Bernard Law Montgomery was a British field marshal and one of the leading Allied commanders during World War II (WWII). 

Often referred to as "Monty", he successfully commanded Allied forces at the Battle of El Alamein, a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign. Troops under his command also played a major role in the expulsion of Axis forces from North Africa. In addition, he earned distinction during WWII for his highly effective leadership of the British Eighth Army in North Africa and worked closely with U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower in planning the D-Day invasion of France. 

He resided at the original Beijing Hotel on a visit to China in 1960 and published an account of his travels in his book, “Three Continents” (1962).