32 Facts About Alan Cunningham

Alan Cunningham then commanded Eighth Army in the desert campaign, but was relieved of command during the Crusader battle against Erwin Rommel.

Alan Cunningham was the younger brother of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope.

Alan Cunningham was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich before taking a commission in the Royal Artillery in 1906.

In 1909, his father died unexpectedly and Alan Cunningham was applied to join the British Indian Army as he could no longer afford the life style of an officer in Britain.

Alan Cunningham was awarded a Military Cross in 1915 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1918, he was awarded three Mention in dispatches during the War.

Alan Cunningham had served as a Howitzer Battery Commander and had was the Artillery brigade major for 20th Division in June 1917.

Alan Cunningham went on to have a number of regimental duty posts, including a tour in Egypt in 1925.

Alan Cunningham was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel whilst conducting the post of chief Instructor at the Anti-Aircraft wing at the Small Arms School in Netheravon and was appointed Commanding Officer of 1st Medium Brigade Royal Artillery in Portsmouth in 1935.

Alan Cunningham's headquarters was in Reading and the Division covered Bristol, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Alan Cunningham was the moved to Scotland to command the 9th Infantry Division, and renamed it 51st Infantry Division, when the majority of that Division was lost in the withdrawal from France.

Alan Cunningham commanded three divisions in East Africa Force, the 1st Division commanded by Major General George Brink, the 11th Division commanded by Major General Harry Edward de Robillard Wetherall and the 12th Division commanded by Major General Reade Godwin-Austen.

Alan Cunningham's offensive started with the Battle of the Juba prior to which he issued his famous order of the day 'Hit them.

Alan Cunningham therefore ordered a rapid advance to Mogadishu by the 23rd Nigerian Brigade who covered 275 miles in just three days.

On 6 April 1941, Alan Cunningham's forces entered Addis Ababa having advanced 1,687 miles at an average rate of 75 miles a day.

Alan Cunningham continued to lead his forces in mopping up operations against the 40,000 Italian troops in the Galla-Sidamo region.

Alan Cunningham was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and awarded another Mention in Dispatches for his actions in East Africa.

The Eighth Army was to consist of two Corps, XIII Corps was mainly Infantry and was to be commanded by Lieutenant General Godwin-Austen, whom Alan Cunningham had commanded in Eat Africa.

Alan Cunningham's offensive achieved complete surprise and the Axis were slow to react.

Auchinleck, who had access to secret Ultra intelligence, ordered Alan Cunningham to continue and Alan Cunningham issued orders that XIII Corps was to take up the offensive and relieve the Siege of Tobruk.

Alan Cunningham's replacement was Auchinleck's deputy chief of the general staff, Major-General Neil Ritchie, who was chosen due to his familiarity with the Operation Crusader plan, the day after he took over, XIII Corp relieved Tobruk as planned by Cunningham.

Auchinleck asked Alan Cunningham to go into No 64 Field Hospital for security reasons asking him 'to agree to being placed on the sick list and to go into hospital for a period.

However, whilst Alan Cunningham was in isolated in hospital, the narrative of a nervous breakdown was spread and became the accepted story.

When he return to Britain in December 1941, Churchill refused to give him a role, stating that he was either sick or incompetent, but General Alan Cunningham Brooke contended that he was neither.

However, when Jam Smuts came to Britain the October 1942 he convinced Churchill that Alan Cunningham should be given a role.

Alan Cunningham, who was now a Major General again, was appointed as the Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley.

Alan Cunningham was in charge of operations against the Hagana, a Zionist militia, Etzel and Lehi terrorists who in this period fought against the Mandate authorities and the Palestinian population, as well as Palestinian militias, with Arab armies poised to invade as soon as the British withdrew.

Alan Cunningham had retired from the army in October 1946 when he relinquished the role of Commander-in-Chief Palestine but retained the job of High Commissioner until 1948.

Alan Cunningham was awarded a second knighthood for his duties and became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

On return to Britain, Alan Cunningham was offered the post of Black Rod at the Palace of Westminster, but declined it and retired public life.

Alan Cunningham continued to serve however as the Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery until 1954, as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire from 1950, as the President of the Council of Governors at Cheltenham College from 1951 until 1963.

Alan Cunningham died at the age of 95 in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

Alan Cunningham is buried with his father and mother under a simple monument near the Dean Gallery entrance to Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.