Viscount Montgomery of Alamein passed away 30 years ago (24th March 1976), drawing a line under the career of one of Britain's most famous and successful army officers.

Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, affectionately known as 'Monty' by the British public, shot to fame in August 1942 when he took command of Eighth Army in North Africa.

Credited with driving Rommel back across the desert, his command secured the first major British victory of the war at the battle of Alamein. This crucial victory is noted for bringing about the turning point in a war that had seen the Allies suffer one defeat after another.

To command this set piece battle, Monty joined the crew of a Grant tank and adopted the traditional headgear of the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the black beret, to which he also attached his General's patch (pictured).

Always something of an eccentric, his choice of headgear was slightly unusual for a General of the time. The double badges on his black beret became a `Monty` trademark, making him instantly recognisable in the photographs circulated by the world's media.

He continued to wear the black beret for the remainder of his military career.

After the war, Monty was made a Colonel Commandant of The RTR, and he presented his first Tank Regiment beret to The Tank Museum in September 1945.

He wrote; "This beret was given to me by a Sergeant in the RTR, (who was) in command of my tank during the Battle of Alamein in October 1942. It was worn by me from Alamein to Tunis when it was so dirty that I got a new one. It was the Sergeants' own beret; I added my General badge to it and have worn the black beret with two badges ever since."

The Tank Museum still proudly displays Monty's desert-aged beret, along with a jumper he wore instead of regulation battle dress during the Summer of 1944. He died on the 24th March, 1976.