Montgomery’s distinctive Second World War beret goes to auction for £30,000
Field Marshal Bernard “Monty” Montgomery’s black Second World War beret is being offered at auction with a guide price of £30,000. The distinctive hat became closely associated with Montgomery, who said its badges helped troops recognise him on the battlefield.
Montgomery adopted the Royal Tank Regiment beret while commanding the Eighth Army in North Africa in 1942, adding his General Officer’s badge beside the regiment’s tank emblem. He later gave it to an American friend, and it passed into a private collection. The beret is due to be auctioned on 19 November in a sale that also includes wartime messages to troops, including notes issued before El Alamein and D-Day.
In short
- Montgomery’s black beret is up for auction at £30,000.
- He adopted it in North Africa in 1942.
- The sale also includes his wartime messages to troops.
Explained simply
Bernard “Monty” Montgomery was a senior British Army commander during the Second World War. In 1942, he took command of the Eighth Army, which was fighting Axis forces in North Africa.
Montgomery wore the black beret of the Royal Tank Regiment, adding his own badge beside its tank emblem. He said the badges made him recognisable to his troops, and the beret became closely linked with his public image.
Montgomery led the Eighth Army at the Battle of El Alamein, a major Allied victory in North Africa. His wartime messages to troops, including those before El Alamein and the D-Day landings, also reflect how commanders communicated with soldiers before important operations.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “For £30,000, you can own the beret Monty donned: British war hero’s famous hat is for sale”.