Alan Cunningham Dead at 95

Sir Alan Cunningham, the last British High Commissioner in Palestine, died this week at the age of 95. He held the post together with that of Commander in Chief from 1945 until May 1948, when his ceremonial departure by sea from the shores of Palestine signalled the birth of Israel and her full-scale War of Independence.

Although he headed the Mandatory Administration of Palestine during a period of mounting Jewish hostility to British rule, Sir Alan retained the respect of the leadership of the Yishuv, thanks to his straight-forward dealing and his serene, decisive character.

This image was reinforced by his singular refusal to be drawn into the polemics between Israel’s supporters and detractors which have raged ever since and despite the initial legacy of bitterness which Britain left behind in Palestine.

As High Commissioner, Cunningham had succeeded another distinguished British soldier, Field Marshall Viscount Gort (1944-45) — regarded by Palestinian Jewry as one of the most sympathetic men to have held that office since the days of Sir Herbert Samuel (1920-25), its first incumbent.

Cunningham had achieved fame as commander of the southern invading force in the brilliant British offensive in Abyssinia in 1941, which liberated that country from the Italians.

Soon after that campaign, Cunningham was given command of the British Eighth Army in the western desert, where Rommel’s Afrika Korps was preparing to invade Egypt. He was relieved of the command by Gen. Auchinlek. the supreme Middle East commander, who felt he was being too defensive in his military plans.

Other High Commissioners in Palestine were Field Marshal Baron Plummer (1925-28); Sir John Chancellor (1928-31); Sir Arthur Wauchope (1931-38); and Sir Harold Macmichael (1938-44).