ALANBROOKE (OF BROOKEBOROUGH), ALAN FRANCIS BROOKE, ...

born July 23, 1883, Bagnres-de-Bigorre, Fr. died June 17, 1963, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, Eng. Lord Alanbrooke British field marshal and chief of the Imperial General Staff during World War II. Educated in France and at the Royal Military Academy (Woolwich), he served in World War I. Between the world wars he distinguished himself in staff duties and was in charge of military training (193637). Brooke began service in World War II as commander of a corps in France; after the retreat to Dunkirk, he was responsible for covering the evacuation (May 26June 4, 1940). In July he took command of the home forces until promoted to chief of staff in December 1941. He established good relations with the U.S. forces and exercised a strong influence on Allied strategy. Alanbrooke's diaries formed the basis for Sir Arthur Bryant's Turn of the Tide (1957) and Triumph in the West (1959), which provoked controversy because of their criticism of General Dwight D. Eisenhower's ability as a military commander and of U.S. strategy in general. For his military services Alanbrooke was created a baron in 1945 and viscount in 1946.