WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

Episode: Montgomery: Britain's Best General

Hosts: Al Murray & James Holland

Release Date: August 27, 2025

Overview

This episode is part of the "Best in the West" mini-series, building toward a head-to-head contest at Wege Ways Fest to determine WWII's greatest Western Allied general. Al Murray and James Holland offer brisk, biographical rundowns—complete with expert critique, rich anecdotes, and signature banter—of prominent (and some overlooked) British and Commonwealth generals. Central to this installment: an in-depth exploration of Bernard Montgomery ("Monty"), setting him alongside a crowded field including Horrocks, McCreery, O'Connor, Simmons, Tuka, and others.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Bracket and the Voting (02:00–03:29)

• The episode is structured as a playoff between commanders. Fans can vote via Patreon, and rankings are reviewed live ("Ronald Adam is on 1%, Harold Alexander's on 24%" – Al Murray, 02:32).
• The aim: settle, with audience participation, "Who are the greatest generals of the Second World War?" (Al Murray, 02:09).
• Emphasis: The British Army's interwar intimacy—“Everyone at this level knows everyone else” (Al Murray, 04:54).

2. Brian Horrocks: A Model Corps Commander (03:35–10:48)

• Background: Born India (1895), son of a gunner; Staff College alumnus; WWI experience as Machine Gun Corps, gassed, Military Cross (03:37–04:32).
• Career Path: Rapid rise WWII, wounded badly (twice), command in North Africa, narrowly escapes death at Crusader (05:55).
• Strengths and Weaknesses: Warm, approachable, frontline presence ("He's not a chateau general by any stretch of the imagination" – James Holland, 09:41), but not a great 'thinker'; best at corps level, not destined for army command.
• Key Incidents:
  • Missed an opportunity at Wadi Akarit (07:37–07:53).
  • Successes in Normandy, Market Garden, and winter 1944/45 (09:17–09:41).
• Pop Culture: His image shaped by A Bridge Too Far and his TV series ("...sat there going, right, so obviously this was a rather sticky day" – Al Murray, 10:08).

"He's a good corps commander, but he would never be an army commander."
— Al Murray (10:41)

3. Richard McCreery: The Unsung Professional (10:49–15:02)

• Background: Cavalryman, wounded WWI, early specialist in armored warfare (10:55–11:50).
• Staff Acumen: Staff officer BEF 1940, key planner for Operation Crusader, Chief of Staff to Alexander in Tunisia (11:55–12:37).
• Command Highlights: Led 10 Corps at Salerno (Operation Avalanche), excellent coalition worker, ultimately commands 8th Army in Italy (13:12–14:20).
• Under-recognized: Accepted German surrender in Italy, but almost unknown even among enthusiasts.

"He could easily have been Army Group Commander rather than Clark ... deserves to be far better known than he is."
— James Holland (14:03)

4. Bernard 'Monty' Montgomery: Main Event (15:02–23:17)

• Early Life and Temperament: Born 1887, Anglo-Irish, classic staff college background, "brilliant but misunderstood" (15:24–15:48).
• Wartime Experience:
  • Shot and nearly died in WWI; forced into staff roles, gaining depth in army mechanics (16:10–16:51).
  • Personal tragedy: lost his wife (17:32–17:50), close ties to artist/bohemian world—a lesser-known side.
• BEF Campaign: Celebrated divisional commander (“saves the day” at the Dunkirk evacuation – James Holland, 17:59).
• Shaping 8th Army: Instills discipline, training, and morale pre-Alamein, pushes planning above 'flair' (18:31–19:38).
• Command Style: Emphasizes operational steadiness over tactical wizardry—"He is brilliant operationally ... that's what you need" (James Holland, 21:00).
• D-Day and Normandy: Defends his approach; Normandy campaign is a "monstrous victory" accomplished ahead of schedule (22:03).
• Later Campaigns: Maintains British place at the 'top table' in final months, plans Operation Plunder/VARSITY, ensures postwar British leverage.

"His plan is the best possible plan that could have been put in place for the 6th of June, 1944, bar none."
— James Holland (21:47)

"Hats off ... all his major operations enhance British military power for the post war rather than detracting. That is his remit."
— James Holland (23:04)

5. The Rapid-Fire Round: Moorhead, O’Connor, Simmons, Tuka (25:08–41:34)

Leslie Morshead (25:14–26:49)

• "Most famous of all the Australian generals", best-known for defending Tobruk and aggressive tactics ("No one ever won a battle by sitting in their foxhole" – Al Murray, 26:01).
• Contribution mostly in Mediterranean/Far East, not a contender for “best in the west”.

Richard O’Connor (26:53–32:44)

• Master of maneuver: Outflanked Italians in Operation Compass, bagged huge numbers ("Runs absolute rings around The Italians; defeats two entire armies ... it is absolutely extraordinary" – James Holland, 28:35).
• Unlucky: Captured by Axis, lost crucial years as a POW, returned to lead VIII Corps in Normandy.
• “Brilliant in Epsom, brilliant in Goodwood, I think brilliant in Bluecoat.” – James Holland (30:54)

Guy Simonds/Simmons (32:44–36:59)

• Canadian, young, sharp artillerist; innovative in armor and combined arms (kangaroos/APCs in Normandy), but had a “terrible temper ... his men don't love him—no, they respect him.” (James Holland, 36:52)

Francis ‘Tuka’ Tuker (37:00–41:34)

• Indian Army intellectual and tactical innovator; critical of ‘box’ defense, meticulous trainer ("His clarity of thought, his understanding of what the troops can do is comparable to Monty" – James Holland, 40:46).
• Limited by illness, never reached highest field command—contributor to army structure postwar (partition of India).

6. The Also-Rans and Honorable Mentions (41:53–42:30)

• Wavell, Gort, ‘Jumbo’ Wilson, Oliver Leese, Carton de Wiart, Hastings Ismay, Alan Adair, and others are discussed as promising, famous, or eccentric—but not “best in the west”.

Quotable:

“General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, who people always say, why don't you do a thing about him? Because he's quite clearly bonkers.”
— Al Murray (42:18)

7. The Hosts’ Top Three Choices (42:31–43:10)

• James Holland's Top Three:
  "Alex, Monty, O'Connor." (42:41)
• Al Murray's Top Three:
  "Monty, Brooke, Percy Hobart ... Hobart obviously, is my wild card." (42:44, 42:54)

Guests are encouraged to make their own rankings and vote via Patreon.

Notable Quotes

• "Clarity of thought is absolutely essential."
  — James Holland (03:35)

• "He's warm, he's got sense of humor ... he's a very visible commander."
  — James Holland on Horrocks (09:41)

• "He is supremely competent, deserves to be far better known than he is."
  — James Holland on McCreery (14:03)

• "If he doesn't like you, he's abrasive ... it's quite simple, a transactional thing with Montgomery."
  — Al Murray (17:01)

• "This cannot fail ... all other considerations, doesn't matter."
  — James Holland on Monty's planning in Sicily (20:30)

Important Timestamps by Segment

• 02:00 – 03:29: Episode concept, rankings, audience vote
• 03:37 – 10:48: Horrocks profile + critical analysis
• 10:49 – 15:02: McCreery deep-dive
• 15:02 – 23:17: Montgomery from root to apex, candid critique
• 25:08 – 41:34: Morshead, O’Connor, Simonds, Tuker (rapid rounds)
• 41:53 – 42:30: Honorable mentions, also-rans
• 42:31 – 43:10: Hosts’ top three picks

Memorable Moments

• Banter over names: "Simonds" or "Simmons"? Both hosts admit they've only read it, never heard it aloud (33:01).
• Underappreciated talent: O'Connor’s exceptional victories overshadowed by bad luck; McCreery and Tuka’s brilliance nearly forgotten.
• Hosts’ rivalry: Al adamant on his “dream team” of Monty, Brooke, Hobart—rejects Alex for his own lineup (42:54–42:56).

Tone & Language

The episode is brisk, slightly irreverent, and rich in detail—mixing expert-level analysis with humour, pop culture references, and fan engagement. Al’s comedic timing and James’s academic depth make it an insightful but approachable listen for both enthusiasts and newcomers.

For More:

• Vote for your favorite Duke General at the podcast’s Patreon.
• Next episode: focus turns to the American contenders for best Western Allied WWII general.