Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL, nicknamed “Monty”, was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and the Second World War.

Bernard Law Montgomery – Monty – was born on 17 November 1887 in Kennington, Surrey, the fourth child, of nine, to The Reverend Henry Montgomery, an Ulster-Scots Church of Ireland minister, and his wife, Maud.

In a long and distinguished career Monty served in the British Army from 1908 onwards and rose to the rank of Field Marshal.

Monty graduated from Sandhurst in 1908 and during the First World War served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was wounded during the Battle of Ypres in 1915. By the end of that conflict Monty was Chief of staff for the 47th (2nd London) Division.

In the inter war years Monty held a number of staff positions and married a widow, Elizabeth Carver, in 1927. Their son was born in 1928, and joined the 2 sons from Elizabeth’s first marriage. Tragically Elizabeth died in 1937 due to an infected insect bite.

At the start of the Second World War Monty commanded 3rd (Iron) Division and successfully evacuated the unit virtually intact from Dunkirk in 1940.  Monty was outspoken about the leadership and tactics shown by the BEF and Allies and essentially his career stalled for a short while, even though he was awarded Companion of the Order of Bath at this time and eventually promoted to Lt General.

In 1942 he was appointed Commander in Chief Middle East and Commander 8th Army and earned his reputation as a meticulous planner with the ability to foresee his foes actions by carefully studying their character and tactics, with the successful Battle of El Alamein and subsequent routing of Axis Forces in the Middle East.

Monty proved popular with troops handing out cigarettes on visits and at this time started to sport a black Tankers beret, which became very much part of his image.

During operations initially in Tunisia and later in Sicily and Italy tensions rose with American Generals, particularly Patton and Bradley. However, this tension perhaps could be explained due to the competitiveness between such high status and determined military figures during a period of total war.

The figure is from Warlord Games, but other than the stance and the beret there is not much likeness.

Montgomery on Juno Beach.

I will use this figure as a senior officer for my British Commandos.