http://www.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_montgomery.html BERNARD LAW MONTGOMERY, (1887-1976), British field marshal, who was one of the leading Allied commanders of WORLD WAR II . Of Ulster stock, he was born in London on Nov. 17, 1887. After attending St. Paul's School, London, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in 1908 and received a commission as a lieutenant in the infantry. He served in France and Belgium during World War I. Rising in rank to major general, he commanded a division in Palestine and Transjordan in 1938-1939. At the outbreak of World War II he went to France in command of a division. Having evacuated his men from Dunkirk in 1940, he was given command of the 5th Corps in Britain. In 1941 he was assigned to a key post in the defense against a possible German invasion.
