Bernard Montgomery

British military leader, commander of the British 8th Army during World War II, noted for heroic, winning victories in both North Africa and Europe. Hard driving, self-confident and a highly individual leader, he inspired his men and became an idol in Great Britain. He began as an Infantry Lieutenant in 1908 and served in France during WW I, beginning WW II as a Major General. In later years, he served as deputy supreme commander of NATO. The son of an Episcopal bishop, Bernard Law Montgomery was educated at the Royal Military College. He entered the British Army in 1908 and served in World War I as a captain. Wounded twice, he received the D.S.O. in 1914, and the Croix de Guerre. By 1931, he was a lieutenant colonel and was given command of the 1st Battalion. In 1934, he was promoted to colonel, and became an instructor in the Staff College at Quetta, India. Various upward commands continued to be assigned to him, and he was a major general when England entered World War II. In December 1941, he was named general officer commander in chief of the South Eastern Command. In 1942, he was appointed commander of the British Eighth Army in Africa. In 1943, he gained victory over Rommel in southern Tunisia. He served under General Dwight D. Eisenhower from December 1943 to August 1944, when he was promoted to field marshal. In 1946, Montgomery was created viscount and made chief of the imperial general staff. In later years, after the war, he was deputy supreme commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from 1951-1958. His writings include his memoirs, published in 1958, and "The Path to Leadership," published in 1961. He married a widow, Betty Carver, in 1927. They had one son. She died in 1937, and he died on 24 March 1976, aged 88, in Alton, England. Link to Wikipedia biography