Montgomery orders 'no retreat'

15th August 1942: The new commander of the British Eighth Army officially takes over - but he has already begun a transformation in outlook

Montgomery's chance to command a modern battle army came in 1942 when he was sent to Eygpt to replace Auchinleck as commander of the Eighth Army. He was photographed shortly after his arrival by air in Cairo.

The new commander of the Eighth Army Montgomery had only just arrived in North Africa. He was due to take over on the 15th but was so disturbed by …