William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim

William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC (6 August 1897 – 14 December 1970), British military commander and 13th Governor-General of Australia, was born near Bristol, Gloucestershire. At the outbreak of World War I, Slim was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He was badly wounded at Gallipoli, and later served in France and Mesopotamia.

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6 August - 1897 - 14 December - 1970 - Governor-General of Australia - Bristol - Gloucestershire - World War I - Royal Warwickshire Regiment - Gallipoli - France - Mesopotamia

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In 1919 Slim was given the rank of captain in the British Indian Army, in which he served with Gurkha regiments until 1934. He taught at Camberley Military College from 1934 to 1937. In 1939 he was promoted to brigadier and became head of the Senior Officers' School at Belgaum, India.

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1919 - British Indian Army - Gurkha - 1934 - Camberley Military College - 1937 - 1939 - Belgaum - India

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On the outbreak of the World War II Slim was given command of the Indian 10th Brigade and sent to Sudan, from where he took part in the East African Campaign helping to liberate Ethiopia from the Italians. He was wounded again in Eritrea. He then joined the staff of General Archibald Wavell in the Middle East Command. Promoted to Major-General, he commanded British forces in the Middle East Campaign commanding the Indian 10th Infantry Division in the Syria-Lebanon campaign and the invasion of Persia.

Related Topics:
World War II - Indian 10th Brigade - Sudan - East African Campaign - Ethiopia - Italians - Eritrea - Archibald Wavell - Middle East Command - Middle East Campaign - Indian 10th Infantry Division - Syria-Lebanon campaign - Persia

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