Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd

[12] At the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, Montgomery was promoted once more to temporary lieutenant colonel[13] and appointed a general staff officer grade 2 (GSO2) of the 4th Division of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), which landed in France in August.

Towards the end of the following month the division was temporarily commanded by Major-General Henry Rawlinson, "who formed a high opinion of Montgomery's abilities and thereafter retained him in his personal entourage".

It was a role for which, according to General Sir Douglas Haig, commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the BEF from December 1915 onwards, from the planning for the Battle of the Somme in 1916 he carried out with "great ability and success".

[20] He was effectively deputy commander of the Fourth Army (deputising for Rawlinson) in the final months of the war and played an important role in the success of the Battle of Amiens.

[23] The medal's citation reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Archibald A. Montgomery, Royal British Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, during World War I.

Divisions are justly proud of having served with their English comrades against the common foe and of having shared with them in the successes which were due, in no small degree, to his capable direction.

[34] Despite this, according to Williamson and Millett, he was a great obstacle to innovation of mechanized forces and suppressed the analysis of the British Army's performance in the First World War initiated by his predecessor, Lord Milne.

[45] During the Second World War the Air Ministry attempted to build an airfield at Great Steeping in Lincolnshire that would have extended into Sir Archibald's wife's traditional family estate, necessitating the demolition of the magnificent mansion of Gunby Hall.

He personally appealed to King George VI and the Air Ministry relented, redrawing the plans that resulted in the resiting of the new RAF Spilsby two miles further south.

Group portrait of officers at the British Staff College at Camberley , England, 1906. Archibald Montgomery, then a captain, is stood in the back row, second on the right.
Amiens, where Montgomery-Massingberd played an important role as deputy commander of the Fourth Army during the First World War.
Sir Douglas Haig with his army commanders and their chiefs of staff, November 1918. Front row, left to right: Sir Herbert Plumer , Sir Douglas Haig, Sir Henry Rawlinson . Middle row, left to right: Sir Julian Byng , Sir William Birdwood , Sir Henry Horne . Back row, left to right: Sir Herbert Lawrence , Sir Charles Kavanagh , Brudenell White , Percy, Louis Vaughan , Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd, Hastings Anderson .
Gunby Hall, Montgomery-Massingberd's home in Lincolnshire.