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Field Marshal Montgomery? Or not?

I was told by an eminent war historian that this signature is almost certainly Montgomery, albeit a hurried scrawl rather than his usual, much neater, signature. He thought that mainly because of Monty's distinctive M which he always wrote as an upside down U. He says the signature is B L Montgomery [Bernard Law Montgomery] with that M/U clearly visible.It is possible it was signed by Monty since the person named in the pass spent time with Monty, and, though passes were pretty much ten a penny, he kept this one for his entire life because, he said, it was very important. Though he never said anything else about it, and we didn't ask. So, do you think this really is Monty's signature or not?

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 11:03am

You started abother thread? Unless I am missing something that looks nothing like his signature or his handwriting from a glance. I doubt he would have trouble writing "permission" or "Bahgdad". Here is an example from 1944. Look at the handwriting.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 11:06am

Who is the eminent war historian? He does not appear to be an autograph collector. Just look at the "p's" in the handwriting. Look at the numerals etc.This is obviously not Monty's hand. Sorry.

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Permalink Reply by LinF on July 30, 2022 at 11:12am

Permission and Baghdad and everything else except the signature was written by the soldier concerned. I.m not about to disclose the historian's name as I don't have his permission for one thing but, he is a professor and has written extensively about W11 using original documents etc as his source. As for starting a new thread - I'm very new to forums which seem to have all kinds of rules to which I am not au fait.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 11:35am

Right. It's early for me. This is still not Monty's hand. It is obvious in my opinion. It appears to say "Richard". Why should it be so very different than other examples of the period?

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Permalink Reply by michelle on July 30, 2022 at 11:09am

Apart from the points Eric makes would someone as important as Monty have had time to have written a note like this? He was buzy fighting and winning one of the most important batles of the second world war in Egypt if my memorry is correct around this date

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Permalink Reply by LinF on July 30, 2022 at 11:17am

Like I have already said. Monty did not write that note. It was written by the soldier concerned as was the norm. Monty, if indeed it was him, then signed it. And, as I have also said, the soldier in question spent a great deal of time with Monty and though the battle of Al Alamein was taking place in Egypt at that time. Montgomery was in Baghdad for a few days around the date on that pass.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 11:37am

He might sign things frequently I don't know. I just expect him to use his own name.

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Permalink Reply by Mikex on July 30, 2022 at 11:32am

Not Monty's signature rushed or otherwise. Absolutely nothing points to it being authentic.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on July 30, 2022 at 12:25pm

And what are the other letters? After the so-called "M" what is that? The free floating "h"? No way.

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Permalink Reply by Sparky1708 on July 30, 2022 at 2:47pm

This is an example of Monty’s style of signature pre dating his promotion to field Marshall. From 1944 onwards he would add FM or Field Marshall after his name. Then from 1946 he would usually sign as Montgomery of Alamein. He did sign as Monty occasionally…particularly on things like Christmas cards.