Page "Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein" Paragraph 11

On completion of his tour of duty in India, Montgomery returned to Britain in June 1937 where he became commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Brigade with the temporary rank of brigadier, but that year saw great tragedy when his wife was bitten by an insect while on holiday in Burnham-on-Sea.

The bite became infected, and his wife died in his arms from septicaemia following an amputation.

The loss devastated Montgomery, but he insisted on throwing himself back into his work immediately after the funeral.

In 1938, he organised an amphibious combined operations landing exercise that impressed the new commander-in-chief, Southern Command, General Wavell.

He was promoted to major-general in October 1938 and took command of the 8th Infantry Division in Palestine.

There he quashed an Arab revolt before returning in July 1939 to Britain, suffering a serious illness on the way, to command the 3rd ( Iron ) Infantry Division.

On hearing of the rebel defeat in April 1939, Montgomery said, " I shall be sorry to leave Palestine in many ways, as I have enjoyed the war out here ".