8742 Bernard Law MONTGOMERY, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL

Yep caught it on the way home. Enjoyed it, two great blokes.

 

Bernard Montgomery Memorial
Whitehall,London

 

Clive..

The Boss…! both hated and loved….but he never lost a battle..no matter what his detractors ever said about him….yes at times he was slow - to save his men's lives...

Cheers

 

No doubt, thousands had the same experience, but my Dad remembers seeing Monty, around 70 years ago to the very day..

“The next day, I went to Bttn HQ and met RSM Billy Girvin outside. As we were talking, a large staff car drew up. The little general at the back responded to our salutes and called us over. It was Monty again and he handed over a large parcel. ‘Share these among the chaps,’ he said. Billy threw up a cracking salute as Monty drove off. We discovered that the parcel contained 5,000 Gallaher’s Blue Label cigarettes which would give the men in forward positions an extra day’s ration of seven cigarettes.

I used to boast: ‘The last time I spoke to Monty, he gave me 5,000 cigarettes.’ Montgomery’s presence presaged an imminent fresh attack...

 

My Dad had a great respect of Montgomery as he served under him at Dunkirk. He had this to say on their return from Dunkirk.

"At Semley in Somerset Montgomery came to address us in response to our reaction to his ban on leave. He explained that we might have to return to France, but he did give us a 72 hour pass. He stood on the back of a lorry."

Cheers
Paul

 

This statue is located directly outside of the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth.

 

I happened to be wandering past the Oval last week and took the opportunity to rediscover part of Monty's Sarf London roots..

My father used to tell me..‘The last time I spoke to Monty, he gave me 5,000 cigarettes.’” (near the Sangro River in November 1943)..

In 1943, little did my Dad know that Monty and he were born within a mile of each other...

best

 

Great story, thanks and thanx for the Pictures as well...............

 

Just updating photos i took back in 2012 of the Field Marshals mother and fathers grave and their house

 

You're not wrong there.
I wonder who owns it now.

As an aside, can anybody tell me whether Brian Montgomery's A Field Marshal in the Family is a good read?
Is it exclusively about his family life or do we get much about his own military service?

 

A pity about the house, but I am not very surprised. When I was in London I saw some magnificent houses in Belsize Park and nearby that were going to wrack and ruin. I guess the money to maintain and run big houses of that kind simply isn't there anymore.

I haven't read Brian's book, but it must be interesting. From what I have heard, Monty's relationship with his son was a difficult one.

 

Sorry to see the house in such a state. I hope someone is able to do it up and put it to good use. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Have attached a scan of the cover of Maud Montgomery's autobiographical booklet.

 

I have something of a mystery which I suspect is directly linked to Montgomery at Moville.

There is a GEORGE MONTGOMERY named on the War Memorial in Dungannon and it is interesting to see that he was a Private in the United States Army!

It is surprising to see a US Soldier named on a UK War Memorial so I did some searching and found the following :-

George Montgomery is named on U.S. Army records as being from the Irish Free State and he enlisted in the US Army at New York City on 31st January 1941 (Before Pearl Harbour).
He served with 165 Infantry, 27 Infantry Division and died on Makin Island in the Pacific which is now part of the Gilbert Islands, on 21st November 1943.

He had given his Occupation as Driver and the US Army have his death recorded as "Died non Battle" however I have seen a photograph of a Montgomery family headstone which refers to him being "Killed in Action" at Makin Island, USA"

He is mentioned at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Is George Montgomery named on a family Headstone in Moville??

Do you know if he is a relative of Field Marshall Montgomery??

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Andy

 

Can anyone please tell me what the correct rank and decorations were for Monty at the time of the October 1942 Alamein battles? I'm thinking its 'Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Montgomery, DSO', but would like confirmation from someone who knows their North African onions!

Any help greatly appreciated ...

Cheers

Skip

 

Skip

Nearly Correct as Monty was not a SIR at that time but later in Tunisia -had been a corps commander in the Uk and so was Lt General - then promoted to full General as he entered Tunisia - at Medenine March

'43 then Field Marshal in September '44 when Ike took over the leadership of the field armies - then GIGS in 1946 - 48……had too many honours to remember

them all- them's my onions but probably get an argument

Cheers

 

At El Alamein?

Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery CB DSO (CB 1940, as Maj Gen, GOC 3 Div; DSO 1914 as Maj. Royal Warwickshire Regiment)

On 31 Dec 42:

Lt Gen Sir Bernard Montgomery KCB DSO (KCB Nov 42)

 

Thanks very much for clearing that up ... and no arguments Tom! (Cheers for the expert opinion).

Very much appreciate the three of you getting back to me ...

Ta

Skip