William Gott

1897–1942 ✕ Killed when his plane was shot down

British general appointed to command the Eighth Army who was killed when his transport was shot down, opening the post to Montgomery

Educated at Harrow, he was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1915 and fought in France in the First World War, earning the nickname "Strafer" from the German slogan Gott strafe England. From 1940 he led the 7th Armoured Division's Support Group in the desert through the Italian invasion of Egypt and Operation Compass, and commanded Operation Brevity. He led the 7th Armoured Division in Operation Crusader and XIII Corps at Gazala in 1942. Appointed in August 1942 to succeed Auchinleck as commander of the Eighth Army, he was killed on 7 August when German fighters shot down his transport, and Montgomery took his place.

Also known as: William Henry Ewart Gott

Activities and affiliations

1915–1942

United Kingdom state institutionsCorps commander, Eighth ArmyMain
Military command

Career Timeline

1915Second lieutenant, King's Royal Rifle Corps
1940Commander, 7th Armoured Division Support Group
1941Commander, 7th Armoured Division: Operation Crusader
1942Commander, XIII Corps at Gazala; killed after appointment to the Eighth Army

Related historical events

1940.06.10–1943.05.13The North African CampaignCommander, XIII Corps · appointed to the Eighth ArmyHe led the 7th Armoured Division and XIII Corps from the start of the desert war; appointed to the Eighth Army in August 1942, he was killed when his transport was shot down, and Montgomery took his place.