The Spectator reports on a new book about UK Field Marshal Montgomery :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Montgomery-Unbeatable-Unbearable-Britains-talented/dp/1408878585
Insufferable martinet or inspirational hero? Field Marshal Montgomery was both
An abusive childhood may help explain the contradictory character of Britain’s great second world war commander, says Gary Mead.
So Monty could have been yet another victim closeted in his caravan?
The fact that abusive childhoods were quite common - although most likely unreported - when Monty was a child seems to have gone unnoticed in this comment.
What is also often forgotten about his key victory at the Battle of Alam Halfa is his access to 'Ultra' intelligence as reported by Ancient War History:
Montgomery immediately set about restoring his army’s fighting spirit. He canceled all plans for retreat, famously declaring: “Here we will stand and fight; there will be no further withdrawal.” His confidence stemmed partly from a secret weapon that would prove decisive in the coming battle – the British codebreaking operation known as “Ultra.”
The “Ultra” Advantage
Unknown to Rommel, British cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park had cracked the German Enigma code machine, allowing them to read most of the Afrika Korps’ communications. This “Ultra” intelligence gave Montgomery unprecedented insight into Rommel’s plans, strengths, and weaknesses. As historian Anthony Brown later wrote: “From the very beginning of the Alam Halfa battle, Rommel’s defeat was predetermined.”
Perhaps this explains why Monty's record after D-Day was not so good.
But despite an abusive childhood Monty had time for children and no hard feelings towards Germans as his correspondence with Manfred Rommel (son of Erwin) demonstrates.