Have seen Monty's Grant in the IWM but don't think I've seen this photo of it before. The Grant tank of 8th Army Tac HQ's Defence Company, 27 September 1944. This was General Montgomery's command tank at El Alamein and was a permanent feature of 8th Army Tac HQ. THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944. © IWM (NA 19106)IWM Non Commercial Licence
This Tank was used by General (later Field Marshal) Sir Bernard Law Montgomery in the Desert Campaign in 1942 - 1943, including the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942 in which the 8th Army defeated Rommel. It continued to be used by Monty during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, and for the remainder of that year as the 8th Army advanced into Italy. It was attached to 8th Army Headquarters and was used by Montgomery and subsequent Commanders for forward observation on the battlefield. It was "Monty's wish" that the tank should be handed back to his old Regiment, the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and in 1948 it was brought from Austria to England and became gate guardian at Budbrooke Barracks outside Warwick. It was later displayed at the Depot of the Queen's Division at Bassingbourn which the Royal Regiment joined in 1968. Completely restored in 1985 - 1988 by volunteers at the Army's Armoured Vehicle Depot at Ludgershall, Hampshire it was handed over to the Imperial War Museum on 6th June 1988. Photographs of Monty in this tank in North Africa can be obtained from the Imperial War Museum Photo Archive.
Field Marshal Montgomery's Grant Tank on display outside the Schonbrunn Palace, British Forces headquarters in Austria. This vehicle is now on display in the Imperial War Museum, London. BRITISH FORCES OF OCCUPATION IN AUSTRIA 1945 - 1947. © IWM (VIE 1717)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Owen, I seem to remember that I have seen a photograph of Monty in the turret of a Grant, which could have been this tank. IIRC the photo only showed the top of the turret showing Monty's head and shoulders. I will have to have a search. Regards Tom
This one... Lieutenant General B L Montgomery, General Officer Commanding Eighth Army, watches the beginning of the German retreat from El Alamein from the turret of his Grant Tank. He is wearing his famous tank beret. THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH AFRICA 1940-1943: PERSONALITIES. © IWM (E 18980)IWM Non Commercial Licence
good day owen.supermoderators.08 sep,2014,10:30pm.re:monty's grant.great post.excellent photo's,thank you for posting regards bernard85. :m3:
Very nice picture but isn't there something wrong with the captions or dates? The top one says Sept 27, 1944 and the bottom one says Italy 1944. Wasn't Montgomery up in Belgium in Sept of 44? The setting looks more like Italy, if I had to guess. I wonder if there were any other gun armed Grants still in NW Europe in Sept ? Glad to see it has been preserved. Is it still run on special occasions?
Thought I'd post this one too, taken same day as the Grant one. The three Humber armoured cars of 8th Army Tac HQ's Defence Company, 27 September 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944. © IWM (NA 19104)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Well, that explains that then. Thanks. Looks like the new crew is taking good care of it.. Like that Humber picture too. Ferocious looking things, aren't they?
Does anyone know what the colours of the two tone camo scheme the Grant would have had at the time of Alamein would have been? Or the single colour in the August 1942 photo earlier in this thread? Thanks. David.
Visiting the refurbished IWM is like Kim's game - remembering what is now missing. One upon a time museums were places to exhibit collections rather than provide a background for corporate events....