Harold Alexander

United Kingdom state institutions 1891–1969 ○ Natural causes

British field marshal who commanded the Allied forces in North Africa from El Alamein to the Tunisian surrender

Born in London, he made his name as an Irish Guards officer in the First World War. In the Second World War he oversaw the final stages of the Dunkirk evacuation and, after Burma, replaced Auchinleck as Commander-in-Chief Middle East in August 1942. With Montgomery's Eighth Army under him he led the victory at El Alamein, and in 1943 commanded the 18th Army Group, which brought together British, American and French forces in Tunisia and received the Axis surrender. He then led the 15th Army Group in Sicily and Italy and in late 1944, as a field marshal, became Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean. After the war he was Governor General of Canada and British Minister of Defence.

Also known as: Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander · Alexander of Tunis