Freddie de Guingand

Who was Freddie de Guingand?

Major-General Sir Francis Wilfred de Guingand KBE, CB, DSO, better known as Freddie de Guingand, was a British Army officer who served with Montgomery from El Alamein to the surrender of the Wehrmacht in the West. He was a brilliant staff officer, evidenced by the fact that Montgomery, who demanded nothing less than perfection, retained him as chief of staff for over two and a half years. He was also a consummate diplomat whose skills proved vital in sustaining relations between the notoriously difficult Montgomery and his peers and superiors.