By Frank Brophy
Private Ryan – 25 Years on
A
quarter of a century ago Stephen Spielberg’s WW2 film “Saving Private Ryan” made its appearance on the big screen. The story, based on one man’s unfortunate situation also attempted to portray the horrors of Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6 1944. All beach landing scenes were filmed in Ireland on Ballinesker Beach, Curracloe, Co Wexford - the film’s remainder in the UK, with the Irish Premier being screened in a Wexford town cinema in 1998.
Twenty-five years later this movie remains a firm favourite with TV channels - hardly a month goes by without it being transmitted. The plot is based on an actual occurrence after D day. Private Fritz Niland of the US 101st Airborne Division had parachuted into Normandy close to the small Norman town of Ste. Mere Eglise where he was involved in heavy fighting. On June 7 he was dug in with his platoon outside Carentan when it was reported that his three brothers had been killed in action. One on Utah Beach on June 6th
another, Sergeant Robert Niland was killed later that day making his way to Ste. Mere Eglise, while a third brother, a bomber pilot, had been reported killed in the Pacific Theatre. Being the sole surviving Niland son Fritz was immediately withdrawn from combat areas. A few lines, in one of the late Dr. Stephen Ambrose’s books on the Normandy campaign that described how Chaplain Francis Sampson sought out Fritz Niland along the front line on June 7, were destined to become the theme for Spielberg’s film. Records show that the Niland brother, shot down in 1944 actually survived and was still alive in June, but subsequently died in a prison camp. The landing scene graphically portraying the horrors of Omaha Beach was filmed in County Wexford during 1996/97. Such a large influx of film crew and all this entailed provided an immense boost for the local economy plus an unexpected training opportunity for members of the Irish Reserve Defence Forces. The men, all volunteers, kitted out in full US 1944 regalia embarked daily from Wexford Harbour in pre-assembled WW2 landing craft, rounded nearby Raven Point on the way to anchor opposite the film set. Sea-borne landings overseen by former US Marine Capt. Dale Dye involved several runs ashore prior to actual filming. Choppy waters along this stretch of coast resulted in not all the sea-sickness scenes portrayed being staged. Other sections kitted out in Wehrmacht uniforms were brought to their positions overlooking the beach by bus. All weapons for the film were supplied by acclaimed film armourer Simon Atherton.
There were endless hours of training for the sea landing Tom Hanks takes a break during filming 40
Winter 2021 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
Lieut. Brian Kavanagh RDF who
