Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis: Difference between revisions
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Between the wars Alexander led the Baltic Landwehr in [[Latvia]] during the [[Russian Civil War]] and served in [[Turkey]] and [[Gibraltar]] before returning to England and the Staff College at [[Camberley]] and the Imperial Defence College. On [[14 October]] [[1931]], he married [[Margaret Alexander, Countess Alexander of Tunis|Lady Margaret Bingham]], second daughter of the [[George Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan|5th Earl of Lucan]]. In [[1937]] he was promoted to [[Major-General]] and joined the [[British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) in France in 1939. |
Between the wars Alexander led the Baltic Landwehr in [[Latvia]] during the [[Russian Civil War]] and served in [[Turkey]] and [[Gibraltar]] before returning to England and the Staff College at [[Camberley]] and the Imperial Defence College. On [[14 October]] [[1931]], he married [[Margaret Alexander, Countess Alexander of Tunis|Lady Margaret Bingham]], second daughter of the [[George Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan|5th Earl of Lucan]]. In [[1937]] he was promoted to [[Major-General]] and joined the [[British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) in France in 1939. |
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He was instrumental in controlling the retreat of the BEF to [[Battle of Dunkirk|Dunkirk]], and was the last British soldier to leave. After that he was promoted and sent to [[Burma]] at the beginning of that disaster. In August [[1942]] [[Winston Churchill]] sent him, as Commander in Chief Middle East, and General [[Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein|Bernard Montgomery]] as Commander Eighth Army, to North Africa to replace General [[Claude Auchinleck|Claude Auchinleck]] who had held both positions. He presided over Montgomery's victory at the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]]. After the Anglo-American forces from ''[[Operation Torch|Torch]]'' and the [[British Eighth Army|Eighth Army]] met in [[Tunisia]] in January [[1943]], he became deputy to [[Dwight Eisenhower]] and Supreme Allied Commander of [[Allied Armies in Italy]]. He was Eisenhower's preference to command [[Battle of Normandy|D-Day]] but Churchill pressured to keep him in [[Italy]]. An American general, [[Mark Wayne Clark|Mark Clark]], despite being ordered not to by Alexander, captured [[Rome]] in [[1944]] thereby allowing the bulk of the German forces to escape northwards. He received the German surrender in Italy on [[29 April]] [[1945]]. |
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Sir Harold Alexander was created '''Viscount Alexander of Tunis''', of Errigal in the County of Donegal, in [[1946]] for his leadership in North Africa and Italy. In December 1946 he was made a [[Knight of the Garter]] and was created '''Baron Rideau''', of Ottawa and of Castle Derg in the County of Tyrone, and '''Earl Alexander of Tunis''' in [[1952]]. |
Sir Harold Alexander was created '''Viscount Alexander of Tunis''', of Errigal in the County of Donegal, in [[1946]] for his leadership in North Africa and Italy. In December 1946 he was made a [[Knight of the Garter]] and was created '''Baron Rideau''', of Ottawa and of Castle Derg in the County of Tyrone, and '''Earl Alexander of Tunis''' in [[1952]]. |
Revision as of 14:55, 1 March 2006
The Right Honourable Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, KG, GCB, GCMG, CSI, GCVO, DSO, MC, PC (10 December 1891–16 June 1969) was a British military commander and Field Marshal, notably during the Second World War as the commander of the 15th Army Group. He later served as the last British Governor General of Canada.
Rank: | 17th Governor General of Canada |
Term of Office: | April 12, 1946 - February 28, 1952 |
Predecessor: | The Earl of Athlone |
Successor: | Vincent Massey |
Birth: | December 10, 1891 |
Place of Birth: | London, England |
Death: | June 16, 1969 |
Spouse: | Lady Margaret Alexander |
Profession: | Officer |
Religion: | Anglican |
Military career
The third son of the 4th Earl of Caledon and the former Lady Elizabeth Graham-Toler, a daughter of the 3rd Earl of Norbury, he was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1911. During the First World War he served on the Western Front and was wounded twice. He received the Military Cross in 1915, the Distinguished Service Order in 1916, and the Legion of Honour, and by 1918 was a Brigadier.
Between the wars Alexander led the Baltic Landwehr in Latvia during the Russian Civil War and served in Turkey and Gibraltar before returning to England and the Staff College at Camberley and the Imperial Defence College. On 14 October 1931, he married Lady Margaret Bingham, second daughter of the 5th Earl of Lucan. In 1937 he was promoted to Major-General and joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in 1939.
He was instrumental in controlling the retreat of the BEF to Dunkirk, and was the last British soldier to leave. After that he was promoted and sent to Burma at the beginning of that disaster. In August 1942 Winston Churchill sent him, as Commander in Chief Middle East, and General Bernard Montgomery as Commander Eighth Army, to North Africa to replace General Claude Auchinleck who had held both positions. He presided over Montgomery's victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein. After the Anglo-American forces from Torch and the Eighth Army met in Tunisia in January 1943, he became deputy to Dwight Eisenhower and Supreme Allied Commander of Allied Armies in Italy. He was Eisenhower's preference to command D-Day but Churchill pressured to keep him in Italy. An American general, Mark Clark, despite being ordered not to by Alexander, captured Rome in 1944 thereby allowing the bulk of the German forces to escape northwards. He received the German surrender in Italy on 29 April 1945.
Sir Harold Alexander was created Viscount Alexander of Tunis, of Errigal in the County of Donegal, in 1946 for his leadership in North Africa and Italy. In December 1946 he was made a Knight of the Garter and was created Baron Rideau, of Ottawa and of Castle Derg in the County of Tyrone, and Earl Alexander of Tunis in 1952.
Governor General of Canada
After the war Alexander was Governor General of Canada (1946-1952), and was a popular choice among the Canadian population. In addition to his reputation for military genius, Lord Alexander of Tunis had a charismatic gift for making friends and communicating with people. This made him a popular and successful Governor General. He took his duties seriously – indeed, when he was asked to kick the opening ball in the 1946 Grey Cup final, he spent a number of early mornings practising.
He saw his role as a vital link between Canadians and their head of State, and was eager to convey that message wherever he went. He travelled Canada extensively, eventually logging more than 184,000 miles during his five years as Governor General.
On his first major visit to western Canada, he was presented on 13 July 1946 with a totem pole made by Kwakiutl carver Mungo Martin, to mark his installation as an Honorary Chief of the Kwakiutl, the first white man to be so honoured. The totem pole remains a popular attraction on the front lawn of Rideau Hall. During a later visit in 1950, he was made Chief Eagle Head of the Blackfoot Indians.
Lord Alexander of Tunis's term — the post-WWII years — was an era of change for Canada. The post-war economy boomed in Canada, and a new prosperity began. In Letters Patent of 1947, King George VI gave the Governor General all of His Majesty's powers and authorities in respect of Canada. The document continues to be the source of the Governor General's powers today. In 1949, at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference, the decision was made to use the term "member of the Commonwealth" instead of "Dominion".
That same year, Newfoundland entered Confederation, and Lord Alexander of Tunis visited the new province that summer. But by 1950, Canada was once again embroiled in war, as Canadian Forces fought in Korea against Communist North Korea and the People's Republic of China. Alexander visited the troops heading overseas to give them his personal encouragement.
Lord Alexander of Tunis hosted various dignitaries, including Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, who came to Canada for a Royal Tour in October 1951, less than two years before the Princess would become Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada. Lord and Lady Alexander of Tunis hosted a square dancing party which the Princess and the Duke attended. Alexander also travelled abroad on official trips, visiting President Truman in the United States in 1947, and paying a State visit to Brazil in June 1948.
Generally, though, Lord and Lady Alexander of Tunis led an informal lifestyle. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, golf, ice hockey and rugby. Fond of the outdoors, he enjoyed attending the harvest of maple syrup in Ontario and Quebec, and personally supervised the tapping of the maple trees on the grounds of Rideau Hall. He was also a passionate painter, and in addition to setting up a studio for himself, in the former dairy which still stands today at Rideau Hall, he organised art classes at the National Gallery of Canada. Lady Alexander of Tunis became an expert weaver while in Canada, and had two looms in her study.
Alexander encouraged education in Canada. Many Canadian universities gave him honorary degrees, and he was also appointed an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Harvard and Princeton Universities in the United States.
Later career
In early 1952, after his term was extended twice, Lord Alexander left the office of Governor General, after Sir Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, asked him to return to London to take the post of Minister of Defence. He was temporarily replaced by an administrator (Chief Justice Thibaudeau Rinfret) prior to the appointment of diplomat Vincent Massey as the new Governor General.
Lord Alexander served as Minister of Defence until 1954, at which point he retired from politics.
Canada remained a favourite second home of the Alexanders, and they returned often to visit family and friends.
Lord Alexander of Tunis died in 1969. His funeral was held on 24 June 1969 at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, and his remains are buried in the churchyard of Ridge, near Tyttenhanger, his family's Hertfordshire home. Lady Alexander died in 1977.
Reference
Some text adapted from http://www.gg.ca
- 1891 births
- 1969 deaths
- British Field Marshals
- British World War II people
- Earls in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
- Governors General of Canada
- Knights Grand Cross of St Michael and St George
- Knights Grand Cross of the Bath
- Knights of the Garter
- Legion of Honor recipients
- Members of the Order of Merit
- Members of the Privy Council
- Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
- Old Harrovians
- Companions of the Star of India
- Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Knights of Justice of St John