Alan Cunningham
Sir Alan Cunningham | |
|---|---|
Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery |
Early life and military career
Cunningham was born in
After graduating from the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1925, followed by the Imperial Defence Studies in 1937, Cunningham became the Commander, Royal Artillery of the 1st Infantry Division.[2] This was followed in 1938 by promotion to major-general and appointment as commander of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Division.[2]
Second World War
After the beginning of the Second World War, Cunningham held a number of short appointments commanding infantry divisions in the United Kingdom (66th Infantry Division, 9th (Highland) Infantry Division, and following its renaming, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division)[2] before being promoted to lieutenant-general to take command of the East Africa Force in Kenya.[2]
During the
His success in East Africa led to Cunningham's appointment to command the new Eighth Army in North Africa in August 1941.[2] His immediate task was to lead General Sir Claude Auchinleck's Libyan Desert offensive which began on 18 November. However, early losses led Cunningham to recommend the offensive be curtailed. This advice was not accepted by his superiors, and Auchinleck relieved him of his command.[2]
He returned to Britain to serve the remainder of the war as Commandant of the
Post-war
After the war, Cunningham, who was promoted to
Orders and decorations
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1948)[4]
- Companion 1941)[4]
- Distinguished Service Order (1918)[4]
- Military Cross (1915)[4]
- 1914 Star with Clasp[4]
- Mentioned in Despatches (1 January 1916, 18 May 1917 and 20 May 1918; 6 January 1944)[4]
- British War Medal[4]
- Victory Medal[4]
- Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, 1st class (28 October 1941)[4]
- Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States, 1945)[4]
- Order of the Crown, 1st class (Belgium, 1950)[4]
- Order of Menelik II, 1st class (Ethiopia, 1954)[4]
References
- ^ "D Cunningham Household Census Return, 1901". Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Cunningham, Alan". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ISBN 978-1615300464.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "British Army Officers 1939–1945 (COAT to CUTT)". World War II unit histories and officers. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
- ^ "Alan Cunningham". Gravestones. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
Bibliography
- Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud (UK): Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0.
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
External links
Herbert Samuel (1920–1925) • Herbert Plumer (1925–1928) • Harry Luke (acting in 1928) • John Chancellor (1928–1931) • Arthur Grenfell Wauchope (1931–1938) • Harold MacMichael (1938–1944) • John Vereker (1944–1945) • Alan Cunningham (1945–1948) |
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