Bernard Law Montgomery Biography

Born at St Mark's Vicarage, Kennington, London.

Enters Sandhurst

Appointed Platoon Commander

Appointed Platoon Commander

Appointed Lieutenant to a battalion at Shorncliffe, part of 10th Brigade

Serves with 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the retreat from Mons as the BEF falls back through France.

Shot through the right lung by a sniper at Meteren and severely wounded.

Leads men forward near Meteren before being shot through the lung by a sniper.

Receives the Distinguished Service Order for his conduct during the opening campaign in France.

Helps train New Army units while serving on the staff of 91st Infantry Brigade.

Serves as brigade major of 91st Infantry Brigade while training New Army formations.

Appointed Brigade-Major in the Western Front in France

Appointed Brigade-Major in the Western Front in France

Appointed Brigade-Major in the Western Front in France

Appointed Brigade-Major in the Western Front in France

Performs brigade staff duties during the Somme campaign and observes the heavy cost of offensive operations.

Serves as a staff officer during the Passchendaele campaign and studies the problems of artillery and infantry coordination.

Appointed Chief of Staff of a Division, aged 31

Appointed Chief of Staff of a Division, aged 31

Appointed Major

Appointed Major

Contributes to staff work during the Allied offensives that drive German forces back in the final months of the war.

Ends wartime staff service when the Armistice stops fighting on the Western Front.

Commands a Royal Fusiliers battalion serving with the British Army of the Rhine after the First World War.

Appointed Brigadier-Major to the 17th Infantry Brigade in Cork

Attends the Staff College at Camberley to prepare for higher staff and command appointments.

Produces detailed operational orders intended to improve the brigade's effectiveness during counter-insurgency operations.

Becomes brigade major of 17th Infantry Brigade at Victoria Barracks during the Irish conflict.

Takes command of a company of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and introduces a structured six-month training programme.

Appointed Instructor at the Staff College

Returns to Camberley as an instructor and develops his reputation as a demanding trainer of officers.

Joins War Office work on revising infantry training doctrine and battlefield methods.

Selected by the War Office to re-write the manual of Infantry Training

Takes command of 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment after promotion to lieutenant-colonel.

Returns to Britain and takes command of 9th Infantry Brigade with temporary brigadier rank.

Organises an amphibious combined-operations exercise that demonstrates his emphasis on realistic training.

Takes command of 8th Infantry Division in Palestine after promotion to major-general.

Appointed Major General, takes Division to France under Brooke as his corps Commander

Appointed Major General

Appointed Commander of the 3rd Division

Appointed Commander of the 3rd Division

Takes 3rd Division to France with the British Expeditionary Force after the outbreak of war.

Full mobilization of the 3rd Division is ordered

Trains 3rd Division to conduct controlled withdrawals as well as offensive and defensive operations.

Begins the re-formation of the 3rd Division after Dunkirk

Uses 3rd Division in the defensive battle protecting routes toward the Dunkirk evacuation area.

Conducts an organised withdrawal as Allied armies fall back from the Dyle position under German pressure.

Leads 3rd Division into Belgium as the BEF moves forward after the German western offensive begins.

Belgium's capitulation exposes Montgomery's division and other Allied troops to further German pressure and retreat.

After Belgium surrenders the 3rd Division is forced to retreat from Belgium

Appointed Commander of Second Corps & ordered to withdraw

Appointed Commander of Second Corps & ordered to withdraw

Takes temporary command of II Corps during the final stages of the withdrawal to Dunkirk.

The 3rd Division is stationed to defend the coast around Brighton

Sets up a Divisional HQ near Steyning

Rebuilds 3rd Division after its return from France and restores training, equipment and organisation.

Completes the withdrawal of Second Corps from La Panne & Dunkirk

Completes the withdrawal of II Corps as British forces evacuate from Dunkirk.

Appointed Commander of 5th Corps, a promotion

Appointed Commander of 5th Corps, a promotion

Meets Winston Churchill for the 1st time

Takes command of V Corps and continues intensive preparations against a possible invasion.

Appointed Commander of the 12th Corps

Appointed Commander of the 12th Corps

Appointed Commander of South Eastern Army, a promotion

Appointed Commander of South Eastern Army, a promotion

Raises training standards across South Eastern Army while maintaining responsibility for coastal defence.

The Eighth Army reaches Agheila but it cannot be captured from Rommel

Takes responsibility for Army planning connected with the proposed Dieppe raid before leaving home command.

Made responsible for the Army planning for the raid on Dieppe

1st meets Eisenhower, disagrees with him about how to defend the British coast

Troops cannot embark for the raid on Dieppe because of bad weather, it is postponed

Strengthens the Alam Halfa position and prepares a defence designed to absorb Rommel's armoured attack.

Begins rebuilding Eighth Army morale and confidence immediately after arriving in Egypt.

Rejects preparations for further retreat and orders Eighth Army to hold the Alamein position.

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army

Appointed Lieutenant General

Appointed Lieutenant General

Leaves Britain to take command of the Eighth Army

Arrives at Cairo to take command of the Eighth Army

Arrives at Cairo to take command of the Eighth Army

Takes command of the Eighth Army and prepares the defence of Egypt against any renewed Axis push toward Suez.

Takes over active command of the Eighth Army

Takes over active command of the Eighth Army

Keeps British armour concentrated rather than allowing it to be drawn into Rommel's preferred mobile battle.

Defeats Rommel's attack at Alam Halfa, protecting the approaches to Cairo and the Suez Canal.

Rommel attacks the Alam Halfa Ridge

Builds up tanks, artillery, ammunition and transport before the planned offensive at El Alamein.

Refuses pressure for an early offensive while Eighth Army is still training and accumulating supplies.

Rommels attack is turned back, Cairo & Alexandra are safeguarded

Eighth Army stops the Axis attack and preserves the defensive position protecting Egypt.

Masses artillery to support infantry corridors through the Axis minefields at the start of the offensive.

Supports deception measures intended to disguise the timing and main direction of the coming Alamein offensive.

Montgomery issues final plans for the Eighth Army's offensive before the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Launches an attack at El Alamein to stop the Axis advance toward the Suez Canal.

Launches the El Alamein offensive that turns back the Axis threat to Egypt and the Suez Canal.

Montgomery launches a diversionary attack in the southern sector on the opening night of the battle.

Montgomery launches the Second Battle of El Alamein with coordinated attacks by XXX Corps and XIII Corps.

Operation Lightfoot is launched to recapture north Africa

Orders the principal infantry assault in the north to open routes through Axis defensive belts.

Begins Operation Lightfoot, the infantry and artillery opening phase of the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Maintains pressure in the south to hold Axis formations away from the decisive northern sector.

Montgomery confirms that the breakout effort must continue despite stubborn Axis resistance.

Axis tankers Proserpina and Tergeste are sunk, worsening fuel shortages during the battle.

The loss of Axis supply tankers deprives Panzer Army Africa of fuel during the battle.

Continues the battle despite slow progress, using artillery and infantry to wear down Axis reserves.

Decides to launch the break-out Supercharge as far north as possible

Chooses a more northerly sector for the final breakout operation against the weakened Axis line.

Montgomery's offensive forces Rommel's army into retreat during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

Launches Operation Supercharge to break through the Axis position west of El Alamein.

151st & 152nd brigades launch Operation Supercharge & reach their objectives

Presses the offensive as Axis armoured strength falls to a fraction of its original level.

Montgomery's offensive reduces the Axis armoured reserve to a small number of serviceable tanks.

Eighth Army breaks the Axis front and begins the pursuit westward across Egypt and Libya.

The British armoured formations break through the Axis front as the Second Battle of El Alamein nears its decision.

Continues the pursuit as withdrawing Axis forces abandon positions around Mersa Matruh.

Orders the pursuit westward after the Axis army abandons the El Alamein position.

Montgomerys forces enter Tobruk which was never again to fall under German control

Eighth Army re-enters Tobruk while the Axis retreat continues westward.

Helps capture Derna

Eighth Army enters Benghazi as Montgomery sustains pressure on the retreating Axis army.

Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi

Commands the Eighth Army in the recapture of Benghazi

Eighth Army reaches the El Agheila region after the rapid advance across Cyrenaica.

Appointed General

Appointed General

The Allies are drawn north by the Germans & by Dec halt their advance at the Gustav Line

Uses manoeuvre and pressure to force Axis troops from the Buerat position during the advance on Tripoli.

Orders for the invasion of Sicily are given, operation "Huskey"

A planning staff known as Force 141 is established to plan the invasion of Sicily

Orders for the invasion of Sicily are given, operation "Huskey"

Rommel tries to halt the Eighth 200 miles east of Tripoli but retreats to Tripoli

The Eighth Army marches into Tripoli & all of North Africa comes into Allied hands

Enters Tripoli after the Axis retreat from Egypt, removing the immediate landward threat to the Suez Canal.

Eighth Army enters Tripoli after the long pursuit from El Alamein across Libya.

The Eighth Army breaks through the Mareth Line & takes 7,000 German & Italian prisoners

Eighth Army defeats Rommel's attack at Medenine and retains the initiative in southern Tunisia.

Launches attacks against the Mareth Line while preparing an outflanking move through the Tebaga Gap.

Shifts strength toward the Tebaga Gap to turn the Axis flank and force abandonment of the Mareth Line.

Defeats Rommel in the Wadu Akarit in Tunisia

Eighth Army breaks the Wadi Akarit position and continues north toward the remaining Axis bridgehead.

The British & US forces join up in North Africa

Montgomery's advancing army links with Allied formations approaching from western Tunisia.

Eighth Army links with Allied forces advancing from the west as the Tunisian campaign closes on the Axis.

Withdraws from the battle in Tunisia to make detailed plans for the invasion of Sicily

Withdraws from the battle in Tunisia to make detailed plans for the invasion of Sicily

Attends a conference to discuss the invasion of Sicily

Attends a conference to discuss the invasion of Sicily

Takes part in Allied planning for the invasion of Sicily and argues for a concentrated landing plan.

Tunis is captured & entered by the British First Army

Withdraws Eighth Army from the closing Tunisian operations to prepare for the Sicily invasion.

The Eighth Army is released from Tunisia to train for the invasion of Sicily

Redirects Eighth Army's main effort toward the east coast and Messina after heavy resistance inland.

Arrives in Malta to find the Eighth Army preparing for the invasion of Sicily

Arrives in Malta to find the Eighth Army preparing for the invasion of Sicily

Pachino Airfield is captured in preparation for the invasion of Sicily

Planes from Tunisia capture Ponte Grande in preparation for the invasion of Sicily

Pachino Airfield is captured in preparation for the invasion of Sicily

Planes fly from Tunisia & capture Ponte Grande for the invasion of Sicily

Syracuse is captured by the Eighth Army during the Allied invasion of Siciliy

Lands ashore at the head of the Eighth Army

Commands Eighth Army as its formations land in south-eastern Sicily during Operation Husky.

Transfers Tactical HQ from Malta to the front at Sicily

The invasion of Italy is brought forward to the 1st Sept

It is decided that the Eighth Army will invade Italy across the Straits of Messina. Baytown is approved, the Eighth Army will invade Italy across the Straits of Messina

The Eighth Army arrives at Messina 2 hrs after Patton

Sicily is in Allied hands after a campaign lasting 38 days & costing 31,000 casualties

Baytown is approved, the Eighth Army will invade Italy across the Straits of Messina

The Eighth Army arrives at Messina 2 hrs after Patton

Eighth Army reaches Messina as organised Axis resistance in Sicily ends.

Operation Baytown to land on the "toe" of Italy is set for the 2/3 Sept

Operation Baytown to land on the "toe" of Italy is set for the 2/3 Sept. Montgomery requests & gets additional forces for the Eighth Army

Pushes Eighth Army along the Adriatic side of Italy toward the important Foggia airfields.

The Eighth Army captures the Foggia airfield

The Eighth Army captures the Naples airfield

Ousts the Germans from Bari

Ousts the Germans from Belvedere

Ousts the Germans from Cosenza

Some of the Eighth Army cross the Straits of Messina & land on the Calabrian Coast

Directs Eighth Army's crossing of the Strait of Messina into Calabria during Operation Baytown.

13 Corps capture Reggio during the Allied invasion of Italy

13 Corps capture San Giovanni during the Allied invasion of Italy

Some of the Eighth Army cross the Straits of Messina & land on the Calabrian Coast

13 Corps lands on the beaches between Reggio & Villa San Giovanni

Italy announces an armistice

Pins German forces down to divert them from the US 5th who are moving towards Naples

Pins German forces down to divert them from the US 5th who are moving towards Naples

Capture Crotone to divert the Germans from the US 5th who are moving towards Naples

Requested to push on & threaten the German forces attacking the US 5th Army

The head of the Eighth Army joins with the right flank of the 5th US Army

Joins up with the US forces at Salerno

Links up with the 5th Army & British 1st Airborne Division

Leads the Eighth Army into Naples

The Allies capture Naples

Given command of the assault phase for Overlord on the ground

The Eighth Army captures the heights on the Sangro, 100 miles east of Rome

Appointed Commander of the 21 Army Group

Appointed Commander of the 21 Army Group

Appointed Commander of the 21 Army Group to open a "2nd front" on D-Day

Appointed to open a "2nd front" across the Channel for D-Day

Is appointed to command 21st Army Group for the coming Allied invasion of north-west Europe.

47 divisions are committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

Following Eisenhowers and Montgomerys revisions it is expanded to landings by 5 divisions and airborne descents by 3 divisions, in total, 47 divisions would be committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

47 divisions are committed to the Battle of Normandy: 19 British, 5 Canadian, 21 US & 1 Free French

In December 1943, Operation Postage Able used an X-craft to collect suitable data for all of the Normandy beaches

Appointed Field Marshal

Appointed Field Marshal

Succesfully argues the case for more troops & a broader landing area

Expands the planned Normandy assault from three to five seaborne divisions with stronger airborne support.

Secures Allied approval for his revised ground plan for the Normandy invasion.

Montgomerys plans for D-Day are approved by the Allies

Montgomery presents his strategy for the invasion at St Pauls School, a ninety day battle, ending when all the forces reach the Seine, pivoting on an Allied-held Caen, with British and Canadian armies forming a shoulder & US armies wheeling right

Explains the intended Normandy battle to senior commanders at his headquarters in St Paul's School.

Presents the final ground plan to senior commanders and political leaders before D-Day.

The Americans are assigned Utah and Omaha, the British Gold and Sword, and the Canadians Juno Beach.

Presents the final plan to senior commanders, the King, Smuts & Churchill at St Pauls. Expresses his belief that that Allied tanks will reach Falaise on D-Day

Final conference at Montgomerys HQ in St Pauls School

British engineers built a bypass so military traffic could avoid Bayeux's narrow medieval streets.

Keeps strong British and Canadian pressure around Caen, drawing major German armoured forces into the eastern sector.

Montgomery established his headquarters near Bayeux while directing the Battle of Normandy.

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

Orders the Second Army to hold the line between Villers-Bocage & Caen

Commands all Allied ground forces during the initial phase of the Normandy invasion.

British forces establish a strong beachhead but do not seize the planned D-Day objective of Caen.

Montgomery directed the Allied ground campaign and treated Caen as the principal objective of the British Second Army.

Royal Marine Commandos land on Gold Beach & capture Arromanches

The British capture Bayeaux

The British 3rd Division fails to capture Caen

A major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day, and would remain so until the battle for Caen, 8 August

Caen. Commander of all ground forces for Operation Overlord. By the end of the day the Allies land 130,000 men & 22,000 parachutists.

On Sword Beach the regular British infantry came ashore with light casualties they advance about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) by the end of the day but failed to make some of the deliberately ambitious targets set by Montgomery in particular

The Allies lose 9,500 killed or wounded.

Montgomery's forces made Bayeux the first mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Bayeux becomes the first major mainland French town liberated after D-Day.

Montgomery considered an airborne and armoured encirclement intended to isolate Caen.

Manages to land 16 Divisions ashore facing 14 enemy Divisions

The Allies gain a bridgehead over the River Odon near Caen

Montgomery launched Operation Epsom to draw German armour into battle west of Caen.

Montgomery launches Operation Epsom west of Caen to gain ground and draw German armour into battle.

Launches an attack on Caen, operation Epson

The British establish a bridge-head on the River Odon

Supports the British advance across the Odon as Operation Epsom forces Germany to commit additional armoured reserves.

The Allies capture Hill 112 but Dempsey withdraws & the Germans recapture it

Shifts emphasis south and east after Caen is secured, preparing further operations toward Falaise.

Asks for heavy bomber support from Leigh-Mallory

A massive air bombardment commences on Caen which devastates the city

The press refer to attempts at capturing Caen a "stalemate"

Montgomery launched Charnwood to capture northern Caen and force German troops behind the Orne.

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

1st day of the operation launched by Montgomery to capture Caen

Montgomery's forces occupied northern Caen while German troops retained the southern suburbs.

British and Canadian troops secure northern Caen after Operation Charnwood.

Caen is bombed to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken

Launches a major armoured offensive east of Caen to gain ground and hold German armour in the British sector.

Montgomery intended Goodwood to hold German armour around Caen and gain ground south-east of the city.

Launched in order to clear Caen but the British lose 5,537 casualties & 400 tanks. Caen is bombed to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken. 7 out of 8 Panzers in Normandy are engaged in battle

The British VIII and I Corps, to the east of Caen, launch Operation Goodwood. The British lose 450 tanks, the Sherman displays serious weaknesses. Launches 3 Divisions east of Caen to gain the Bourguebus Ridge on the road to Falaise.

The offensive began with the largest air bombardment in support of ground forces yet, with more than a thousand aircraft dropping 6,000 short tons (5,400 t) of high explosive and fragmentation bombs from low altitude.

The southern suburbs of Caen are captured. Caen is bombed in to obliterate enemy defences but only the southern suburbs are taken

The Allies capture Caen

Montgomery accompanied Churchill through Caen and explained the current battle situation.

Supports Bradleys left flank & engages the Germans south of Caen

The Canadians & British move into Vire & force a German rereat

Uses British operations toward Vire to maintain pressure and support the left flank of the American breakout.

Supports Bradleys left flank & engages the Germans south of Caen

Presses Allied armies to close around German forces retreating from the Normandy battlefield.

Oversees the transition from the Normandy battle to the rapid Allied pursuit across France.

Endorses Bradleys order for Patton to clear Brittany with "minimum forces"

A major objective, was still in German hands by the end of D-Day, and would remain so until the battle for Caen, 8 August

Supports renewed Canadian operations intended to narrow the escape route for German forces.

Orders an airborne division to Gace to close the ring around the main German forces

Launches another operation against Falaise

Orders the Canadians to close the gap between the 1st Canadian & 3rd US Army

Coordinates British, Canadian, Polish and American pressure as the Falaise pocket is closed.

The Poles & Americans meet & seal the Falaise pocket, ends the Normandy Campaign

Secures approval for the airborne and ground operation intended to cross major Dutch rivers rapidly.

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

The failure of Operation Market Garden and an acute supply problem brought about by the long distances involved in the quick Allied advance through France brought to an end the advance towards the city of Berlin

Proposes a bold plan to head north through the Dutch Gelderland, bypassing the German Siegfried Line defences and opening a route into the German industrial heartland of the Ruhr. Initially proposed as a British and Polish operation codenamed Operation Comet, the plan was soon expanded to involve most of the First Allied Airborne Army and a set piece ground advance into The Netherlands, codenamed Market Garden

Advocates concentrating Allied supplies on a northern thrust through the Netherlands toward the Ruhr.

Is promoted field marshal as Eisenhower assumes direct command of Allied ground operations.

Troops of 21st Army Group capture Antwerp and its docks largely intact during the rapid advance through Belgium.

Secures the Nijmegen Bridge & the South Bank of the Lek

Airborne divisions land along the route to Arnhem as XXX Corps begins the ground advance.

In a bid to open the Belgian port of Antwerp to facilitate the shipment of supplies to Allied armies in France and cross the Lower Rhine river, American, British and Polish forces launch Operation Market Garden

Airborne troops were dropped in The Netherlands to secure key bridges and towns along the Allied axis of advance.

Farthest north, the British 1st Airborne Division, supported by men of the Glider Pilot Regiment and the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, landed at Arnhem to secure bridges across the Nederrijn.

Initially expecting a walkover, British XXX Corps planned to reach the British airborne forces within two to three days. After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands.

Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

After sweeping through France and Belgium in the summer of 1944, the Allies were poised to enter The Netherlands. Montgomery favoured a single thrust north over the Lower Rhine River, allowing the British Second Army to bypass the Siegfried Line and attack the Ruhr. To this end, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden

The capture of Nijmegen bridges allows the ground advance to continue toward Arnhem.

Arnhem was a victory for the Germans (albeit tempered by their losses further south]) and a major defeat for the British army. The Allies withdrew from the southern bank of the Rhine and the front stabilised on "the island" between the Rhine and Waal rivers

Accepts withdrawal of the surviving British airborne force after the Arnhem bridge cannot be held.

Montgomery orders a retreat, the British lose 1,130 killed & 6,000 taken prisoner

The 1st airborne retreats, 2,200 are evacuated, 7,000 are captured, killed or wounded

Orders are given to join up with the Second Army on the south bank of the Rhine

Orders are given to join up with the Second Army on the south bank of the Rhine

Although the Germans counterattacked in October they were repulsed and subsequently the front line in The Netherlands would not move until after the winter

Reorganises the northern shoulder of the Allied line and prepares forces for renewed offensive action.

Presents his assessment of the northern Allied front at Maastricht.

Argues for concentrating resources on a powerful northern offensive.

Temporarily receives operational control of US First and Ninth Armies during the Ardennes crisis.

Initial Member of Allied Control Commission over Germany

21st Army Group opens Operation Veritable to clear German forces from the northern Rhineland.

Completes the immense artillery, engineering, smoke and logistical preparations for crossing the Rhine.

Montgomery's armies secure positions west of the Rhine before preparing the major river assault.

The British cross the Rhine at Wesel

Launches the 21st Army Group assault across the Rhine at Rees and Wesel.

Supports the Rhine crossing with the large British-American airborne assault of Operation Varsity.

Accompanies Churchill during a visit to troops after the successful Rhine crossings.

Pushes 21st Army Group rapidly across northern Germany after breaking out from the Rhine bridgehead.

His forces establish contact with Soviet troops advancing from the east as the European war ends.

Receives German officers seeking terms for forces facing 21st Army Group in northern Germany and nearby areas.

Accepts the unconditional surrender of German forces in the Netherlands, north-west Germany and Denmark.

Montgomery & Rokossovsky join together at Wismar

Appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff

Created 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein after his wartime service.

Appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe within NATO's integrated command structure.

Appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe within NATO's integrated command structure.

Goes into retirement

Dies at Isington, Hampshire, aged 88.