Alan Cunningham

Sir Alan Cunningham
Lieutenant General Sir Alan Cunningham as commander of the 8th Army
Born	(1887-05-01)1 May 1887 Dublin, Ireland, United Kingdom
Died	30 January 1983(1983-01-30) (aged 95) Kent, England, United Kingdom
Buried at	Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1906–1946
Rank	General
Unit	Royal Artillery
Commands held	Eastern Command Northern Ireland Staff College, Camberley Eighth Army East Africa Force 51st (Highland) Infantry Division 9th (Highland) Infantry Division 66th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War East African Campaign North African Campaign
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (4)
Relations	Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (brother)
Other work	High Commissioner of Palestine (1945–48) Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery

General Sir Alan Gordon Cunningham GCMG, KCB, DSO, MC (1 May 1887 – 30 January 1983) was a senior officer of the British Army noted for his victories over Italian forces in the East African Campaign during the Second World War. Later he served as the seventh and last High Commissioner of Palestine. He was the younger brother of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope.

Cunningham was born in Dublin, Ireland, the third son of Professor Daniel John Cunningham and his wife Elizabeth Cumming Browne. He was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military Academy before taking a commission in the Royal Artillery in 1906. During the First World War, he served with the Royal Horse Artillery, and was awarded a Military Cross in 1915 and the Distinguished Service Order in 1918. For two years after the war he served as a staff officer in the Straits Settlements.