Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein

vintage silverprint (250 x 195mm), mounted, INSCRIBED BY MONTGOMERY TO MARY CHURCHILL ON THE MOUNT ("To: Mary Churchill on the occasion of her marriage February 1947. Montgomery of Alamein Field Marshal."), also signed by the photographer, in a silver frame (335 x 280mm)

Not examined out of the frame. There is silvering and minor surface dirt and matter at the extreme edges of the image. There is also evidence of surface dirt, staining and foxing to the inscribed mount, with some water damage at the lower left. Subject to the above the work appears to be in good overall condition. The work is presented behind glass in a Asprey silver frame. Please contact the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
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During World War II Mary served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Having overheard her father being confronted with the news that Britain didn’t have enough manpower to fight the war, she jumped to, becoming one of the first women to sign up, and leading a very effective battery of gunner girls through various postings across Europe in London, Belgium and Germany. 

Bernard Law Montgomery, nicknamed 'Monty', was the most well-known British general of the War, famous for his victory at the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942. He was a dear friend of Winston’s and showed great kindness to Mary during her time manning anti-aircraft batteries.  He wrote to her on several occasions to see how she was fairing and to offer support.  On hearing of her posting to Brussels he sent her Battery a morale boosting case of Bovril and 10,000 cigarettes.   In her diary of 1945 Mary recounted that after Monty had inspected her Battery he summoned her to speak to him.  She wrote: ‘he asked me kindly about Papa and Mummie.  I was deeply moved and touched by his genuine solicitude for them and his thoughtful kindness to me’ (Mary Soames, A Daughter’s Tale, Doubleday, London, 2011, p.467).