William Gott: Difference between revisions
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'''William Henry Ewart "Strafer" Gott''', [[Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Military Cross|MC]] ([[August 13|13 August]] [[1897]] - [[August 7|7 August]] [[1942]]) was a [[British Army]] officer during both the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World Wars]], reaching the rank of [[ |
'''William Henry Ewart "Strafer" Gott''', [[Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Military Cross|MC]] ([[August 13|13 August]] [[1897]] - [[August 7|7 August]] [[1942]]) was a [[British Army]] officer during both the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World Wars]], reaching the rank of [[lieutenant general]] when serving in the [[British Eighth Army]]. |
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An officer in the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps]] (KRRC), Gott served with distinction with the [[British Expeditionary Force|BEF]] in [[France]] during [[World War I]]. |
An officer in the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps]] (KRRC), Gott served with distinction with the [[British Expeditionary Force|BEF]] in [[France]] during [[World War I]]. |
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Arriving in [[Egypt]] in [[1939]] as a |
Arriving in [[Egypt]] in [[1939]] as a lieutenant colonel commanding the 1st Battalion KRRC, he was successively General Staff Officer, Grade I (ranked lieutenant colonel), commander of the Support Group (Brigadier), and commanding officer (major general) of the famed [[British 7th Armoured Division|7th Armoured Division]] (the Desert Rats). Gott was promoted to lieutenant general, given command of [[British XIII Corps|XIII Corps]] in early [[1942]] and led that formation in the battles of Gazala and First Alamein. In August of that year prime minister [[Winston Churchill]] removed General Sir [[Claude Auchinleck]] as Commander-in-Chief Middle East and acting GOC Eighth Army. Gott's aggressive, somewhat impetuous personality, reflected in his nickname "Strafer", appealed to Churchill, and Gott was chosen to take over [[British Eighth Army|Eighth Army]], despite what Auchineck and [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|General Sir Alan Brooke]], the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff|CIGS]], saw as his shortcomings as a large-scale commander, highlighted by the confused see-saw of fighting before and during [[First Battle of El Alamein|First Alamein]]. Whatever his skills as an inspiring divisional leader, of 7th Armoured for example, he seemed unable to translate these into the strategic sphere where co-ordination and co-operation between and among various fighting elements is essential. Before he could take up his post, Gott was killed when his plane was shot down on the flight back to [[Cairo]]. Gott's replacement was Lieutenant General [[Bernard Montgomery]]. |
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[[Category:1897 births|Gott, William]] |
[[Category:1897 births|Gott, William]] |
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Revision as of 09:55, 27 July 2006
William Henry Ewart "Strafer" Gott, CB, CBE, DSO, MC (13 August 1897 - 7 August 1942) was a British Army officer during both the First and Second World Wars, reaching the rank of lieutenant general when serving in the British Eighth Army.
An officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC), Gott served with distinction with the BEF in France during World War I.
Arriving in Egypt in 1939 as a lieutenant colonel commanding the 1st Battalion KRRC, he was successively General Staff Officer, Grade I (ranked lieutenant colonel), commander of the Support Group (Brigadier), and commanding officer (major general) of the famed 7th Armoured Division (the Desert Rats). Gott was promoted to lieutenant general, given command of XIII Corps in early 1942 and led that formation in the battles of Gazala and First Alamein. In August of that year prime minister Winston Churchill removed General Sir Claude Auchinleck as Commander-in-Chief Middle East and acting GOC Eighth Army. Gott's aggressive, somewhat impetuous personality, reflected in his nickname "Strafer", appealed to Churchill, and Gott was chosen to take over Eighth Army, despite what Auchineck and General Sir Alan Brooke, the CIGS, saw as his shortcomings as a large-scale commander, highlighted by the confused see-saw of fighting before and during First Alamein. Whatever his skills as an inspiring divisional leader, of 7th Armoured for example, he seemed unable to translate these into the strategic sphere where co-ordination and co-operation between and among various fighting elements is essential. Before he could take up his post, Gott was killed when his plane was shot down on the flight back to Cairo. Gott's replacement was Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery.
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