Post World War II
After World War II, Cunningham, who was promoted to general on 30 October 1945, returned to the Middle East as High Commissioner of Palestine; he served in the position from 1945 to 1948. As such, he was in charge of Britain's head-on confrontation with Zionist underground and militia groups who in this period challenged its rule in Palestine - the Hagana, Etzel and Lehi.
Cunningham had retired from the army in October 1946 when he relinquished the role of Commander-in-Chief Palestine, but retained the job of High Commissioner until 1948. As such he had the task of winding up British rule and departing the country in May 1948, with the British mandate expired, and in the midst of bitter war between newly-proclaimed Israel and the Palestinian militias and Arab armies. The photo of Cunningham taking down the British flag at the port of Haifa is a historical photo often reproduced in Israeli history textbooks.
Cunningham also served as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery until 1954.
Cunningham died in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Read more about this topic: Alan Cunningham
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