Field Marshal Montgomery's grandson spitting image of the British hero (2025)

Field Marshal Montgomery's grandson has explained why the British war hero rallied letters to troops and the reason behind his 'completely illegal' beret.

In an emotional Antiques RoadshowD-Day special - where experts refused to value their guests' 'priceless' mementos - Henry Montgomery met with militaria specialist Mark Smith to discuss his grandfather'srole as leader of the Allied ground forces during the D-Day invasion in 1944.

General Bernard Law Montgomery - popularly known as 'Monty' -had become an inspirational figure since his victory at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942.

In a letter sent out to troops the night before D-Day on June 6, Monty wrote:'Good luck to each one of you, and good hunting on the mainland of Europe.'

Explaining the importance of the letter, his grandson Henry said:'Grandfather really understood that all the careful planning, particularly in the run -up to Normandy and the D-Day invasion, he knew that however good the plans were, it was the men on the ground who had to do the work.'

He added: 'Grandfather always almost bullet points. Very pithy. Very to the point. Limited use of words, which was very much his style of speaking and writing.'

Discussing Monty's beret, which famously carried two badges, specialist Mr Smith said:'I'm standing next to Monty's beret. The Field Marshal's badge on this side, and here, the badge of the Royal Tank Regiment.

'Completely illegal, two badges on one beret.'

Henry said:'Our understanding is that when grandfather took command of the Eighth Army in North Africa, he wanted to be recognised by the soldiers.

'But he started with an Australian bush hat, and apparently he was being driven by a driver who was in the tank regiment, and he was complaining about the bush hat because it kept on blowing off in the wind.

'Sergeant Jim Fraser gave him his beret, I think, and said, ''Sir, you ought to be wearing this.'''

Mr Smith said:'And he then sewed, in those days, the general's badge onto it, but left the Tank Corps badge on, as that link.'

He added:'Monty himself said at one point, this beret is worth three divisions. When the men see it in the distance, they say ''There's Monty!'' And then they will fight for anybody.'

Viewers of Antiques Roadshow have taken to social media to comment on the likeness between Monty and his grandson Henry.

'Catching up with Antiques Roadshow...Monty's grandson is like another double!' one viewer wrote on X.

In another emotional Antiques Roadshow clip, a daughter spoke of her father Reginald Steele's experience as a Staff Sergeant in the Gilder Pilot Regiment.

She showed a letter her father wrote to his wife and son the day before he took off on June 6, 1944.

'I can't imagine how it must have been for him, the pilots, they're so exposed. But it meant a lot to my father to be part of a very important operation,' she said.

'On the day before he took off, he wrote a letter to my mother and brother, which I have here.

'He says, ''Remember, when you do get this, be as proud as I feel myself being chosen to help launch this drive to free the world of all its terror and hardship''.

'And then he says, ''Everything will be OK, my love, as nothing can go wrong''.

'He didn't really talk much about the war, but I feel incredibly proud and I feel very emotional.'

Explaining her father's role in the war, the daughter said:'He flew a Horsa glider, taking off in the early hours of June 6. He was in the third wave of gliders which landed at landing zone N, at about 0320 hours.

'After the gliders landed, the men were expected to help defend the bridges, until reinforcements arrived.'

Eighty years ago in Normandy, the largest seaborne invasion in history took place, which sawan allied force of more than 150,000 British, Canadian and American troops land in a combined naval, air and ground assault on Nazi-occupied France.

In another emotional clip from Antiques Roadshow, a soldier who stepped onto the beach and straight into battle aged 18 detailed his memories 80 years on.

Ken Cooke, 98, said:'We set off for [Gold] Beach. I can't describe the noise. You can't describe the noise. It was that horrendous.

'I stepped off into six inches of water. There were explosions going off and what have you, but all I was bothered about was my wet socks.'

He added: 'There were bodies rolling about in the water. But we didn't have time to look round or anything. The sergeants and the officers [said] ''right lads, get off the beach as soon as you can. If anybody gets hit, don't stop.''

'And that's what we did. We got away off the beach as quick as possible.

'It was the following day that it all struck home what was happening. And as you were having breakfast, you'd look round and you'd say, ''where's blondie? Where's Harry?'' And somebody would say, ''well remember that tank that got blown up on the beach? They were standing next to it''.

'That's when it sank in here, that these bullets coming towards you were real.'

Reacting to the emotional episode of Antiques Roadshow, viewers took to social media to share how they were left in tears by the programme.

'I cried my eyes out watching last night's Antiques Roadshow special from the D-Day beaches,' one viewer said on X.

'Just watched Antiques Roadshow commemorating D-Day and I now appear to have a bit of dust in my eyes,' another wrote.

A third said: 'Not one normally for the Antiques Roadshow, but the D-Day special that was on tonight was incredible. Truly moving.'

Another added: 'Superb programme, very moving and humbling...'