JUST 72 hours after D-Day, the bloodiest clash since World War One, soldiers slogging up a Normandy shore were stunned when a Rolls-Royce overtook them. On June 9, 1944, three days after the Allies landed in France to oust the Nazis, General Bernard Montgomery — “Monty” — had his prized motor delivered on to battle-scarred Juno beach. Commander of around two million land forces who would fight in Normandy that summer, Monty wanted to send a message to his troops and to German leader Adolf Hitler .
So wearing his distinctive beret, which had two badges, he was driven around in a black Rolls-Royce Wraith staff car that signalled to the world the British had arrived and were there to stay. Our troops cheered when they saw it, while captured German soldiers did double-takes. Next week, 80 years later, Monty’s historic Roller, with the number plate FLD 99, will return to Normandy, this time driven by Top Gear’s Richard Hammond.
The jet-black Roller, with its gleaming chrome and plush leather interior, will be one of the stars of D-Day 80. With the Hamster at the wheel, it returns to Juno beach next Wednesday and will have pride of place at the British Normandy Memorial on June 6, the anniversary of D-Day. Not only will it be special for Richard to drive Monty’s motor in France, it was also the team at his firm The Smallest Cog that restored this “priceless” car.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Richard, 54, poses next to the motor outside his workshop on a.
