Bernard L. Montgomery (1887-1976). First Viscount Montgomery of A'lamein. British Field Marshall and World War II hero after defeating the Germans under Rommel at the Battle of Alamein. An Extraordinary War-Dated Letter Signed from the Field, one page, octavo, December 11th, 1943, Italy, near the Sangro River, in Command of the Eighth Army. Amidst the Sangro Offensive designed to attack the German rearguard of Rome, Montgomery responds to well-wishers after the Eighth Army's successful advance across the Sangro River and looks forward to the defeat of the Germans. The letter reads in full: "Eighth Army Italy. December 11th I wish to thank you and the workmates for the kind message of congratulations you sent to myself and the men of the Eighth Army. Full speed ahead. On to Rome and Berlin. B. L. Montgomery General Eighth Army". Montgomery led the Eighth Army across the Strait of Messina from Sicily in early September 1943, and advanced up the Italian Peninsular, along the Adriatic coast, throughout the autumn. Early December found the Eighth Army engaged in the "Sangro Offensive." The goal of the attack was to break the Gustav Line, the Germans' winter rearguard for Rome, by crossing the Sangro River, drive northward to the town of Pescara, and capture the east-west highway to Rome. The Eighth Army would then be in a position to attack the German forces rearguard, which would relieve the American Fifth Army under Mark Clark. Montgomery succeeded in crossing the Sangro River in the first week of December, and crossed the Moro River, twenty miles to the south of Pescara on December 10, but was only able to reach Ortona-two miles further north-by December 28. The offensive had become stalemated by the end of the year when Montgomery handed over his command of the Eighth Army to Oliver Leese. He returned to England and assumed command of the 21st Army Group in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. Despite setbacks due to inclimate weather, German reinforcements, and his own methodical pace northward along the Adriatic coast, this letter is a fine example of Montgomery's unflagging optimism and represents the successes the Eighth Army had achieved to date in advancing across the Sangro and Moro Rivers. Letter shows aging and light soiling, with cross-folds, and a quarter-inch vertical tear at the top margin along fold. Otherwise, in very good condition. $OLD. GO TO MAIN PAGE HERE . (#10626)
