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WW2 WWII D-Day Airborne Army Paratrooper Infantry Message Montgomery British
$ 18.48
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Description
Original WW2 WWII D-Day Airborne Army Paratrooper Infantry Message Montgomery British. Condition is "Used". Shipped with USPS First Class.Absolutely authentic 1944 version of this historic message that was issued to all members of the D-Day invasion in 1944 by General BL Montgomery ("Monty") who was C-in-C of 21 Army Group and played important role in designing and undertaking the invasion of Europe. Monty's signature is printed as part of the document.
Obverse upper left corner bears original ink signature of Major General Sir George Erskine GCB KBE DSO who was a senior British Army officer and who is most notable for having commanded the 7th Armoured Division from 1943 to 1944 during World War II. He became Head of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force Mission to Belgium in 1944 and then GOC 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division in 1945. You can look him up on wikipedia
Measures 8 inches x 10 inches
Condition: Excellent. No tears or rips. No restoration. There are fold marks. Paper is yellow and fragile (as all these original examples are) as the quality of the paper is poor. This has no tears or repairs and is in better than average condition.
NOTE
: I have the US / Eisenhower counterpart, also signed by Erskine, also for sale on eBay -- buy both and I will combine shipping!!
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Text reads:
5 June, 1944
21 ARMY GROUP
Personal Message from the C-in-C
To be read out to all troops
1. The time has come to deal the enemy a terrific blow in Western Europe.
The blow will be struck by the combined sea, land, and air forces of the Allies –
together constituting one great Allied team, under the supreme command of General
Eisenhower.
2. On the eve of this great adventure I send to you my best wishes to every soldier in
the Allied team.
To us is given the honour of striking a blow for freedom which will live in history;
and in the better days that lie ahead men will speak with pride of our doings. We
have a great and righteous cause.
Let us pray that “The Lord Mighty in Battle” will go forth with our armies, and that
His special providence will aid us in the struggle.
3. I want every solider to know that I have complete confidence in the successful
outcome of the operations that we are now about to begin.
With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory.
4. And, as we enter the battle, let us recall the words of a famous soldier spoken many
years ago: --
“He either fears his fate too much
Or his deserts are small,
Who dare not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all.”
5. Good luck to each one of you. And good hunting on the mainland of Europe.
[BL Montgomery]
C.-in-C.
21 Army Group
[NOTE: Quote is attributed to James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612-1650).
Scottish nobleman and soldier. These four lines, taken from Montrose's poem ‘My Dear and
Only Love' , are perhaps the most often recited of all Montrose's writings and they
underline the clearness of vision and the single minded purpose of Montrose as he
struggled against overwhelming odds to support the failing cause of his sovereign Charles
1st (Source: Montrose Society website)]