General Sir Richard O'Connor, a profile of his life and career

Abstract

In 1940, General Sir Richard O'Connor, with two divisions under his command, initiated a campaign in north Africa which resulted in the destruction of the Italian Tenth Army and the conquest of Cyrenaica. O'Connor's success freed Egypt from the threat of an Italian invasion. In addition to these tangible results, O'Connor's desert campaign was a serious blow to Mussolini's prestige, both in Italy and throughout the world. The campaign was brilliantly planned and directed; it has few parallels in military history. Not surprisingly, a great deal has been written about O'Connor's African victory; O'Connor himself, however, has remained strangely obscure. Indeed, virtually nothing of his "pre" and "post" desert career can be found in print. It is hoped that this thesis, which is largely based upon O'Connor's own recollections, will present the reader with a clear and balanced portrait of the General's remarkable life and career.