtable Argentinian defenders, which resulted in bitter and bloody fighting, and was one of the last bayonet charges by the British Army. In 2004,

2464-428: The production unit mainly used wild lions. The making of the film was a life-changing experience for actors Virginia McKenna and her husband Bill Travers , who became animal rights activists and were instrumental in creating the Born Free Foundation . One of the lions in the film was played by a former mascot of the Scots Guards , who had to leave him behind when they left Kenya. The producers also acknowledged

2520-568: The protection of their natural habitat . McKenna and Travers starred in another animal-themed story, Ring of Bright Water (1969), but it failed to match Born Free 's success. McKenna appeared in An Elephant Called Slowly . The film features her close friend conservationist George Adamson and also elephants Eleanor (brought up by conservationist Daphne Sheldrick ) and young Pole Pole. The subsequent premature death of Pole Pole in London Zoo led to McKenna and her husband to establish Zoo Check in 1984 with their eldest son Will Travers . Zoo Check

2576-417: The pseudonym "Gerald L.C. Copley"), was based upon Joy Adamson's 1960 non-fiction book Born Free . The film was directed by James Hill and produced by Sam Jaffe and Paul Radin . Born Free , and its musical score , by John Barry , as well as the title song , with lyrics by Don Black and sung by Matt Monro , won numerous awards. In the Northern province of Kenya, British Game Warden George Adamson

2632-408: The real-life couple Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna as a couple first seen together in The Smallest Show on Earth in 1957. George Adamson served as chief technical advisor on the film and discusses his involvement in his first autobiography, Bwana Game (UK title, 1968), known in the US as A Lifetime with Lions . According to Ben Mankiewicz , who introduces the film on Turner Classic Movies ,

2688-436: The support part of Elizabeth Barrett Browning 's sister. The movie flopped at the box office. The same year, Travers and McKenna, along with Margaret Rutherford and Peter Sellers , co-starred in the comedy The Smallest Show on Earth , made back in Britain. McKenna had another hit with Carve Her Name with Pride (1958), playing Second World War SOE agent Violette Szabo . She was nominated for another BAFTA Award and

2744-417: The war on the Western Front . In April 1940, the 1st Battalion, as part of the 24th Guards Brigade , took part in its first campaign of the war, during the expedition to Norway . In North Africa, as part of the 22nd Guards Brigade , the 2nd Battalion took part in fighting against the Italians in Egypt followed by tough fighting in Libya , then also controlled by Italy. In North Africa, in March 1943,

2800-456: The work done by George Adamson to rehabilitate lions into the wild following the making of the Born Free film. A slightly shortened version of this episode, this time narrated by the conservationist Chris Morgan, under the title Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story was also shown as part of the Nature TV series , released on PBS stations in January 2011. Virginia McKenna Dame Virginia Anne McKenna DBE (born 7 June 1931)

2856-490: Was a big hit at the box office and McKenna won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for her performance. Exhibitors voted her the fourth most popular British star. In October 1956, John Davis, managing director of Rank, announced her as one of the actors under contract that Davis thought would become an international star. Travers and McKenna received an offer to go to Hollywood to appear in The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957). Travers played Robert Browning and McKenna had

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2912-560: Was appearing in the West End production of William Douglas Home 's The Bad Samaritan . From 1954 to 1955, she was a member of the Old Vic theatre company, appearing in Henry IV and Richard II , and was married for a few months in 1954 to actor Denholm Elliott , whom she met on the set of The Cruel Sea . Their marriage ended owing to his affairs with men. In 1957, she married actor Bill Travers , with whom she had four children and to whom she remained married until his death in 1994. McKenna returned to films with Simba (1955),

2968-399: Was broadcast by NBC , titled Born Free , starring Diana Muldaur and Gary Collins as Joy and George Adamson. The series was later followed by the 1996 television film Born Free: A New Adventure directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and starring Linda Purl and Chris Noth . Joy and George Adamson do not appear as the main characters in the story. It spawned a TV series in 1998, but none of

3024-431: Was expanded to two battalions. When the Nine Years War began in 1689, the first battalion was sent to Flanders ; the second served in Ireland , and fought at the 1690 Battle of the Boyne , before joining the First in 1691. The combined unit fought at Steenkerque and Landen , as well as the 1695 Namur . After the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, the regiment returned to Scotland. The Guards remained in Scotland during

3080-403: Was renamed Born Free Foundation in 1991. In 1984 McKenna was involved with a protest against the poor conditions at Southampton Zoo which was closed a year later. McKenna occasionally acted in films, notably Waterloo (1970), Swallows and Amazons (1974), The Gathering Storm (1974), and Beauty and the Beast (1976). Onstage, in 1979 she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in

3136-415: Was voted the fifth most popular British star of 1958 (and the ninth most popular regardless of nationality). She and Travers were reunited in Passionate Summer (1959), then she had a support part in MGM's The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959). McKenna and Travers were also in Two Living, One Dead (1961), shot in Sweden. She was in an adaptation of A Passage to India for the BBC in 1965. McKenna

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