ICM 35604 1/35 Sir Bernard Montgomery's Leyland Retriever Office with Staff

One of the most renowned military commanders of the Second World War was Bernard Law Montgomery. Having begun his military career during the First World War, he steadily advanced through the ranks of the British Army and entered WWII as commander of the 3rd Division of the British Expeditionary Force in France.

In the autumn of 1942, Montgomery took command of British forces in North Africa and soon achieved a decisive victory over the famous “Desert Fox” — German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. By December 1943, Montgomery was commanding the 21st Army Group and had become the Commander of Allied ground forces in Europe.

Naturally, the success of Montgomery’s operations owed much to the officers and soldiers of his staff. Among the vehicles he used as a mobile command post was a specially modified army Leyland Retriever truck. Built on the standard chassis, it featured a purpose-built superstructure that served as a field office, divided into two rooms.