Before finishing this very brief history it would be remiss not to mention Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, instigator of ' Market Garden ' Once again it is necessary to go back in history to find the origins of an ' Irish ' soldier. The battle of Hastings, fought on the 14th October 1066, saw the Norman Army under the command of William, Duke of Normandy, inflict a terrible defeat on the English under King Harold, a victory that led to Norman rule in Britain. Sir Roger de Montgomeri, a distinguished and successful soldier who led the vanguard of the Norman Army, was a member of a family that owned large estates in the area of Caen, Falaise and Argentan. As a result of his success at Hastings and elsewhere, Sir Roger was rewarded with various titles and estates, one of which was situated on the Welsh border near Shrewsbury. His younger son, Arnold crossed the Irish Sea and married Lafacotte, daughter of the King of Munster in Ireland. In turn Arnold's son crossed into Scotland early in the 12th century and became ancestor to all the Montgomeri families in Scotland. When the Protestant plantation of the north began, many of the Montgomeri families moved across the Irish Sea to the nine counties. Just when the Field Marshal's family arrived in Ulster is unknown, but it is assumed to have been around 1628. They settled on an estate in Donegal between the villages of Killybegs and Killaghtee. The use of the word 'settled' in this case is defined as riding about on a big horse with a sharp sword to forcibly evict the previous Catholic landowners. This was a widespread custom at the time and believed by many to be the cause of all ' troubles ' in Ireland today. By now the spelling of the family name had changed to Montgomery, and they showed a marked leaning towards the Church. Thankfully when Bernard was born fate decided that his future would lie with the Army. He went to Sandhurst in 1907, just after his 19th birthday, and initially did quite well. Despite several set backs, some quite serious, he left the Academy in July 1908. At first he hoped to join the Indian Army, but fate decided otherwise and he was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, joining its 1st Battalion. On the 13th October 1914 the now Lieutenant Montgomery led his platoon against the enemy at Meteren near the Somme. Leading his men forward, sword in hand, he was shot in the chest by an enemy sniper and fell, badly wounded. A member of his platoon ran forward with a shell dressing, and kneeling by the wounded officer he attempted to apply the bandage and was in turn shot by the sniper. The dead soldier fell across Montgomery's body, protecting him from further bullets fired by the rifleman, who had recognised Montgomery as an officer. Despite this protection he was hit later in the day by another bullet, this time in the knee. When recovered by stretcher bearers later still, he was assumed to be dead and a field grave was dug for him. When signs of life discovered he was quickly taken to hospital where immediate surgery saved his life. For his actions at Meteren, Montgomery was promoted to Captain and awarded the DSO. By July 1918 he was GSO1 of the 47th Infantry Division, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. The path towards Field Marshal was well and truly set, and the ' family business ' was going strong.