Alan Cunningham

Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham, (1 May 1887 – 30 January 1983), was a senior officer of the British Army noted for his victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during the Second World War. He then commanded Eighth Army in the desert campaign, but was relieved of command during the Crusader battle against Erwin Rommel. Later he served as the seventh and last High Commissioner of Palestine. He was the younger brother of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope.

Early life and military career Cunningham was born on 1 May 1887 in Dublin, Ireland, the third son of Scottish Professor Daniel John Cunningham and his wife Elizabeth Cumming Browne. He was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich before taking a commission in the Royal Artillery in 1906. For two years after the war, he served as a staff officer in the Straits Settlements. He went on to have a number of regimental duty posts, including a tour in Egypt in 1925. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel whilst conducting the post of Chief Instructor at the Anti-Aircraft Wing at the Small Arms School in Netheravon, and was appointed Commanding Officer of 1st Medium Brigade Royal Artillery in Portsmouth in 1935.

After graduating from the Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1925, followed by the Imperial Defence College in 1937, Cunningham was appointed as the Commander, Royal Artillery of the 1st Infantry Division. Cunningham's offensive started with the Battle of the Juba prior to which he issued his famous order of the day 'Hit them. Hit them hard and hit them again'. Cunningham continued to lead his forces in mopping-up operations against the 40,000 Italian troops in the Galla-Sidamo region. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and awarded another Mention in Dispatches for his actions in East Africa.

Post-war

After the war, Cunningham, who was promoted to general on 30 October 1945, returned to the Middle East as High Commissioner of Palestine; he served in the position from 1945 to 1948.

Orders and decorations Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1948) Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (30 May 1941; Companion 1941) Distinguished Service Order (1918) Military Cross (1915) 1914 Star with Clasp Mentioned in Despatches (1 January 1916, 18 May 1917 and 20 May 1918; 6 January 1944) British War Medal Victory Medal Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, 1st class (28 October 1941) Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States, 1945) Order of the Crown, 1st class (Belgium, 1950) Order of Menelik II, 1st class (Ethiopia, 1954)