MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) ´....I disobeyed orders....´

MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) ´....I disobeyed orders....´

MONTGOMERY B. L.: (1887-1976) British Field Marshal of World War II. A remarkable A.L.S., Montgomerty of Alamein, one page, 4to, Isington Mill, Alton, Hampshire, 20th April 1968, to [Major Michael Babington Charles] Hawkins. Montgomery asks for his thanks to be conveyed to the Duke of Gloucester for ´telling you to write to me about my gift to the Imperial War Museum of the original copy of the Luneburg Heath surrender document´, and continues to reveal that ´His Royal Highness should know that I disobeyed orders in not sending the original to Eisenhower´s H. Q. - as I was told to do. If I had sent it, it would now be in the United States. I sent Eisenhower photostat copies´. Montgomery further reflects ´There are times when one disobeys orders! As a C-in-C in the field in war time one is in a strong position. When I was a junior officer it was generally advisable to do as one was told - but in my case, not always!!´. A letter of outstanding content. Some very light, minimal creasing to the edges, otherwise VG

Montgomery had accepted the unconditional surrender of the German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany including all islands, in Denmark, and all naval ships in those areas, at Luneburg Heath on 4th May 1945. As the present letter indicates, the Field Marshal donated the original historical document to the Imperial War Museum. On 9th September 1968 Montgomery was invited to open a new documents room at the museum, the surrender document being the centrepiece exhibit.