Auchinleck: The Lonely Soldier [Hardcover]

Philip Warner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 1981

A classic, highly readable biography of one of Britain's finest Second World War generals. Raised in near poverty, Field-Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck became the first English commander of World War II to defeat a German general in battle: Rommel in the first Alamein in 1942. Yet this victory was dismissed and is now nearly forgotten. This complex "soldier's soldier" comes vividly to life, reclaimed for posterity, in this portrait, including his controversial role in the turbulent days of India's partition.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Philip Warner served in the Far East and was a senior lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He is the author of many books, including biographies of Kitchener, Haig and Horrocks and histories of the First and Second World Wars. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ashford, Buchan & Enright (November 18, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 090767500X
• ISBN-13: 978-0907675006
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,866,547 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An insightful view of an under-appreciated WWII general, November 22, 2010

By 

Jonathan Lupton (Little Rock , AR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Auchinleck: The Lonely Soldier (Hardcover)

Was Auchinleck the likable but indecisive loser of Gazala, or was he the true "victor of Alamein" who laid the groundwork for Montgomery's better-publicized battle three months later? Author Philip Warner definitely takes the second view.

While acknowledging some of "the Auk's" faults, Warner makes the case for his strong leadership qualities and sound battlefield judgment. It is no accident that Auchinleck was the first British general to beat Rommel in the Western Desert, in the Crusader battles and then again in a desperate stand at 1st Alamein. Despite his detractors' attempts to make him appear overly defensive-minded, Auchinleck was in reality bold and aggressive almost to a fault. His downfall probably owed to Churchill's inability to understand a man of the Auk's basic integrity, as well as to Auchinleck's own inability - or unwillingness - to engage in political and public-image games.

While this biography puts its main emphasis on the Auk's World War II experiences, it includes adequate insight into his impoverished early family life, his struggle to obtain a military education, and early, formative experiences in the Indian Army. In World War I he served in Mesopotamia, where he learned the horrors of modern war, yet avoided the stultifying positional fighting that dulled a generation of British generals in France and Flanders. After World War II, Auchinleck served as the Indian Army's last commander, witnessing but unable to stop the rapid breakup of that army as British India crumbled into the holocaust of Partition.

In places this title gives detailed insights into the desert war in North Africa, explaining how the Crusader tank's problems prevented full exploitation of the Operation Crusader victory. It also provides understanding of a leader on whose shoulders rested a huge share of Britain's war effort through some of the toughest times from mid-1941 through August, 1942. The author is objective enough to delve into the charges sometimes leveled against Auchinleck, particularly his difficulties in picking capable subordinates. Philip Warner contends that, when Auchinleck unfairly sacked a general in the Norway campaign it may have plagued his conscience, making it harder to dismiss under-performing generals in later actions. Yet the Auk faced huge problems, including the British Empire's strategic over-stretch, and an army tactically inferior to its German counterpart. And still he drubbed Rommel twice, earning that officer's own admiration.

You must understand Auchinleck to fully appreciate the desert war, since he commanded during the see-saw fighting that saw two of the three largest desert battles. While it lacks some of the narrative sweep of the very best biographies, this title nonetheless gives thoughtful insight into the mind and life of one of Britain's most important World War II generals.

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done Biography of a forgotten General, June 4, 2011

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Gk Los Angeles - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Auchinleck: The Lonely Soldier (Hardcover)

Claude Auchinleck was one of the few "Good" British Generals of WWII. He is,unfortunately, somewhat of a forgotten figure. Not one to trumpet himself, he lost out in the public relations end of the war to lesser figures such as Montgomery. But it was Auchinleck's strategy that made possible the victory in North Africa. It was his generalship that beat back the Germans from Egypt. It was he who as Commander in Chief of forces in India established the system to beat back the danger of a Japanese invasion of British India.

One cannot help but to have sympathy with the man. He was not on the "favorites" list of Churchill. He was not wealthy and he had more than his share of loss. But without his great generalship, the world could have been overtaken by the evil of the Axis. Thus we all owe him a debt.

This is a good read and I do recommend it. That being said, it is not as good a book of History as some on the subject of the WWII. Further, the author did not go into as much depth as I would have liked on certain biographical details of Auchinleck's personality. Thus while not perfect as either a book of history or a biography, it is a very good combination of the two fields and thus is a recommended read.