Alanbrooke, Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount
Alanbrooke 1883-1963.
British army officer, chief of staff in World
War II and largely responsible for the
strategy that led to the German defeat. He
was born in Ireland. He served in the
artillery in World War I, and in World War
II, as commander of the 2nd Corps 1939-40,
did much to aid the extrication of the
British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. He
was commander in chief of the Home Forces
1940-41 and chief of the Imperial General
Staff 1941-46. He became a field marshal in
1944, was created a baron 1945 and viscount
1946.