Allied Forces. Army Group 21st. - Montys men: the British Army and the liberation of Europe

Copyright 2013 John Buckley

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Buckley, John (John D.)

Montys men : the British Army and the liberation of Europe / John Buckley.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 9780300134490 (hardback)

1. World War, 19391945CampaignsWestern Front. 2. Allied Forces. Army Group, 21st. 3. Montgomery of Alamein, Bernard Law Montgomery, Viscount, 18871976. I. Title.

D756.3.B83 2013

940.541241dc23

2013023139

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Illustrations and Maps

Plates

Photo credits: IWM are courtesy of the Imperial War Museum; Challis are courtesy of the estate of Ernest Harwood; Lucas are courtesy of Matthew Lucas; Henderson are courtesy of Mrs Marylou Henderson.

Princess Elizabeth inspecting troops. Lucas.

King George VI with Montgomery. Challis.

Montgomery speaking to 15th Scottish Infantry Division. Challis.

Sherman DD tank. Authors collection.

Royal Marine Commandos on D-Day. IWM.

Royal Army Medical Corps, June 1944. IWM.

8th Rifle Brigade, July 1944. IWM.

Churchill visits Normandy, July 1944. IWM.

Francis de Guingand. Henderson.

Mike Hutchinson receiving MC from Monty. Lucas.

Miles Dempsey with Harry Broadhurst. Challis.

Troops stacking jerrycans, July 1944. IWM.

Senior 21st Army Group staff. Henderson.

The liberation of Brussels, September 1944. IWM.

21st Army Group, HQ, Brussels. Challis.

Monty with Eisenhower and Bradley. Henderson.

Montgomery in winter, 19445. Challis.

Ken Tout. Lucas.

Comet tank. Authors collection.

Senior air staff, 1945. Challis.

Reg Spittles. Lucas.

21st Army Groups senior commanders. Henderson.

VARSITY and PLUNDER briefing, March 1945. Henderson.

Rhine Crossing, March 1945. IWM.

Surrender at Lneburg Heath, May 1945. IWM.

Maps

The future Queen Elizabeth II visiting troops before D-Day. Such inspections were considered valuable in bolstering morale, particularly in an army lacking much combat experience.

King George VI visiting Montgomery at his HQ near Portsmouth in the days leading up to D-Day.

Montgomery speaking to the troops of 15th Scottish Infantry Division prior to D-Day. Monty saw such visits as being crucial in boosting the confidence and morale of his forces. He did not always win popularity with his troops, but he usually instilled confidence.

Sherman Duplex Drive swimming tank, a useful support weapon on D-Day and in other amphibious operations such as the Rhine crossing in March 1945. The British were highly adept at building such specialist armour and this proved to be a decided advantage.

Royal Marine Commandos of 4th Special Service Brigade, making their way onto Nan Red on JUNO Beach, at St Aubin-sur-Mer at about 9 am on 6 June.

Royal Army Medical Corps nurses and women of the Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service carry a wounded soldier out of the operating tent at the 79th General Hospital at Bayeux, 20 June 1944. Medical support in the British Army was excellent and much superior to that of the Germans.

Riflemen B. ONeill, George Wood and Jack Pearson of 8th Rifle Brigade (11th Armoured Division) move forward cautiously on a patrol in the Baron and Eterville area south west of Caen, July 1944. Such patrols were fraught with danger but provided much useful intelligence on the enemy.

Churchill visits senior commanders in Normandy, July 1944. Montgomery was irked by the Prime Ministers insistence on coming to Normandy at the height of the campaign, but in the aftermath of the relative failure of Operation GOODWOOD had little option but to accept it. Left to right: Lieutenant General Guy Simonds (commander II Canadian Corps), Churchill, Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey (commander Second British Army) and Montgomery.

Major General Francis Freddie de Guingand, Montgomerys right hand man at 21st Army Group. As well as acting as chief of staff, a specialised post developed by Monty, Freddie acted as the linkman with the Americans. Sadly de Guingands health was not good and when he was absent with illness, relations with Eisenhower, SHAEF and other US generals deteriorated.

Mike Hutchinson of the Somerset Light Infantry receiving an MC from Montgomery. Although some troops viewed the awarding of medals with some cynicism, senior commanders saw it as a use- ful tool to underpin morale.

Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey (commander of Second British Army) and Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst (commander of 83 Group, RAF). Dempsey and Broadhurst co-operated highly effectively in 19445 and tactical air support for British forces was usually of a high standard, though it was never as effective as many imagined.

Troops stacking jerrycans, July 1944. An excellent logistical and supply network was fundamental to the way in which the British Army waged war in 19445. Troops wanted for little and commanders endeavoured to ensure that their frontline soldiers were supported by a plentiful supply of equipment, ammunition and fuel.