Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck

Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck , 1884-1981, British field marshal. In World War II he commanded briefly (1940) at Narvik, Norway, then in building defenses in England and in India (1940-41). After succeeding (July, 1941) Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell in the Middle East Command, he launched, in Nov., 1941, a campaign into Libya, but in June, 1942, his forces were thrust back into Egypt. In June, 1943, he once more became commander in chief in India, remaining so until 1947. He was made field marshal in 1946.

Bibliography: See biography by J. H. Robertson (1959); C. Barnett, The Desert Generals (1960).

Auchinleck, Sir Claude John Eyre (b. 21 June 1884, d. 23 Mar. 1981). British field marshal Born in Aldershot, and educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhust, he joined the Indian Army in 1904, and served with it in Egypt and Iraq in World War I. In the interwar years he was an army instructor and served in India, where he was involved with the modernization of the Indian Army. He commanded the British Fourth Corps in the unsuccessful Narvik operation in Norway (May–June 1940). He then returned to England, where he organized the Home Guard, and in July 1940 he became Commander-in-Chief in India. In July 1941, he swapped commands with Wavell, going to North Africa. His major offensive of November 1941 was driven back by Rommel, whom he eventually halted in the first battle of El Alamein (July 1942). He had many differences of opinion with Churchill, and was replaced by Alexander in August 1942. He returned to India and remained there until 1947.

Auchinleck, Sir Claude John Eyre (1884–1981) British field-marshal. He served with distinction in World War I. He commanded the land forces at Narvik in the ineffectual Norwegian campaign in April–May 1940, was commander-in-chief in India (1940–41) and from mid-1941 he commanded in North Africa. He led the advance in Libya, but was driven back by stronger German forces in 1942. When TOBRUK surrendered, he took personal command of the troops, establishing the key defensive line at El ALAMEIN. Churchill then replaced him with MONTGOMERY and he returned to India as commander-in-chief.