Wavell however was able to not only defend against the Italian attacks but to defeat the Italians and occupy their colonies in Ethiopia and Somaliland.
Wavell was replaced as Commander of British forces in the Middle East by Sir Claude Auchinleck in July 1941.
Wavell, despite his abilities, did not have the resources to defend the territory he was responsible for and was unable to prevent the Japanese from capturing Singapore, Malaya, and Burma.
Wavell, Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl[wA´vul] Pronunciation Key, 1883–1950, British field marshal and viceroy of India.
In World War II, Wavell was commander in chief of the Middle East, in which capacity he put to rout the Italian forces in Cyrenaica (see North Africa, campaigns in), only to be forced back later in 1941 by the Axis drive.
He was created Viscount Wavell of Cyrenaica and Winchester in 1943 and earl in 1947.
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