Henry Maitland Wilson Biography and Timeline

Birth of Henry Maitland Wilson

Birth of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson

Captain

Appointed Captain

Captain

Appointed Adjutant of the Oxford OTC

Major General

Appointed Major General

GOC

Appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) British Troops in Egypt

Lieutenant

Commands the forces in Egypt

GOC

Appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) British Troops in Egypt

Role range: 1939-1945

Lieutenant

Commands the forces in Egypt

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1939-1941

Invasion of Libya

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini declares war. Immediately Wilson's forces invade Libya

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Libya

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Capture of Sidi Barrani

The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Egypt

The Italian forces invade Egypt in September 1940, and advance some 60 miles (97 km) to occupy Sidi Barrani

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Egypt

Wilson launches Operation Compass, the strategy is outstandingly successful and very quickly the Italian forces are cut in half

Role range: 1939-1945

Operation Compass

Wilson launches Operation Compass, the strategy is outstandingly successful and very quickly the Italian forces are cut in half

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Libya

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Governor

After the capture of Tobruk, Wilson is recalled to Cairo where he was offered and accepted the position of Military Governor of Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Greece

Meets Wavell, Eden and Dill who are seeking a senior commander to lead reinforcements to Greece

Role range: 1939-1945

Commonwealth

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Greece

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Free French

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

Role range: 1939-1945

GOC

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Lebanon

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Invasion of Syria

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

Role range: 1939-1945

Vichy Government

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

Role range: 1939-1944

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander of Cyrenaica

Commander in Chief

Appointed to commands the forces in Palestine & Transjordan. Appointed Military Governor of forces in Greece

Commander in Chief

Governs forces in Cyrenaica

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1941

Commander in Chief

Military Governor of forces in Greece. Appointed to commands the forces in Palestine & Transjordan

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1941-1941

Commander in Chief

Commands forces in Persia & Iraq

Commander in Chief

Commands forces in Persia & Iraq

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1943

Suez Canal

Commands Middle East forces after the North African campaign has secured Egypt and the Suez Canal.

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1943-1944

Commander in Chief

Commands forces in the middle east

Commander in Chief

Commands forces in the middle east

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1943-1944

Supreme Allied Commander

Appointed Field Marshal. Appointed Commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean

Supreme Allied Commander

Appointed Field Marshal. Appointed Commander of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1944-1944

Chief of Staff

Appointed in Washington

Death of Henry Maitland Wilson

Death of Henry Maitland Wilson, 1st Baron Wilson