Who Was Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery?

Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, officially styled as the 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, was a highly influential and decorated senior officer of the British Army. Born on 17 November 1887 and passing away on 24 March 1976, he earned enduring nicknames such as "Monty" and "The Spartan General." His distinguished career spanned three significant conflicts: the First World War, the Irish War of Independence, and the Second World War, cementing his legacy as one of Britain's most prominent military commanders.

His peerage, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, was bestowed upon him in recognition of his decisive victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein, a pivotal moment in the Second World War. The moniker "The Spartan General" reflected his disciplined approach, austere lifestyle, and unwavering focus on military efficiency and meticulous planning, often contrasting with the more flamboyant styles of some of his contemporaries.

Montgomery's Early Military Career and First World War Service

Montgomery's baptism of fire occurred during the First World War. Serving as a junior officer with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, he first saw action on the Western Front. During the brutal First Battle of Ypres in October 1914, at Méteren near the Belgian border town of Bailleul, he sustained a severe, near-fatal injury from a sniper's bullet that pierced his right lung. His survival and subsequent recovery demonstrated an early resilience that would define his career.

Upon his return to the Western Front, Montgomery transitioned into a role as a general staff officer, a position focused on strategic planning and logistical coordination rather than direct combat command. This shift allowed him to hone his tactical intellect. He actively participated in major offensives, including the Battle of Arras in April–May 1917, a large-scale British offensive, and the notoriously difficult Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) in late 1917, characterized by its horrific conditions and heavy casualties. He concluded the war as chief of staff for the 47th (2nd London) Division, underscoring his early aptitude for high-level organizational and command responsibilities.

The Inter-War Years: Forging a Commander

The period between the two World Wars was crucial for Montgomery's development as a senior officer. He steadily climbed the ranks, accumulating diverse command experience that would prove invaluable. His commands included the 17th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, followed by the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. This progression led to his appointment as commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade, and subsequently, as General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 8th Infantry Division. These formative years allowed him to refine his tactical doctrine, leadership principles, and insistence on thorough training and preparation, all of which would become hallmarks of his command style in the coming global conflict.

Second World War: North Africa, Italy, and Normandy

Montgomery's reputation was solidified during the Second World War, beginning with the critical Western Desert Campaign. In August 1942, at a desperate juncture for the Allied forces facing Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's formidable Afrika Korps, he was appointed to command the British Eighth Army. Under his leadership, the Eighth Army achieved a decisive and pivotal victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October–November 1942. This watershed moment not only halted the Axis advance into Egypt but also marked a significant turning point in the North African theatre, leading to the final Allied victory in Tunisia by May 1943.

Following the successful North African campaign, Montgomery continued to lead the British Eighth Army during the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) in July 1943, and the subsequent Allied invasion of mainland Italy in September 1943, spearheading the Allied advance up the Italian peninsula.

His influence expanded further when he was entrusted with the command of all Allied ground forces during the monumental Battle of Normandy, known as Operation Overlord. From D-Day, 6 June 1944, until 1 September 1944, Montgomery was responsible for coordinating the complex ground operations of the largest amphibious invasion in history. This included securing the vital beachheads and managing the initial build-up of forces and subsequent breakout from the Normandy bridgehead, a period of intense fighting that laid the groundwork for the liberation of France.

Leading the 21st Army Group in North-West Europe

After the initial phase of the Normandy campaign, Montgomery transitioned to command the 21st Army Group for the remainder of the North-West Europe campaign. This major Allied formation comprised significant British, Canadian, and Polish forces. His command during this period included the ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to cross the Rhine via Operation Market Garden in September 1944. This airborne operation aimed to secure vital bridges in the Netherlands to outflank the Siegfried Line and open a rapid route into Germany, but famously became "a bridge too far" due to a combination of logistical challenges and fierce German resistance.

The Battle of the Bulge and Final Push to Victory

In a critical moment during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, when German armoured forces launched a desperate counter-offensive that broke through American lines in Belgium, Montgomery received temporary command of the northern shoulder of the salient. This highly sensitive assignment involved commanding the US First Army and the US Ninth Army. Despite initial controversy surrounding a British general commanding American forces, his decisive actions were instrumental in stabilising the northern front and holding back the German advance, allowing the US Third Army under General George S. Patton to relieve the besieged town of Bastogne from the south.

Montgomery's 21st Army Group, reinforced by the US Ninth Army and the First Allied Airborne Army, executed Operation Plunder in March 1945, a meticulously planned and massive crossing of the Rhine River. This impressive feat occurred approximately two weeks after the US First Army's opportunistic crossing of the Rhine at Remagen. By the conclusion of the war in Europe, troops under Montgomery's command had achieved significant objectives, including participation in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, the liberation of the Netherlands, and the capture of vast swathes of north-west Germany. On 4 May 1945, a mere two days after Berlin's surrender to the USSR, Montgomery formally accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces in north-western Europe at Lüneburg Heath, south of Hamburg, a historically momentous occasion marking the end of the conflict in the West.

Post-War Service and Retirement

Following the cessation of hostilities, Montgomery continued to serve in prominent roles that shaped post-war European security. He first served as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in occupied Germany, playing a crucial role in the post-war administration and reconstruction efforts. Subsequently, from 1946 to 1948, he held the esteemed position of Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. His international influence grew further as he served as Chairman of the Commanders-in-Chief Committee of the Western Union from 1948 to 1951, contributing to the nascent security architecture in Western Europe. He capped his illustrious career as NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1951 until his retirement in 1958, demonstrating his enduring commitment to collective defence and his continued high standing among Allied military leaders.

The British Eighth Army: A Multinational Force

The British Eighth Army was a pivotal Allied field army formation of the British Army during the Second World War. Renowned for its campaigns in North Africa and Italy, it distinguished itself as a truly multinational force, embodying the spirit of Allied cooperation.

What nations contributed troops to the British Eighth Army?

• Australia
• British India
• Canada
• Czechoslovakia
• Free French Forces
• Greece
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Rhodesia
• South Africa
• United Kingdom

The Eighth Army was a large and complex operational formation, composed of various corps and divisions. Significant subordinate formations that served under its command at different times included:

• V Corps
• X Corps
• XIII Corps
• XXX Corps
• I Canadian Corps
• II Polish Corps

These diverse contributions from across the Commonwealth and Allied nations highlighted the global effort against the Axis powers and underscored the Eighth Army's significant role in the Allied victory.