Wavell, Supreme Commander, 1941-1943

by John Connell

Genres: World War II

317 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1969

About the author

John Connell, whose real name was John Henry Robertson, was born in 1909 in the West Indies to Scottish parents. He was educated at Loretto School in Scotland and Balliol College, Oxford. After graduation he joined the London Evening News as a reporter in 1932. He wrote several novels during the 1930s, the first being Lindesay. During his wartime service, Connell acted as Chief Military Censor in India, and directed the British propaganda campaign in the Middle East. In 1946, he married Ruth Epstein.

Following WW2, Connell wrote a number of military biographies. In 1950 he won a literary prize for his book W.E. Henley, and in 1956 contributed the booklet on Churchill to the Writer's and Their Work series. Connell's last two works were the biographies Auchinleck (1959), and Wavell (1964). Connell died in London in October 1965, before he could complete the second volume of Wavell.

Reviews

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that I found in a used bookshop. A brief account of his early life and then concentrates on his time as Commander in the middle east at the beginning of the second world war. He was given not only the Western Front in the middle east but East Africa, Syria, Libya, and then Greece. A great responsibility and the way he was harassed by Churchill's constant interference in everyday operations.

A very good study of this period. A little heavy on the exchanges of signals, which at times is hard to follow chronologically. Reasonable maps including the insides of the covers. A good 3-star book.

[Bob Mobley · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Connell’s biography of General Archibald Wavell is a superbly written study and examination of an individual who is not only a very successful soldier, but a first-class scholar. Many people think that Wavell was one of the best generals of the Second World War. His reputation was tarnished by falling out with Winston Churchill, which was easy for military leaders to do, and being removed from command just short of the victories that were achieved under Bernard Montgomery at El Alamein.

John Connell died before this biography as completed and his work was picked up and brought to a very successful conclusion by Michael Roberts, whose expertise as an historian and writer, added additional meaning and grace to this study of Wavell.

This biography has the added benefit of being more than just a military history. It is also a very compelling and insightful story of Wavell’s personal relations with a diverse group of World War II leaders and influential men: Chiang Kai-Shek, Nehru, General Joe Stilwell, Brigadier Ord Wingate, Joseph Stalin, and behind all of them, the continuing command and presence of Winston Churchill.

For me personally, I find that John Connell’s study of Wavell, Supreme Commander, is a superb examination of leadership and the qualities and behaviors that are necessary for an individual to be and become a successful leader. For this reason alone, I would recommend the book to any individual who wants to enhance and improve their ability to be persuasive and have individuals follow them willingly and enthusiastically into the tasks at hand and the directions necessary for success.

I think its relative and important to know that Michael Roberts, who completed this book after John Connell’s untimely death, was himself a Brigadier General, with a very successful military career. He is also the author of an excellent history of the Seventh Indian Division that fought during the Second World War in the Burma Campaign, and he is one of the joint authors of the British Official History of the War against Japan.