Richard O'Connor

Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor (1889–1981) was a British Army General who commanded the Western Desert Force (WDF) in the early years of World War II. O'Connor was the field commander for Operation Compass, in which he and the WDF completely destoryed a much larger Italian army. This victory nearly drove the Axis from Africa entirely, and led Adolf Hitler to send the Deutsches Afrikakorps under Erwin Rommel, to try and reverse the situation.

Related Topics:
1889 - 1981 - British Army - General - Western Desert Force - World War II - Operation Compass - Italian - Axis - Africa - Adolf Hitler - Deutsches Afrikakorps - Erwin Rommel

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O'Connor was later captured and spent over two years in an Italian prisoner of war camp for senior officers. He was an avid escaper and made a number of attempts with General Sir Philip Neame and Lieutenant General Sir Adrian Carton De Wiart. He was eventually successful. O'Connor commanded the VIII Corps in Normandy in 1944 and later during Operation Market Garden. In 1945 he was general officer in command, Eastern Command in India, and then headed the North West Army in the closing days of British rule in the subcontinent. He held the highest level of knighthood in four different orders of chivalry.

Related Topics:
Prisoner of war camp - Senior officer - General - Sir - Philip Neame - Lieutenant General - Adrian Carton De Wiart - VIII Corps - Normandy - 1944 - Operation Market Garden - 1945 - Eastern Command - India - North West Army - British rule in the subcontinent - Knighthood - Orders of chivalry

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