Monday, August 07, 2006

8th Army organization in September and October 1941

After the 8th Army was created and a Headquarters formed, the corps were organized. First, the Western Desert Force reverted to its old designation: 13th Corps. Since Lt-General Noel Beresford-Peirse had been appointed to command in the Sudan, Lt-General Godwin-Austen became the corps commander. General Godwin-Austen had previously commanded the 12th African Division. The 30th Corps was created to be the corps in which armoured divisions would be assigned. The remnants of the 2nd Armoured Division were used to form the 30th Corps Headquarters. Lt-General Pope had been intended to command 30th Corps, but he and his senior staff had been killed in a air crash. In his place, Major-General Norrie was appointed as 30th Corps Commander. General Norrie had been the 1st Armoured Division commander. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.

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