A SIGNED MENU FROM FIELD MARSHAL BERNARD MONTGOMERY’S DINNER CELEBRATING THE GERMAN SURRENDERA wonderful ...

A SIGNED MENU FROM FIELD MARSHAL BERNARD MONTGOMERY’S DINNER CELEBRATING THE GERMAN SURRENDER
A wonderful souvenir from the May 4 1945 German surrender at Luneburg Heath a field-printed menu from Field Marshal Montgomery’s celebratory dinner held for his staff signed by Montgomery on the scene only two days after the surrender. The 9 x 6 in. mimeographed “TAC B MESS” menu set forth what must have been a heavenly dinner for the victors of World War II: poached bream roast chicken with potatoes carrots with butter fruit with whipped cream Welsh rarebit and coffee. Of course Montgomery attended the dinner and he signed this menu for a staff captain of the Royal Signals writing at the bottom: “B. L. Montgomery Field-Marshal 6-5-45” in bright red ink. Pin holes at an upper corner else fine. According to a copy of an old catalog listing 15-20 tactical officers attended this event. At that time the consignor (the staff captain mentioned above) indicated that the mess sergeant assembled the meal on short notice. He added: “…trout [were] fished from a nearby stream with the aid of hand grenades. Monty signed all our menus before he left the table to let us get on with the cigars and drinks which were forbidden in his presence…”