Claude Auchinleck
British World War II Army commander
Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck, GCB, GCIE, CSI, DSO, OBE (21 June 1884 – 23 March 1981), nicknamed "The Auk", was a British army commander during World War II. He was a career soldier who spent much of his military career in India, where he developed a love of the country and a lasting affinity for the soldiers he commanded. In July 1941, he was appointed Commander in Chief of the Middle East theatre. After initial successes, the war in North Africa turned against the British, and he was relieved of the post in 1942, during the crucial El-Alamein campaign. He served thereafter as commander in India until his resignation in 1947. He retired to Marrakesh, where he died at age 96.
| Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname | The Auk |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1904–1947 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment (21 January 1929 - 31 January 1930) Meerut district (1938) 3rd Indian Division (September 1939) IV Corps (January 1940) C in C, Northern Norway (April - June 1940) V Corps (June 1940) Southern Command (July - November 1940) Middle East Command (1941-1942) Commander-in-Chief, India (1941 & 1943-1947) |
| Battles/wars | World War I: - Egypt (1915) - Mesopotamian campaign Mohmand Campaign (1935) World War II: -Norwegian campaign -North African campaign |
| Awards | GCB (January 1945)[1] GCIE (December 1940)[2] CB (July 1934) CSI (May 1936)[3] DSO (June 1917) OBE (June 1919) mentioned in dispatches (1917 & 1936[4]) Legion of Merit, Chief Commander (USA) (23 July 1948)[5] Virtuti Militari 5th class (Poland) (15 May 1942)[6] War Cross (1944) Order of the Star of Nepal, 1st Class (1945) Knight Grand Cross of Order of St Olav (19 March 1948)[7] 1st Class Order of Cloud and Banner (1947) Grand Officer, Légion d'honneur Croix de guerre (1918 and 1949) Military Cross (Czechoslovakia) (1943)[8] |
| Other work | Colonel 1st Bn. 1st Punjab Regiment (January 1933)[9] Colonel Inniskilling Fusiliers (April 1941)[10] Colonel 1st Bn. 4th Bombay Grenadiers (July 1939)[11] Colonel 4th Bombay Grenadiers (May 1944)[12] Colonel 1st Punjab Regiment (1947)[9] |
References
change- ↑ "No. 36866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1944. p. 3.
- ↑ "No. 35019". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1940. p. 7109.
- ↑ "No. 34282". The London Gazette. 8 May 1936. p. 2974.
- ↑ "No. 34282". The London Gazette. 8 May 1936. p. 2979.
- ↑ "No. 38359". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1948. p. 4189.
- ↑ "No. 35559". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 May 1942. p. 2113.
- ↑ "No. 38240". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 March 1948. p. 1919.
- ↑ You must specify date= when using {{London Gazette}}.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Qureshi, Maj MI. (1958). The First Punjabis: History of the First Punjab Regiment 1759-1956. Aldershot: Gale & Polden.
- ↑ "No. 35153". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 May 1941. p. 2571.
- ↑ "No. 34649". The London Gazette. 28 July 1939. p. 5218.
- ↑ "No. 36532". The London Gazette. 26 May 1944. p. 2443.