Sir Claude Auchinleck GCB GCIE CSI DSO OBE

Field Marshal Sir Claude John Eyre Auchinleck GCB GCIE CSI DSO OBE was born on 21 June 1884 in Aldershot where his father's regiment was serving. He died in Marrakesh on 23 March 1981 aged 96.

The Auchinlecks were an Ulster-Scots family from County Fermanagh. His nephew, Lieutenant D H Auchinleck, served with the 1st Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers during the Boer War, and was killed in the Retreat from Mons 1914 with the 2nd Inniskillings.

“The Auk”, as he was affectionately known, was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Indian Army in January 1903 and later joined 62nd Punjabis. During the First World War he served with his regiment in the Middle East, Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia. During the Second World War he held many senior appointments in Norway, Britain, North Africa and India.

Having been relieved of command of the Middle East in 1942 he succeeded Field Marshal Wavell as Commander in Chief of the Indian Army in the following year, where he played a vital part in the organization of supply, maintenance and training for General Slim's Fourteenth Army in Burma. He held this post until the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

In 1941 he was appointed Colonel of The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in succession to Lieutenant General Sir Travers Clarke and held the appointment until 1947 when he handed over to Brigadier Eric Moore. For much of the time of his Colonelcy of the Inniskillings, the 1st Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was stationed in India.