Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

Field Marshal The Right Honourable Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO (17 November 1887–24 March 1976) was a British Army officer, most noted for his involvement in World War II and often referred to as "Monty".

Early life and World War I service

Montgomery was born in London in 1887. After graduating from St Paul's School and the Royal Military College Sandhurst, he joined the 1st Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1908, first seeing service in India. The First World War began in August 1914 and he moved to France with his regiment that month. He saw service during the retreat from Mons and was severely wounded during the First Battle of Ypres on 13 October 1914 while taking part in an attack against the German-held village of Meteren. He was awarded the DSO for his actions. After recovering in early 1915, he was promoted to Brigade Major and returned to the Western Front in early 1916, taking part in, among others, the Battle of the Somme. He participated in a number of other engagements throughout the war, eventually finishing the war, after a number of other appointments, as General Staff Officer 1, ranked as a colonel, in the 47th (2nd London) Division.

Related Topics:
London - St Paul's School - Royal Military College Sandhurst - The Royal Warwickshire Regiment - 1908 - India - First World War - 1914 - Mons - First Battle of Ypres - 13 October - Meteren - DSO - 1915 - 1916 - Battle of the Somme - General Staff Officer 1 - Colonel - 47th (2nd London) Division

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In 1921 Montgomery was appointed as a staff officer to a brigade stationed in Cork, the most bitterly contested region in the Anglo-Irish War. A cousin of Montgomery's had been killed by the IRA in 1920 and his family estate was located in County Donegal, an area also affected by the conflict. He did not try and exact revenge however and his methods were never as brutal as those of his contemporary in Cork, Arthur Percival. On his arrival in Cork he urged units of his brigade that their "behaviour must be beyond reproach" although later, after futile attempts to locate and destroy IRA units, he stated that it "never bothered me a bit how many houses were burnt". Despite this he earned the respect of his enemies and the IRA officer Tom Barry said that he "behaved with great correctness". Montgomery increasingly came to see the conflict as one that could not be won, and withdrawal of British forces as the only feasible solution. In 1923 Montgomery wrote that "the only way way therefore was to give them (the Irish) some form of self-government and let them squash the rebellion themselves".

Related Topics:
1921 - Cork - Anglo-Irish War - IRA - 1920 - County Donegal - Cork - Arthur Percival - Tom Barry - 1923

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After the First World War ended, many promising young officers who had gained higher brevet rank during the war were reduced to their substantive ranks, and Montgomery returned to the 1st Royal Warwickshires in 1925 as a company commander, or captain. Montgomery now had to rise up the ranks once more. He married Elizabeth Carver in 1927 and eventually became Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st Royal Warwickshires battalion in 1931, seeing service in Palestine, Egypt, and India. He was promoted to Colonel and became an instructor at the Indian Army Staff College in Quetta, India. Montgomery did, as was usual, maintain links with the Royal Warwickshires, taking up the honorary position of Colonel-of-the-Regiment in 1947. He became commanding officer of the 9th Brigade in 1937. The year also saw tragedy for him when his wife, Elizabeth Carver, died after contracting an illness. He was promoted to Major-General the following year, taking command of the 8th Division in Palestine.

Related Topics:
Brevet - 1925 - Captain - Elizabeth Carver - 1927 - 1931 - Palestine - Egypt - Indian Army - Quetta - 1947 - 1937 - 8th Division

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