Monty's Grant

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Owen, Sep 8, 2014.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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    This Tank was used by General (later Field Marshal) Sir Bernard Law Montgomery in the Desert Campaign in 1942 - 1943, including the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 in which the 8th Army defeated Rommel. It continued to be used by Monty during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, and for the remainder of that year as the 8th Army advanced into Italy. It was attached to 8th Army Headquarters and was used by Montgomery and subsequent Commanders for forward observation on the battlefield. It was "Monty's wish" that the tank should be handed back to his old Regiment, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and in 1948 it was brought from Austria to England and became gate guardian at Budbrooke Barracks outside Warwick. It was later displayed at the Depot of the Queen's Division at Bassingbourn which the Royal Regiment joined in 1968. Completely restored in 1985 - 1988 by volunteers at the Army's Armoured Vehicle Depot at Ludgershall, Hampshire it was handed over to the Imperial War Museum on 6th June 1988. Photographs of Monty in this tank in North Africa can be obtained from the Imperial War Museum Photo Archive.
     
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  3. kopite

    kopite Member

    Here's another photo of it that I took at Duxford last year.
     

    Attached Files:

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  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Owen,

    I seem to remember that I have seen a photograph of Monty in the turret of a Grant, which could have been this tank.

    IIRC the photo only showed the top of the turret showing Monty's head and shoulders.

    I will have to have a search.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    This one...

    Lieutenant General B L Montgomery, General Officer Commanding Eighth Army, watches the beginning of the German retreat from El Alamein from the turret of his Grant Tank. He is wearing his famous tank beret.
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    THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH AFRICA 1940-1943: PERSONALITIES. © IWM (E 18980)IWM Non Commercial Licence
     
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  7. Bernard85

    Bernard85 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    good day owen.supermoderators.08 sep,2014,10:30pm.re:monty's grant.great post.excellent photo's,thank you for posting regards bernard85. :m3:
     
  8. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Owen,

    Yes that was the one, showing the Sun Compass. Thanks for posting it.

    Regards
    Tom
     
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  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Ah I wondered what the disc was, thanks for explaining.
     
  10. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Very nice picture but isn't there something wrong with the captions or dates? The top one says Sept 27, 1944 and the bottom one says Italy 1944. Wasn't Montgomery up in Belgium in Sept of 44? The setting looks more like Italy, if I had to guess.

    I wonder if there were any other gun armed Grants still in NW Europe in Sept ?

    Glad to see it has been preserved. Is it still run on special occasions?
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Nothing wrong with the dates.
    The Grant stayed at 8th Army HQ after the man himself left.
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  13. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Well, that explains that then. Thanks. Looks like the new crew is taking good care of it..

    Like that Humber picture too. Ferocious looking things, aren't they?
     
  14. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Does anyone know what the colours of the two tone camo scheme the Grant would have had at the time of Alamein would have been?

    Or the single colour in the August 1942 photo earlier in this thread?

    Thanks. David.
     
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    IMG_3237.JPG Here it is today, wrapped in plastic sheeting.
     
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  16. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Just noted it appears sand guards were added to it post-1945.
     
  17. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Illustrated London News 21 November 1942
    Screen Shot 2017-06-25 at 02.01.10.png

    Screen Shot 2017-06-25 at 02.02.30.png
     
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  18. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Illustrated London News 30 January 1943
    Illustrated London News 30 January 1943.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  19. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    Visiting the refurbished IWM is like Kim's game - remembering what is now missing. One upon a time museums were places to exhibit collections rather than provide a background for corporate events....
     
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  20. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    What's on top of the left front fender. Maybe a folded up tripod of some sort?
     

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