A Soldiers Retreat
Taken from Life Magazine October 13th 1958

In retirement Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G. plans to retreat for almost the first time in his life into a comfortable round of leisure - of puttering and pruning parakeet and pigeon raising at his former home, a converted old mill, in Isington, Hampshire. Fifty years of being a British army officer lie behind him, a longer term of service than that of any other officer on record including such greats as Wellington and Marlborough.

None of these years has been comfortable or leisurely. The son of a bishop, young Monty had to live on his pay when most officers were gentlemen with outside incomes. Profoundly religious, relentlessly logical and outspoken, he analyzed all problems and personalities in terms of right and wrong, white and black, and frequently ended by fighting fierce engagements with his superiors. Nonsmoking, nondrinking and sternly dedicated to learning the business of war, he found little solace in the officers' mess, its talk of wenching and consumption of port and cigars.

In 1927, now a major, he married a vivacious, fragile wife by whom he had a son, David. Vowing never to have another - babies "entail too much staff work" - he pampered his family efficiently and let their happiness soften his outlook on life for 10 idyllic years. Then in 1937 his wife suddenly died of an infected insect bite. Once more Montgomery withdrew into his profession. When war came he rose rapidly from general to field marshal.

Today Montgomery plans to occupy his unaccustomed leisure `with such civic duties as school boards and soccer clubs, speaking engagements and visits abroad, and with his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Between times he will tend his gardens and sit in Britain's House of Lords where, in 12 years as a peer, he has never delivered a speech.