Used
Paperback
2002
$6.73
Britain's most legendary general of the 20th century, Major General Bernard Montgomery, commanded the British 3rd Division in the Low Countries with great skill and determination during the opening stages of World War II. The 3rd Division, which subsequently became known throughout the British Army as Monty's Iron Sides , was chosen by Monty in 1944 to spearhead the Allied attack on the Normandy beaches on D-Day. As the only division in the British Liberation Army to participate in the savage fighting from D-Day all the way through to VE-Day, the indomitable Iron Sides were frequently in the thick of the action, led by the popular ex-Desert Rat GOC Bolo Whistler. Monty's Iron Sides' contribution to victory in Europe was immense and won for them two Victoria Crosses, but the price in lives was high. The division suffered 15,000 casualties including 2586 killed in action. Here, privates, NCOs and young officers alike relate the stories of their battles, in their own words - the words of the soldiers who fought at the sharp end of the war.
Used
Hardcover
1995
$32.75
Major-General Bernard Montgomery commanded the British 3rd Division in the Low Countries with skill and determination in the opening stages of World War II, culminating in the Allied evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. The 3rd Division, which subsequently became known throughout the British Army as Monty's Iron Sides , included in its ranks the general's beloved Royal Warwickshire Regiment of which he had been commanding officer. As the only division in the British Liberation Army to participate in the savage fighting from D-Day all the way through to VE-Day, the Iron Sides were frequently in the thick of the action, led by the popular ex-Desert Rat GOC, Bolo Whistler. The Iron Sides fought in the tough battle to take Caen, in Operation Goodwood at Troarn and Operation Bluecoat to take Vire. They helped force a crossing of the Escaut canal and participated in Operation Aintree to free the Dutch towns of Overloon and Venraij. Operation Heather saw them drive through the Siegried Line before finally cracking around in northern Germany in the hard fighting that ultimately led to VE-Day.
In this divisional history, the author draws on contributions from the dozen fighting regiments of the 3rd Division who wore the sign of the black and red triangles, designed by Monty himself. They came from every corner of Great Britain and in this text, relate the stories of their battles in their own words.