September 29th 1945 - Monty's Visit To Newport

Crowds flocked into Newport to see the great soldier who led the victorious British armies from El Alamein to Berlin - Field-Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery, Knight Cross of the Order of the Bath, DSO.

A legend in military history, Monty arrived at Newport station to be greeted by tremendous cheers and, after lunch at the Kings Head, he was duly enrolled as the 11th Freeman of Newport at the Great Central Hall. This was a most popular gesture supported by the whole town and his inauguration ceremony portrait still hangs in the Civic Centre.

See Jim Dyer's Article, 'Freemen of the Borough of Newport'