With Alex at War: From the Irrawaddy to the Po, 1941-1945

Infantry Magazine, Spring, 2002 by Harold E. Lieutenant Colonel Raugh, Jr.

With Alex at War: From the Irrawaddy to the Po, 1941-1945. By Rupert Clarke. Leo Cooper, 2000. 242 Pages. $30.00).

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Harold E. Raugh, Jr., U.S. Army, Retired.

"'General Alex' or 'The Chief,' as we all knew him," wrote Rupert Clarke about British Army General Sir Harold Alexander, "was a man in a million." To be sure, Field Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis, as he later became known, was one of the outstanding British military commanders of the 20th century. Professional, optimistic, and self-confident, "Alex" played a significant role in virtually every theater where British troops fought during the Second World War.

Clarke served as aide-dc-camp and personal assistant to Alexander from April 1941 to early 1945, and recorded in this book his interesting and insightful observations of and experiences with Alexander. In a short preface, the author chronicles the early life of Alexander from his birth in 1891 until 1941. He was commissioned in the British Army in 1911 and during World War I commanded in frontline action at every echelon from platoon to brigade. Alexander emerged from the crucible of combat with an enhanced reputation for courage, sound leadership, and imperturbability.

When Clarke reported for duty with him in April 1941, Alexander had already commanded a division in France (and the rearguard at Dunkirk) and subsequently a corps, and was serving as General Officer Commanding Southern Command. Alexander's mission was to prepare defenses to thwart a possible German invasion of England. Two months after the Japanese attack in December 1941, Alexander became Commander-in-Chief, Burma. It was virtually impossible to halt the Japanese onslaught and save Burma. Only by conducting a difficult retreat--the longest retreat in the history of the British Army--was Alexander able to save his force.

Although the defeats of Dunkirk and Burma would have ruined the career of an ordinary general, Alexander became Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, shortly after returning to England in July 1942. Fighting against Rommel, Alexander accomplished his mission of clearing North Africa of enemy forces by May 1943. Alexander then commanded the 15th Army Group during the invasion of Sicily, then became commander-in-chief of the polyglot Allied armies in Italy during the difficult advance up the well-defended peninsula. The apex of Alexander's military career was the capture of Rome on 4 June 1944, for which he received his field marshal's baton. On 12 December 1944, Alexander was appointed Supreme Commander, Mediterranean, and the following month Clarke returned to regimental duty. After the success of Alexander's Po offensive and the capture of a million German prisoners, Alexander, as narrated by Clarke, accepted the first unconditional surrender signed by the Germans on 29 April 1945.

This enthralling, easy-to-read book is lavishly illustrated, with more than 70 photographs of Alexander spread throughout the text. There are five excellent appendices, including the delightful "Alex: Family Man," which includes copies of letters Alexander wrote to his family and illustrated with drawings and cartoons.

Clarke's memoirs open a unique window, hitherto closed, on Alexander's generalship, and more importantly, on Alexander the man. The image that emerges is of a man with great inner strength, character, integrity, and concern for the welfare of his soldiers, and a superb fighting soldier.