Fundo 95/63 - Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese fonds

Oliver William Hargreaves Leese (1894-1978) was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the British 8th Army during the Second World War. Born in London, England and educated at Ludgrove and Eton, Leese's military career began when he was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in August 1914. He received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for gallantry in 1916 at the age of 22. He took command of 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards in 1936, then moved on to India as chief instructor at the Staff College, Quetta. In 1940, as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the British Expeditionary Force, he played a key role in the evacuation of France. Promoted to Major-General in 1941, Leese formed and trained the Guards Armoured Division. The following year he commanded the Eighth Army in the Middle East as temporary Lieutenant-General, whereupon he led the breakthrough at Alamein and the advance to Tripoli. In December 1943. Leese succeeded Montgomery as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (G.O.C.-in-C.), Eighth Army and, following his victory at Cassino, was knighted on the battlefield by King George VI. Due to a falling out with General W.J. Slim and Lord Louis Mountbatten he was dismissed as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces, South-East Asia. He went on to become G.O.C.-in-C., Eastern Command but retired from the army in 1946. Leese at Cefn Coch, near Llanrhaedr, Wales.