Monty's Iron Sides

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.