Page 98 - They Also Served

Churchill famously remarked: ‘Before El Alamein, we never had a victory; after that, we never had a defeat’.
Montgomery believed in being visible to his men – he adopted first an Australian slouch hat, then a black beret adorned (and against regulations) with two badges. Later, he commanded the army during the landings in Sicily and Italy before being recalled home to plan for the invasion of France. Commanding the 21st Army Group, he was a cautious commander, as sparing as possible with the lives of his men (as were many who had experienced the horrors of the Great War) and, at one stage, was on the verge of being sacked by Churchill. Nevertheless, he was promoted to field marshal and led British troops across the Rhine. When visited by King George VI, Eisenhower, the supreme commander, is said to have remarked: ‘I think Montgomery wants my job’ – to which the king replied: ‘And mine too’. Finally, Montgomery accepted the surrender of German forces in North-West Europe on Lüneburg Heath on 4th May 1945.
Post-war, Montgomery continued to serve as chief of the general staff and finally as NATO’s deputy supreme commander Europe until he retired in 1958 at the age of 71. One of his last acts in uniform was to preside over the removal of the Lüneburg monument, erected to commemorate the surrender, when it was moved to Sandhurst. After a long and active retirement, Montgomery died in March 1976. Often described as tactless, conceited and egotistical, he was shielded for much of the war by Alanbrooke at home, and by that great diplomat, Eisenhower, in Europe. Churchill certainly recognised his value, although did comment that ‘in defeat he was unbeatable; in victory, unbearable’.
92