Oliver Leese

Sir Oliver Leese (27 October, 1894 - 22 January 1978) was a British general during World War II.

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Leese attended Eton College and when the First World War broke out he enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. He was wounded during the Somme offensive in 1914. After the war he remained in the army and was eventually promoted to Major General during the Second World War and was given command of the 15th (Scottish) Division in 1941. He also formed the Guards Armoured Division and took command of that. Later that year he fought in North Africa during the battles against Rommel's Afrika Korps and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and given command of XXX Corps.

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When Montgomery left the Eighth Army in 1943 to prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy Leese was appointed as his successor.

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In 1944 he was sent to Burma as the British Commander in Chief of Allied Land Forces SE Asia. He was eventually relieved of his command and was replaced by William Slim. He retired from the army in 1946.

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