Persia and Iraq Command - Transition of Commanders

Transition of Commanders

In 1943, a series of victories in southern Russia and the success of operations in North Africa rendered the German threat to northern Persia progressively more and more unlikely. Therefore, the forces in Wilson's Command were reduced and the status of the Command was revised. In January, Wilson received orders to despatch the 5th Infantry Division to the Middle East Command and, on 23 January, Wilson was summoned to a conference with the Prime Minister in Cairo. On l0 February, the 56th (London) Infantry Division was also ordered to the Middle East Command. Wilson then decided to re-group the remaining formations within the Command and issued orders for their location in the general area Mosul-Kirkuk. On 17 February, Wilson left for Cairo to take up his new duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East Command.

The Commanders-in-Chief were:

• 1943 - 1943 Lieutenant General Sir Maitland Wilson
• 1943 - 1944 Lieutenant General Sir Henry Pownall
• 1944 - 1945 Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Smith