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MONTGOMERY, Bernard Law, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976). Autograph manuscript signed ('B.L. MONTGOMERY General G.O.C.-in-C. Eighth Army'), 'EIGHTH ARMY Personal Message from the Army Commander to be read out to all troops', n.p., 12 November 1942, in pencil, three pages, folio, annotations in other hands at head 'Army Comdr wishes to see a proof when ready' and 'To be presented & issued as Army Comdr's special message before LIGHTFOOT' (staple holes and tears at upper left corner). Provenance: Sotheby's sale, 17 July 1997, lot 458; private collection.
Montgomery's stirring message to his troops after the victory at El Alamein:
'1. When we began the Battle of Egypt on 23 October I said that together we would hit the Germans and Italians for six right out of North Africa. We have made a very good start and today, 12 Nov, there are no German and Italian soldiers on Egyptian territory except prisoners. In three weeks we have completely smashed the German and Italian Army ...
2. The following enemy formations have ceased to exist as effective fighting formations ...
3. This is a very fine performance ... I feel that our great victory was brought about by the good fighting qualities of the soldiers of the Empire rather than by anything I may have been able to do myself ...
5. Our task is not finished yet; the Germans are out of Egypt but there are still some left in North Africa. There is some good hunting to be had further to the west ... And this time, having reached Bengasi and beyond, we shall not come back.
6. On with the task, and good hunting to you all ...'.
Printed in Montgomery's Memoirs (1958), pp.143-4. The comprehensive victory of El Alamein, Montomery's greatest achievement and famously described by Churchill as 'the end of the beginning' of the war, took place over the 14 days from 23 October, and was the first major Allied victory of the war.
Montgomery's stirring message to his troops after the victory at El Alamein:
'1. When we began the Battle of Egypt on 23 October I said that together we would hit the Germans and Italians for six right out of North Africa. We have made a very good start and today, 12 Nov, there are no German and Italian soldiers on Egyptian territory except prisoners. In three weeks we have completely smashed the German and Italian Army ...
2. The following enemy formations have ceased to exist as effective fighting formations ...
3. This is a very fine performance ... I feel that our great victory was brought about by the good fighting qualities of the soldiers of the Empire rather than by anything I may have been able to do myself ...
5. Our task is not finished yet; the Germans are out of Egypt but there are still some left in North Africa. There is some good hunting to be had further to the west ... And this time, having reached Bengasi and beyond, we shall not come back.
6. On with the task, and good hunting to you all ...'.
Printed in Montgomery's Memoirs (1958), pp.143-4. The comprehensive victory of El Alamein, Montomery's greatest achievement and famously described by Churchill as 'the end of the beginning' of the war, took place over the 14 days from 23 October, and was the first major Allied victory of the war.
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