First Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. British army officer who during World War II commanded the British victories over German forces in North Africa (1942) and the Allied advance through Normandy (1944). ALS signed “Monty,” one page both sides, 8 x 10, personal letterhead, August 27, 1969. Letter to Alan Herbert, author and British statesman. In part, “Thank you so very much for The Secret Battle. Your publishers must be mad to allow it to go out of print, and you can tell them so from me. I shall not lend this copy to anybody, and have it pinched like the other one. It is the best story of front-line war I have read. I was reading Independent Member the other day, and what you wrote in Chapter 24 about your visit to me in Normandy. And later in Hamburg, when you landed me in a bit of trouble when you suggested it would be in order for me to say ‘splice the mainbrace’ when we visited two ships of the Royal Navy in Hamburg – which I did. Those days were great fun, and we always enjoyed your visits to Tac H.Q. I had a good laugh over the matter of the bottles of Bols and brandy, and how the Customs pinched the letter asking them not to charge duty.” In fine condition, with creases to top corners and a light paperclip impression along top edge. R&R COA.
