Monty was

receiving Freedom of Newport

Sir,

Rod Gordon is correct in believing that the Montgomery photograph featured in the Beacon last week was taken in Newport – in fact outside the King's Head Hotel on 29th September 1945. 

And as to 'who was meeting Monty?' Well it

was all the citizens, as they bestowed the Freedom of their Borough on him.

The photo also shows the boys in the band. Regimental bands were still disrupted by the recent war, and the role on this day was filled by the Cadet Band of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).

It was the first time that a General Salute for a Field Marshal had been played by a cadet band – and they received much praise.

The Drum-Major, leading with aplomb, was Tom Meredith, while behind the scenes were Sid Gordon Snr as the Bandmaster, and Charles Meredith in overall command.

The Castle and Regimental Museum holds four similar photos of the event, given by the Meredith family, and copies of these can be seen on a website called The Peoples' Collection, Wales.

Eric Old

(Monmouth)