Monty Victimised by Army Cadet Rag

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 5

Monty Victimised by Army Cadet Rag

London, Sept. 29. When Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery was ready to leave Sandhurst after lunch recently his famous twobadge black beret was not to be found, says the “Sunday Express.” There wa s a note where he had left his beret; it stated simply, “The lion roars.” The Field-Marshal was kept waiting for half an hour before the beret was found on a lion’s head hanging high tip on the wall over the staircase.

The incident, says th e “Sunday Express,” is a shameful secret at Sandhurst, where, if the subject is mentioned, “Eight hundred cadets will stiffen like ramrods, silently imply that they are almost officers and certainly gentlemen, and say nothing icily. All of them, perhaps, except one of them, who must have been a bit of a cad.” Suspicion points to a cadet, but there has been no parade and no disciplinary measure. “Sandhurst feels that the matter is far too delicate.” One theory is that before lunch Lord Montgomery toured the classrooms. He may have spoken sharply to some of his cadets, according to hi s manner. On e of them may have thought he heard a lion roaring. When the Field-Marshal and his beret finally left the academy his driver still observed signs of anger. He could not remember the last time when “Monty” was a minute off scheduie—half an hour wa s monstrous.