Evening star., 1950-05-24
WuveII
Continued From First PageD

Of warfare-opposed by many
army and naval officers of the
old school-that he had advo-
Gated as early as 1885.
But the fortunes of war all
are not glory. =
The Nazis were sweeping into
Greece. Gen. Wavell, miscalcu-
lating on the possibility of an
enemy counterattack in Africa,
sent reinforcements there. Mean
time, Germany sent assistance to
the Italians and Gen. Wavell's
depleted forces in Africa were
driven out.
He took the blame.
The Australians had borne the
brunt of the disastrous Greek de-
fenses and protested his strategy.
Transferred to India.
The result was that on July 2,
1941, Gen. Wavell was transferred
to military commander in India.
But in a few months, Gen.
Wavell bounced back from his
African setback. AS commander
of British forces, the British
Russian thrust through Iran
succeeded with the same clock
like precision of his Libyan drive.
1t assured a route for Allied
supplies to Russia through Iran
to Russia's Caspian Sea and Cau-
casus areas.
Meantime, the war clouds broke
over the Far East. Gen. Wavell,
later made a marshal, took COM
mand of the Allied forces in the
Southwest Pacific until Allied
strategy could be mapped.
Handicapped by meager forces
and equipment, he fought bravely
against the onrushing Japs. Sing
apore fell. The Japanese sue
ceSses were like the early Nazi
victories in Europe, but he per-
formed valuable service until the
Allies plans and equipment began
to take shape.
After the war President Tru-
man awarded him the Legion of
Merit for his efforts there.
In the meantime, a new prob
lem arose to add to Britain's war
time difficulties. India's millions
were seething with political ac-
tivity.
A strong viceroy was needed
and on June 10, 1943. Marshal
Wavell was named.
Knew Indian Problems.
Early in his military career, he
had fought on India's frontiers
and he knew the people and the
political problems the Empire
faced there. He remained as vice.
roy until 1947.
Recalled by the Labor govern
ment. with which he differed on
questions of Indian policy, the
earl had time to pursue interests
normally not associated with a
hard-bitten field marshal. A lover
of poetry, he edited an anthology
of verse, "Other Mems Flowers"
which was widely acclaimed.
| After his return he was elected
governor of the Shakespeare
Memorial Theater at Stratford-
on-Avon, post he found most
congenial. But his primary in
terest remained in the military
field.
Born at Colchester.
Earl Wavell was born May
S, 1883, in Colchester, England.
In 1915 he married Eugene Marie,
daughter of Col. Owen Quirk. and
to this union were born three
daughters and one son.
Earl Wavell had attended
the Royal Military College at
Sandhurst and was the third sue
cessive general in three Wavell
generations.
After his graduation from Sand
hurst, he became an officer in the
famed Black Watch Regiment and
won a medal for valor in fighting
Beers under Maj. Gen. A. G.
Wavell, his dad.
He was in command of British
forces in Palestine and Trans
jordan when World War II broke
in 1889.
IT was as a close friend of the
fabulous Lawrence of Arabia and
as an aide to Field Marshal Lord
Edmund Allenby in Palestine and
Syria that he learned the tactics
which made him such a brilliant
desert campaigner.
He was an officer in World War
I when he lost the sight of his left
eye.
His many honors included
Knight Grand Cross of the Bath,
Knight Grand Commander of the
Star of India, Knight Grand Com
mander of the Indian Empire,
Knight Commander of the Bath,
Companion of the Bath. Compan-
ion of st. Michael and st. George,
Military Cross and Order of St.
Vladimir and st. StaniSlas (Rus-
siam.
He was created an Earl on Feb
ruary 20, 1947. He became a
Viscount in 1943. His son, Viscount
Keren, born in 1916, will succeed
to his earldom.