British Eighth Army

The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. It was a British formation, always commanded by British officers, however its personnel came from throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth; complemented by units composed of exiles from Nazi-occupied Europe. Subordinate units came from Australia, British India, Canada, Free French Forces, Greece,... more

The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns. It was a British formation, always commanded by British officers, however its personnel came from throughout the British Empire and Commonwealth; complemented by units composed of exiles from Nazi-occupied Europe. Subordinate units came from Australia, British India, Canada, Free French Forces, Greece, New Zealand, Poland, Rhodesia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Significant formations which passed through the Army included: British V Corps, X Corps, XIII Corps, XXX Corps, I Canadian Corps, Polish II Corps. The Eighth Army was formed from the Western Desert Force in September 1941 and put under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cunningham. It got its number from the fact that the French had fielded seven armies previously in the same war, the British had fielded the British Expeditionary Force. At its creation Eighth Army... less