William Gott
British Army general (1897-1942) · United Kingdom · On the map · Died at 44
Lieutenant-General William Henry Ewart Gott,, nicknamed "Strafer", was a senior British Army officer who fought during both the First and the Second World Wars, reaching the rank of lieutenant-general while serving with the British Eighth Army in the Western Desert and North Africa from 1940 to 1942.
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Brigadier Jock Campbell of the 7th Armoured Division driving his commanding officer, Major-General William Gott, pictured here between 1940 and 1942.
Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie (centre, with pipe) addressing other officers in North Africa, 31 May 1942; General Gott is second from right, directly to Ritchie's left
The grave of Lieutenant-General William Gott at the El Alamein cemetery. The wreath was laid by Squadron Leader Jimmy James and his son.Awards
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In August 1942, he was appointed as successor to General Claude Auchinleck as commander of the Eighth Army, but on the way to take up his command, his plane was shot down and he was killed. His death led to the appointment of Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery in his place.