Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JULY 21, 1947 MONTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 56, 21 July 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JULY 21, 1947 MONTY

TUMULTOUS receptions have greeted the victor of -El Alamein everywhere in both Australia and New Zealand, as Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, has made his triumphal tour through the colonies. The famous black beret with its dual badge decoration denotes the great soldier wherever ®he goes, and to every member of the Eighth Army will ever serve as a symbol of affection and admiration. Visiting New Zealand for the first time ‘Monty’ as he prefers to be known to his brothers-in-arms, is here to reinforce the bonds that made the Empire as one during the dark days of the German ascendancy. His presence conjures up memories of six years ago, when the shadow of the Swastika fell broadly across northern Africa, and when treachery stalked the Imperial Palace of King Farouk in beleagued Alexandria. Rommel one of the few German generals who recognised chivalry in modern warfare declared to his staff prior to Alamein, that in Montgomery he considered he had for the first time met an opponent worthy of his mettle. Just how worthy he was, history has recorded in undeniable terms for when the Allied armies wheeled into action at Alamein they initiated an advance which was not halted until Africa had been freed and the Nazi invaders swept behind the Austrian and Jugoslav borders. The name of ‘Monty’ in the battles of Normandy and of Belgium and of Germany acted like a talisman to the Anglo-American armies under Eisenhower. Everywhere he went his presence was a stimulous and an inspiration. It became a legend amongst fighting-men until it was known almost in every far-flung military unit attached to the cause of Democracy. But Monty won for himself something which not only stands blazoned amidst the darkness of the war years, hut something which also will stand for all time as a monument to a leader who showed a very human side to the troops who fought under him. His life was always simple, and his habits moderate in every respect. He believed in straightforwardness, and could not abide cant and hypocracy. He has said that physical fitness is the main attribute to modern soldiering and to this end set his face rigidly against abuses and excesses of every kind. Many of his old soldiers will recall the stiff code of physical training which he initiated for all ranks, when he first took over supreme command in Africa, prior to the great advance. Many have lived to thank him warmly for it, for in numerous cases it meant their very lives. The great British general visits us today not so much as a hero who has won the nations gratitude for all time, but as yet another instance of the remarkable leaders which seemingly have been raised up by destiny to save and to give victory to the British peoples at almost every crucial moment in their history.