First published in April 1976, this an engaging take on the biography of Bernard Montgomery, the British WW II commander. This book skips over Monty’s private papers but does a great job offering cool insights into who he was and how he operated. The battle scenes aren’t the main highlight, but Chalfont does mention how the British had the upper hand in North Africa and how Montgomery struggled to take down Rommel as the Germans were pulling back, which really shows the tricky nature of war.

Plus, the whole Overlord invasion business gets discussed mainly through the squabbles among the Allies, which just goes to show how tough it can be to work together in a multinational team. The connection Montgomery had with his troops is pretty clear; they respected him even though he could come off as a bit rough around the edges. After experiencing WW I, he was all about saving lives and making sure even the lower ranks knew what was going on in each operation, which built a supportive vibe among his men. He understood logistics and tech really well—although he doesn’t dive deep into those topics—which were crucial in his game plan.

Chalfont makes a solid case that Monty wasn’t just some overly cautious or stiff general; he never actually lost a battle after North Africa, which is impressive. His psychological background gets some serious attention too, causing quite a stir in Britain, where people found it both critical and fair. He had a tough upbringing and was known for being a bit brutal at Sandhurst, but then he experienced a heartfelt yet tragic marriage that ended with his wife’s heartbreaking death, leaving a mark on him. Montgomery had “a certain epicene quality” and a fondness for young men, which added more depth to his character. All in all, this self-righteous but highly skilled leader’s ability to tackle the challenges of wartime leadership is captured skillfully by Chalfont, who pulls it all together in a way that’s both fascinating and believable.

Baron Arthur Gwynne Jones Chalfont became a second lieutenant on 2 November 1940, served in Burma from 1941 to 1944, and received an emergency commission in the Royal Armoured Corps as a lieutenant on 1 January 1943. He continued his military career post-war, receiving a substantive lieutenant’s commission in 1946, was promoted to captain in December 1950, and to major in December 1953. He participated in anti-terrorist campaigns and won the Military Cross in August 1957 for leading a successful ambush against communist insurgents in Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency. The citation read:

“For gallantry and relentless determination during a period of eighteen months in command of his company in jungle operations. By his personal share in difficult, hazardous and successful operations, he set a fine example to those around him.”

Gwynne Jones was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1960, received the OBE in 1961, and retired in 1961 with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel.

This book is more of a personal rather than a military biography. First published in I enjoyed the personal side of things that examines “Monty’s” controversial lone wolf personality. It reflects the challenges of navigating relationships with coworkers while highlighting consistent insensitivity.