Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery
- Last updated: 07/10/2024
Unarguably, the most famous British officer of WWII was Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, later Lord Montgomery of Alamein. His flamboyant headdress and casual style set him apart from his contemporaries and created an image which the public could identify. His easy way of addressing the troops under his command earned him the nickname ‘Monty’, and his relationship with the war correspondents was in sharp contrast to other senior officers, who gave them a wide berth. News of his victories was the sort of thing the British public wanted to read about, and it was his ‘pep’ talks at factories engaged in war work that engendered his popularity.
These aspects of the man alone make him a popular figure among re-enactors and one of the most depicted of all wartime figures. Some depictions are very good, but others fall short of being convincing. Sometimes, a vehicle owner will allow a Monty look-alike to ride in a vehicle at a show for effect and this is always well accepted. There is no museum specifically dedicated to Monty, but that does not prevent the life and times of his military career from being of great interest to collectors and enthusiasts. In fact, many military museums feature him in their displays, such as the History on Wheels Museum collection (www.historyonwheels.co.uk) in Eton Wick near Windsor in Berkshire, which has one of his staff cars on display. He has also been the subject of many works written about his career as a soldier and statesman after retirement.
History
Born in Kennington, Surrey, in 1887, he attended Sandhurst. Here, he was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Seriously wounded in 1914, he spent the remainder of his service in WWI posted to duties as Staff Officer. During the inter-war period, he served in various postings and duties, including Ireland, the Middle East, and India. On the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, while holding the rank of Major-General, he commanded the 3rd Division, which was deployed to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. For the next eight months, he continued to train his command in readiness to face the German attack.
On 10th May 1940, the attack occurred, and the Allies were overwhelmed, leading to the BEF’s withdrawal from Dunkirk. Back in England, he spent the next two years preparing his command for various deployments which never materialised. During that time, he was also involved in planning Britain’s defences against the expected German invasion. Then, in August 1942, he was appointed to take command of the 8th Army in North Africa. He was in his element and set about inspiring his command and preparing to go on the offensive. It was during this time that he became known for his choice of headdress. The first was an Australian-style, broad-brimmed slouch hat, which would become emblazoned with badges of various regiments under his command.
It is also at this time that the black beret for which he is most famous, on which he wore the General officer’s cap badge along with that of the Royal Tank Regiment, came about by accident. On one occasion, while being driven, Montgomery’s hat kept falling off, causing the driver to stop and retrieve it. Finally fed up with this, his driver, Corporal Jim Fraser RTR, handed him a beret. The Press now had an image of a high-ranking officer for the British public at home. The effect was instantaneous, and everyone was talking about ‘Monty’. After his success in North Africa, he was the man of the moment.
Further success
Unfortunately, he did not always get along with the Americans, many of whom he irritated, including Patton. Nevertheless, Monty-mania grabbed the public and his image appeared in magazines, newspapers, and newsreels shown in cinemas. The legend was created. It was said of him that before his success at El Alamein, there were no victories, but after Alamein, there were no defeats. Indeed, after the Allied victory in North Africa, the next target was Sicily, followed by mainland Italy. In 1944, Monty was recalled to Britain to help organise the planning for the invasion of Europe.
Further success followed, although his plan for Operation Market Garden, Arnhem in Holland, was a disaster. Monty had his critics during the war, and today, despite his bruised reputation, he still has admirers. After the war, he wrote several books on military subjects, and he also penned his memoirs. These were much criticised, but still make for interesting reading when it comes to understanding the man. He was a complex character, often unpredictable and criticised by his American counterparts for being overly cautious. Referred to as being ‘…unbeatable and unbearable…’ it is perhaps a combination of all these characteristics which makes him such a popular figure for re-enactors to depict.
Re-enactment
Whether walking around unaccompanied at an event or with several people as his entourage, the recreated image is instantly recognisable as being that of Monty. Walking along lines of troops on parade being inspected by Monty also makes for a photo opportunity, just as it did during the war. There are various interpretations, not all of which are as convincing as that portrayed by Meyrick E. Clifton James, a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Pay Corps, whose likeness to Montgomery was so remarkable that the British secret service used him as a decoy to fool the Germans in the lead-up to D-Day. James wrote a book about the operation called ‘I was Monty’s Double’, which was later turned into a film of the same name. The very mention that Monty is to make an appearance at a show, either to make a pre-D-Day speech or just to say a few words of encouragement, is enough for people to take their seats to watch and listen.
The first thing a good Monty must do is create a resemblance to the great man. Height is an important consideration, as he was not tall. He is best known for his informal style of dress, which usually included corduroy trousers, a woollen pullover, a shirt and tie, and of course the black beret. Fleece-lined leather jackets also fit the bill for the ‘Full Monty’ effect, and an appropriate vehicle should be handy to complete the picture. The image of him holding binoculars while in the turret of a tank is an iconic photograph of the war in North Africa.
Collectors
It’s not just re-enactors and historians who keep the interest in Montgomery so strong. Collectors seek out items associated with him, and tourists on battlefield trips want to see where he served, such as the grounds of the chateau at Creully near Bayeaux, where he had his tactical HQ caravan. Items of interest for collectors include either part or whole letters penned by him, as long as they include his signature. These are available on specialist websites and are offered at quite reasonable prices. Autographed photographs are also sought by collectors, and some collectors acquire medals and other items associated with his campaigns and planned operations, such as Arnhem. With a military service spanning 50 years, there is a lot for enthusiasts to discover about the man.