Monty unlike many Army Commanders - did not issue too many "Orders of the Day" but in Sicily he was more or less forced into his famous one after he had been passed by a three ton truck driven by an RASC driver - who was starkers except for his army boots and a Civilian Silk Top hat which was doffed on seeing the Commander.... next day Monty issued - "Now that we are back in Europe we should be dressed in uniform and Top Hats will not be worn " Cheers
I can't remember who said it, but I remember reading something along the lines of 'isnt it ironic how two of Britain's greatest Generals, Wellington and Montgomery, cared not what their troops looked like as long as they fought well'.
Still wearing assorted hats in Holland 1944.!!! What a lovely picture of fun in extreme times. I hope they all faired well.
Let me tell you. We did not wear daft hats. Indeed, if we were caught? our feet would not touch the ground.... We went to war properly dressed, as soldiers ..Washed and shaved... looking like HM service men...At all times....... If you were to be killed? then it was essential to do it properly ....It was really all about military discipline and moral... Not daft hats. Discipline and Esprey de Corps are always essential...... Sapper
Let me tell you. We did not wear daft hats. Indeed, if we were caught? our feet would not touch the ground.... We went to war properly dressed, as soldiers ..Washed and shaved... looking like HM service men...At all times....... If you were to be killed? then it was essential to do it properly ....It was really all about military discipline and moral... Not daft hats. Discipline and Esprey de Corps are always essential...... Sapper Quite so. In the Diaries there is a reference to men being inspected and disciplined before going into action on a CB engagement for not shaving that morning. Rob
I remember seeing a picture in Sean Longden's 'to the victor the spoils' showing one chap being inspected by Monty wearing a sheepskin jerkin. And by sheepskin, it did look like he had literally skinned a sheep. The chapter in the above book on uniform seems to argue that Monty did not bother himself too much with issues of uniform in North West Europe, and that it was pretty much left to Divisions downwards to make their own orders regarding turn out.
The forward observer men did all they could to change their uniforms,the first thing they did was to turn their berets inside out so as not to be clocked as airborne. The logic was if they were seen from any distance they tried to be as nondiscript as possible during Op Varsity they sometime passed right by german patrols. I`m not too sure what my dad is wearing! (avatar pic) So i think in certain situations it did indeed pay to be out of uniform!
51 Highland Monty was addressing the 8th Army in Sicily .....1943 Cheers I appreciate that, Monty also received a lot of booing to one of his speeches to 51st HD at Barcellona, Sicily, until he told them they were going home.!!! regards
Highland 51 - they did the same to him in Tunisia - when giving a lecture to an Arty mob - he was applauding them for good work and said that he would like to take them anywhere with him - they booed their heads off - he then mentioned that he might be going home- soon turned to cheers ....fickle lot in 8th Army ! Cheers