Statue Earl Alexander of Tunis

"Field Marshal The Earl
Alexander of Tunis
1891-1969
Colonel Irish Guards"

Field Marshal Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, Ist Earl Alexander of Tunis, KG,GCB, OM,GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC,CD,PC (Can) PC. 10 December 1891-16 June 1969.

Alexander joined the Irish Guards in September 1911 from the Royal military College Sandhurst. He, and his regiment, then spent most of the First World War serving on the Western Front. He took part in the Retreat from Mons and was wounded at First Ypres in 1914. Returning to the Front, he fought at Loos, winning the MC in 1915 at the Somme in 1916 where he won the DSO and also Legion d'Honneur, as commander of the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards. In 1917 he fought at Third Ypres and Cambrai and then assumed command of the 4th Guards Brigade during the German Spring Offensive. His army career continued in the inter war years with many postings at home and abroad including aide-de camp to George VI.
At the outbreak of WW2, Alexander led the 1st Division as part of the BEF and was evacuated from Dunkirk on 2 June 1940.
In 1942 he was sent to India following the Japanese invasion of Burma and following the fighting retreat into India he returned to Britain to be appointed to command the British First Army, taking part in Operation Torch but was moved at Churchill's prompting as Commander in Chief Middle East. He oversaw Montgomery's victory at El Alamein and the subsequent advance to Tunis. he then commanded the 15th Army Group, part of the Sicily and Italy invasion forces. In December 1944 he became Supreme Commander Allied Forces in the Mediterranean and received the German surrender in Italy on 29 April 1945.
After WW2 he was appointed Governor General of Canada and then Minister of Defence.

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1), IWM Non Commercial Licence (2)