Birth of Henry Maitland Wilson5 September 1881
Birth of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson
Historical person
Henry Maitland Wilson Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Henry Maitland Wilson, based on 37 World History Database records associated with Great Britain.
37 records1881–196421 events4 places
Chronological biography
1881
1908
Captain1908
Appointed Captain
1911
Captain1911
Appointed Adjutant of the Oxford OTC
1935
Major General1935
Appointed Major General
1939
GOC1939
Appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) British Troops in Egypt
GOC1939
Appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) British Troops in Egypt
Lieutenant1939
Commands the forces in Egypt
Lieutenant1939
Commands the forces in Egypt
1940
Invasion of Libya10 June 1940
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declares war. Immediately Wilson's forces invade Libya
Invasion of Libya17 June 1940
Wilson's advance is reversed when France sought an armistice and the Italians where able to move their forces from the Tunisian border in the West and reinforce with 4 divisions those that opposed Wilson in the East
Capture of Sidi BarraniSeptember 1940
The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani
Invasion of EgyptSeptember 1940
The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani
Invasion of LibyaDecember 1940
Wilson oversaw the first stages of the campaign during which the British Army secured its first field victories of the war and advanced to the border with Libya
Invasion of Egypt7 December 1940
Wilson launches Operation Compass, the strategy is outstandingly successful and very quickly the Italian forces are cut in half
Operation Compass7 December 1940
Wilson launches Operation Compass, the strategy is outstandingly successful and very quickly the Italian forces are cut in half
1941
Commander in Chief1941
Appointed Commander of Cyrenaica
Commander in Chief1941
Appointed to commands the forces in Palestine & Transjordan. Appointed Military Governor of forces in Greece
Commander in Chief1941
Governs forces in Cyrenaica
Commander in Chief1941
Military Governor of forces in Greece. Appointed to commands the forces in Palestine & Transjordan
GovernorJanuary 1941
After the capture of Tobruk, Wilson is recalled to Cairo where he was offered and accepted the position of Military Governor of Cyrenaica
Invasion of Greece22 February 1941
Meets Wavell, Eden and Dill who are seeking a senior commander to lead reinforcements to Greece
CommonwealthApril 1941
Wilson is appointed to lead a Commonwealth expeditionary force of two infantry divisions and an armoured brigade to help Greece resist Italy and the subsequent German invasion in April 1941
Invasion of GreeceApril 1941
Wilson is forced to make a tactical withdrawal to Crete. Wilson is appointed to lead a Commonwealth expeditionary force of two infantry divisions and an armoured brigade to help Greece resist Italy and the subsequent German invasion in April 1941
Free FrenchMay 1941
Wilson is appointed GOC Palestine and Trans Jordan and oversaw the successful Syria campaign, in which predominantly Australian, British, Indian, and Free French forces overcame Vichy French forces in fierce fighting
GOCMay 1941
Wilson is appointed GOC Palestine and Trans Jordan and oversaw the successful Syria campaign, in which predominantly Australian, British, Indian, and Free French forces overcame Vichy French forces in fierce fighting
Invasion of LebanonMay 1941
Wilson is appointed GOC Palestine and Trans Jordan and oversaw the successful Syria campaign, in which predominantly Australian, British, Indian, and Free French forces overcame Vichy French forces in fierce fighting
Invasion of SyriaMay 1941
Wilson is appointed GOC Palestine and Trans Jordan and oversaw the successful Syria campaign, in which predominantly Australian, British, Indian, and Free French forces overcame Vichy French forces in fierce fighting
Vichy GovernmentMay 1941
Wilson is appointed GOC Palestine and Trans Jordan and oversaw the successful Syria campaign, in which predominantly Australian, British, Indian, and Free French forces overcame Vichy French forces in fierce fighting
1942
Commander in Chief1942
Commands forces in Persia & Iraq
Commander in Chief1942
Commands forces in Persia & Iraq
1943
Commander in Chief1943
Commands forces in the middle east
Commander in Chief1943
Commands forces in the middle east
Suez CanalMay 1943
Commands Middle East forces after the North African campaign has secured Egypt and the Suez Canal.
1944
Supreme Allied Commander1944
Appointed Field Marshal. Appointed Commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean
Supreme Allied Commander1944
Appointed Field Marshal. Appointed Commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean
1945
Chief of Staff1945
Appointed in Washington
1964
Death of Henry Maitland Wilson31 December 1964
Death of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson
Titles and roles
Baron · Baron · Captain · Baron · Chief of Staff · Baron · Commander in Chief · Baron · GOC · Baron · Lieutenant General · Baron · Major General · Baron · Supreme Allied Commander · General · Commander in Chief Middle East
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.