In World War I he served in France (where he lost an eye) and in 1937–39 he commanded the British forces in Palestine. In 1939 he became commander‐in‐chief in the Middle East and won the victory of Sidi Barrani (1940) over the Italians. In 1941, forced to divert some of his forces to Greece, and facing new German formations, he had to retreat in North Africa and was dismissed by Churchill. He then served in India, first as commander‐in‐chief from 1941, then as viceroy (1943–47), where he made it his main task to prepare India for independence.