William Gott
| William Henry Ewart Gott | |
|---|---|
William Gott.
|
|
| Nickname(s) | "Strafer" |
| Born | 13 August 1897 |
| Died | 7 August 1942 (aged 44) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1915–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| Commands held | 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps 7th Support Group 7th Armoured Division XIII Corps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross |
Lieutenant-General William Henry Ewart Gott CB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC (13 August 1897 – 7 August 1942), nicknamed "Strafer", was a senior British Army officer who fought during both World War I and World War II, reaching the rank of lieutenant-general while serving with the British Eighth Army. In August 1942 he was appointed as successor to General Claude Auchinleck as commander of the Eighth Army. On the way to take up his command he was killed when his plane was shot down. His death led to the appointment of Bernard Law Montgomery in his place.
Educated at Harrow School, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) in 1915, and served with distinction with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France during the Great War. His nickname "Strafer" was a pun on the German war slogan Gott strafe England (God punish England). He was promoted to the rank of captain in January 1921, and attended Staff College, Camberley from January 1931. He was promoted major in July 1934, having been made a brevet major earlier in January. His service during the interwar period included a posting as adjutant to a territorial battalion, and a period of postings in India as a general staff officer (GSO2) and Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General.
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