by The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein CMG CBE
Richard Mead and I first met when he was researching his book on my father-in-law, ‘Boy’ Browning. The book, General ‘Boy’, turned out to be an immensely readable and sympathetic account of a difficult life.
When he subsequently mentioned that he was proposing to write about my father, I had some reservations that there was nothing new that could be said. However, he has proved me quite wrong and written a fascinating story of the many talented officers who served on Monty’s staff at various times. Although Monty was very self-centred, he had an extraordinary talent for choosing subordinates and commanding their absolute loyalty. Richard Mead brings all this out in flowing prose which illustrates how these young men in their different ways contributed to the successful outcome of the war.
He has also covered the difficult relationship Monty had with Eisenhower. I have always felt that this stemmed from the latter’s lack of battlefield experience. Whereas Monty had commanded every unit and formation from an infantry unit to an army group, Eisenhower had risen through the Washington staff with no understanding of actual warfare. Reconciliation took place when Monty became the Military Deputy to Eisenhower as Supreme Commander of NATO, and was further consolidated when Ike became President and invited Monty to stay at the White House.