2-611-959 - Keystone Archives/Heritage Images

British General Bernard Montgomery addressing his troops, North Africa, World War II, c1942-c1943. Bernard Law Montgomery (1887-1976) was given command of the British and Commonwealth forces of the 8th Army in August 1942 and two months later led them to victory over the Germans at El Alamein, the first major British success of the War and a battle that turned the tide of the war in North Africa in favour of the Allies. Knighted and promoted to full General, 'Monty' as he was nicknamed, then commanded British forces in the invasion of Sicily and the Italian mainland. In 1944 he was one of the main architects of the plans for the invasion of Normandy and commanded the Allied ground forces on D-Day and for several months afterwards. Friction between Montgomery and the American commanders, together with the growing numerical disparity between the US and British components of the Allied forces led to his replacement as commander late in 1944, promotion to the rank of Field Marshal being awarded as compensation.