Brooke, Field Marshal Sir Alan

Brooke, Field Marshal Sir Alan (1883–1963),British Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) from December 1941 to January 1946 and a member of the Combined Chiefs of Staff committee who, with Churchill, ‘formed an incomparable partnership in the higher direction of the Second World War’ ( David Fraser in J. Keegan, ed., Churchill's Generals, London, 1991, p. 101).

Brooke was the ninth and youngest child of parents who were both of ancient Ulster lineage. However, his mother preferred France to Fermanagh, and it was there that Brooke was born and brought up and went to school. After attending Woolwich Military Academy he joined the Royal Artillery and during the First World War rose from lieutenant to lt-colonel. At the battle of the Somme he introduced the first ‘creeping barrage’ with great success and his incisiveness and efficiency marked him out between the wars as an officer of outstanding merit.

He was promoted maj-general in 1935 and in 1937 commanded the first Mobile Division, the prototype of the later armoured divisions. In 1938 he was promoted lt-general and was given command of the newly reshaped Anti-Aircraft Corps which soon expanded into the Anti-Aircraft Command. In August 1939 he became C-in-C Southern Command and from the following month commanded the British Expeditionary Force's 2nd Corps in France.

During the fighting which led to the fall of France in June 1940 Brooke showed consummate skill in extracting his corps and organizing its retreat to Dunkirk, but he was recalled to London before the evacuation and ordered to form an Allied bridgehead in Brittany, which proved impossible. Shortly afterwards he was promoted general and was made C-in-C, Home Forces, in which post he reorganized the remnants of the British Army and prepared for a German invasion.

In December 1941 he replaced Dill as CIGS and became the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff committee in March 1942. As principal military adviser to the war cabinet, he was at Churchill's elbow during nearly all the Allied conferences (see Grand Alliance) and by his side when all the crucial military decisions were made. He saw it as his task to steer Churchill away from some of his more improbable schemes, though he managed to turn others into military realities. That they could disagree—and often did so with some vehemence—yet still work amicably together was of inestimable importance in the running of the war. On one occasion, thwarted by Brooke over some cherished project, Churchill exploded that the CIGS hated him and must go. When told this, Brooke replied: ‘I don't hate him, I love him, but when the day comes that I tell him he is right when I believe him to be wrong, it will be time for him to get rid of me.’ Later in the war Brooke believed Churchill was losing his grip, and he was perhaps over-hasty in condemning the prime minister's political vision, which was wider than his own.

Brooke communicated his ideas in a way which was at once lucid and compelling, a priceless asset when dealing with Churchill and in negotiating with the Americans. The US Joint Chiefs of Staff were wary of the speed and clarity of his thinking—he never did get on with Marshall—but they soon accepted that they were dealing with someone who was ruthlessly professional, and his advice, especially early on, carried great weight. Brooke's other strength was the great skill with which he chose his generals and the loyalty with which he backed them. Alexander, Montgomery, and Slim were among his protégés and after the war Montgomery wrote to him: ‘I can only say again that any success I may have achieved in the field is due basically to you: it is all your doing.’

Brooke had little opportunity for active command. Churchill offered him the post of C-in-C Middle East in succession to Auchinleck in August 1942, but Brooke had only been CIGS eight months and he decided he would serve his country better by remaining at Churchill's side. However, he was bitterly disappointed when Eisenhower was offered the post of Supreme Commander for the Normandy landings (see OVERLORD), the more so because Churchill had earlier promised Brooke that he should have it. His passion for ornithology helped him bear the great strain of high command with marvellous equanimity, and he would take time off in the afternoons to feed the birds in St James's Park and so be fresh for Churchill's long, late-night meetings.

Promoted field marshal in 1944, when peace came Brooke received high honours from the Allied nations. He was knighted in 1940, created Baron Alanbrooke of Brookeborough in September 1945, and was later created a viscount.

Bibliography

Danchev, A., and Todman, D. (eds.), Field-Marshal Lord Alanbrooke, War diaries 1939–1945 (London, 2001).
Fraser, D. , Alanbrooke (London, 1982).