Bernard Law Montgomery

A first edition of The Memoirs of Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery, signed by both Montgomery and Spike Milligan.

• Bernard Law Montgomery (British).
• Collins, (1958).
• Dual signed by Montgomery of Alamein and Spike Milligan, the latter with a lengthy inscription and occasional text annotations.
• Red cloth boards with gilt lettered spine, and the supplied dust wrapper.

A fascinating and unique dual signature example of the biography of the man who won the second world war.

Signed ‘Montgomery of Alamein FM November 1958,’ and below ‘I wrote- enclosing this book. Saying- I had done his bidding during the war. Would he now do mine and sign this book. Within 48 hours it was signed and returned. S Milligan’.

In addition to Milligan’s inscription, he has also annotated the first photo page, opposite p.40, which depicts a young Montgomery, his father and his mother. He writes beneath the image of Montgomery’s father, ‘A c*nt’, his mother, ‘A monster’, and next to an image of a child Montgomery, ‘Ok->’. Cunt has been drawn over in purple pen, possibly by the recipient of the book who didn’t enjoy Milligan’s use of language.

Additionally, on page 152, where Montgomery has published a letter written to him by a private attached to 8th army in Libya, which is gushing over Montgomery’s message to the troops a while before. Milligan has written ‘Grovel Grovel.’

Milligan had seen significant action during the second world war, fighting both in the North Africa Campaign, as a signaler, and was appointed lance bombardier. He was wounded at the battle of Monte Cassino and saw out the war playing jazz guitar and performing comedy for the troops. He wrote several autobiographies of his time during the war, including Monty: His Part in My Victory, and the humorous annotations and irreverent inscription regarding Montgomery are very much in keeping with Milligans life.