Whilst looking at the exhibits in the Guards Museum, I saw a painting of Montgomery taking the German surrender in his tent at Lüneburg Heath in May 1945. The annotation said that the man standing in the group and immediately to Montgomery’s right, was Enoch Powell. There was also mention made of the man standing behind Montgomery, stating that on Montgomery’s insistence, a Jewish man was to be present at the unconditional surrender. I cannot remember if the man was named in the text, let alone what is name was. Despite googling like mad, I can’t find anything … [of course if I had been allowed to take photos … ggrrr]. Curiously I can find no mention of Powell in connection with this either. Can anyone help me with these details? http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/veday_germany_01.shtml Painting by Terence Cuneo Edition information Newspaper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch_Powell#War_years “Powell began the war as the youngest professor in the Commonwealth; he ended it as the youngest Brigadier in the British army, the only man in the entire war to rise from Private to Brigadier. Powell felt guilty for having survived when many of those he had met during his journey through the ranks had not. When once asked how he would like to be remembered, he at first answered "Others will remember me as they will remember me", but when pressed he replied "I should like to have been killed in the war."
Is this chap more likely as the one standing behind and to Montgomery's right? Derek Knee: Photo Search - derek knee - Jamd BBC NEWS | Wales | Veteran remembers 'war of words'
Thanks for those links; I had only found the first one. Going by the photo in your first link, I would say yes, he likely to be the man with the beret and glasses. Would have thought there was some write-up somewhere about this painting / those present, seemingly not. Maybe eventually something will appear on the 'net.
I used to have a book called "The Military Paintings of Terence Cuneo" which described this painting & who was in it. It went with a load of others when I had a book-sale when we were expecting child number 2. Oh hum...
Hi Owen, I used to have a book about Mr Powell, years ago when political [auto]biographies were my passion ... such a 'dry' read it was too. Don't remember any mention of this either. That found its way in to a school jumble sale ...
Back to the painting, I offer that the Allied officers/reporter standing at the back and left to right from the door are: Maj Richard O'Brien Obituary: SIR RICHARD O’BRIEN Chester Wilmot Captain Derek Knee (DORSETS side cap?) Word War II veteran who witnessed German surrender dies Lt Col Trumbull Warren Trum Warren and the German Surrender May 4, 1945 Col CP 'Kit' Dawnay ..... and then Col 'Joe' Ewart And Mäuschen is seemingly observing from beside a BBC ............. I would not be surprised if Cuneo consulted one, if not both, O'Brien and Knee for technical aspects of the painting.