I like it!
I used to think this story was apocryphal but there are many references as to its veracity, including the official history.
Major General Bernard Freyberg VC, OC the NZ Division in Egypt prior to El Alamein, was inspecting some of the Kiwi troops with Montgomery in a vehicle when the latter commented: "Not many of your troops seem to salute Freyberg", to which Freyberg replied; "No, but if you wave at them they'll wave back".