Claude John Eyre Auchinleck Biography and Timeline

Invasion of Norway

Commander of British forces during the Norwegian campaign

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Narvik

Takes command of reorganised British land forces in northern Norway.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Narvik Command

Takes command of reorganised British land forces in northern Norway.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Narvik Command

Auchinleck takes command of reorganised British land forces in the Narvik area.

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Alphabet

Prepares British land forces for withdrawal from the Narvik area.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Battle of Narvik

Allied command supports the successful recapture of the town.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Capture of Narvik

Allied command supports the successful recapture of Narvik.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Capture of Narvik

Auchinleck's Allied command supports the successful recapture of Narvik before the wider Allied evacuation.

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Alphabet

Manages withdrawal arrangements while maintaining pressure on German forces.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Battle of Narvik

Oversees withdrawal of British land forces from northern Norway.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Operation Alphabet

Oversees withdrawal of British land forces during the evacuation.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1940-1940

Invasion of Norway

Final day of the evacuation of the British forces from Norway

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Role range: 1939-1945

North Africa

States he will not be able to attack Rommel until mid November

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Iran

British & Soviet troops invade Iran

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Iran

British troops complete the occupation of the Abadan oilfields in Iran

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Iran

A Government more sympathetic had been formed & asks the Allies for a cease-fire

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Cyrenaica

Alan Cunningham is charged with relieving Tobruk & the re-conquest of Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945

North Africa

Alan Cunningham is charged with relieving Tobruk & the re-conquest of Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945

Siege of Cyrenaica

Alan Cunningham is charged with relieving Tobruk & the re-conquest of Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945

Siege of Tobruk

Charged with carrying out operation Crusader to relieve Tobruk & re-capture Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Iran

The Allies demand that Iran expel all Axis Nationals within 48 hrs, an impossible task

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Iran

Russian & British troops occupy Tehran

Role range: 1939-1945

Siege of Tehran

Russian & British troops occupy Tehran

Role range: 1939-1945

Offensive

The Australian Brigade in Tobruk is relieved by British troops

Role range: 1939-1945

Crusader

Postpones Operation Crusader 1 week to enable the South Africa Division more training

Role range: 1939-1945

Crusader

Operation Crusader, to relieve, Tobruk is launched

Role range: 1939-1945

Siege of Tobruk

Erwin Rommel is forced to abandon his siege of Tobruk

Role range: 1939-1945

Commander of Eighth Army

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army

Field Marshal

Appointed Commander in Chief

Commander of Eighth Army

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army, after its defeat by Rommel at Gazala

Role range: 1939-1945

Crusader

Mounts the successful Crusader Offensive to relieve Tobruk November

Role range: 1939-1945

Field Marshal

Appointed Commander in Chief

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Alamein, 1st

Auchinleck halts Rommel's advance at the First Battle of El Alamein, gaining time for the defence of Egypt.

Role range: 1939-1945

Battle of Alamein, 1st

The First Battle of El Alamein ends with the Axis advance checked and the Allied line intact.

Role range: 1939-1945

Field Marshal

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army after the fall of Tobruk

Field Marshal

Appointed Commander of the Eighth Army after the fall of Tobruk

Role range: 1939-1945

Meeting

Churchill visits Auchinleck at the Eighth Army HQ in the Egyptian desert. Agrees to appoint a new Commander for the Eighth Army. Advised he cannot be C-in-C Middle East & Command the Eighth Army

Role range: 1939-1945

Dismissal

Advised that he is being relieved of his command of the Eighth Army

Role range: 1939-1945