Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's black beret from World War II, a symbol of his command during the Allied advance into Germany, is now available for purchase at a price of £30,000. The beret, adopted by Montgomery in 1942 while he was commanding the Eighth Army in North Africa, is set to go under the hammer on November 19 at RR Auction in Boston, U.S.
Montgomery, affectionately known as 'Monty,' added his General Officer's badge to the Royal Tank Regiment's emblem on the beret. He explained that this distinctive look helped troops recognize him on the battlefield. The beret was later gifted to an American friend and has since been part of a private collection.
An RR Auction spokesperson described the beret as an "instantly recognisable visual signature," comparing its identification with the commander to that of Napoleon's bicorne hat or MacArthur's peaked cap. The spokesperson noted that the dual-badged beret became inseparable from Montgomery's wartime identity through his campaigns in North Africa, Normandy, and across Europe.
In addition to the beret, the auction will feature dozens of wartime messages issued by Montgomery to troops of the Eighth Army and 21 Army Group. These include a message before the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, where he declared, "The battle which is now about to begin will be one of the decisive battles of history. It will be the turning point of the war." Another message, issued 24 hours before D-Day, rallied his men for "the blow for freedom which will live in history."
Montgomery, who died in 1976 at the age of 88, commanded British forces in Europe and is remembered for his strategic leadership during World War II. His final wartime message expressed gratitude to his troops and optimism for the post-war era.
