2nd British Army (1944)

[AJK]

It appears that General Sir Kenneth Anderson relinquished command of the 2nd Army on 11 January 1944, and General Sir Miles Dempsey assumed command on 26 January. Who was the acting commander for the intermediate two-week period?

Thanks,

AJK

[Sheldrake]

What is your interest? Tidiness?

[AJK]

My interest is in having a complete listing of commanders, without gaps.

AJK

[Steen Ammentorp]

Hi AJK,

Perhaps we are wrong. Maybe there weren't a gap between Anderson and Dempsey. The entry in Alanbrooke's diary for 18th January 1944:

"Then a sad interview with Kenneth Anderson to tell him that he would not be commanding the 2nd Army in the forthcoming offensive, as Dempsey is to replace him. He took it very well"

A strange comment if Anderson had been told to pack his bag a week before, unless of course Brooke told him why he was relieved and not that he was going to be relieved.

[AJK]

Hi Steen,

Thanks very much for your input on this question. Yes, based on Alanbrooke's diary and his use of the future tense "is to replace him", it would indeed seem that Anderson maintained command until being relieved by Dempsey. Thank you for helping to clarify this matter.

Regards,

AJK