Noel Irwin - World War II

World War II

At the start of the Second World War, Irwin headed the British 6th Infantry Brigade, part of the 2nd Division. On 20 May 1940, he took command of the division during the retreat to Dunkirk in the Battle of France.

Following the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940, Irwin commanded the 38th Division in Britain. From November 1941 he commanded the XI Corps, which was based in East Anglia and had substantial responsibilities for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion.

He was transferred to the Middle East in 1942, to command of the IV Corps in Iraq. The Corps HQ was subsequently transferred to India after the Japanese conquest of Burma. Irwin was promoted to command Eastern Army, part of the India Command. Eastern Army had wide responsibilities for defending eastern frontier of India against the Japanese, and maintaining security in large areas of India.

For the minor attack in Arakan late in 1942, Irwin and Eastern Army HQ bypassed XV Corps HQ after disagreements with the local commander, Bill Slim, and took command of the operation. The attack failed, with severe effects on Allied morale and prestige. On 6 April 1943, Irwin gave a press conference in which he criticised the equipment, training and motivation of the Allied armies in India. Although his observations were admitted to be largely correct, Irwin's refusal to admit that any blame attached to himself and his staff was resented. He was relieved of his appointment and returned to Britain on sick leave.

In 1944, he was appointed the General Officer commanding the East Scotland District in his substantive rank of major-general (a significant step-down from his previous three jobs), and remained in this post until the end of the war. After three years as commander-in-chief of British forces of the West Africa Command, during which time he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant-general, he retired to private life in 1948.