The visit of Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck to South India, March 1946

Photograph, India, 1946.

During his career in the Indian Army, Field Marshall Sir Claude Auckinleck developed an intimate knowledge and love of India; it's people and culture. Gaining his commission in the 62nd Punjab Regiment in 1904 he became popular for his aptitude for learning local languages and his easy rapport with ordinary Indian soldiers. In the First World War he saw action with his regiment in the Middle East and in the hard fought campaign in Mesopotamia. During the inter-war period he saw service on India's troublesome North Western Frontier and was mentioned in dispatches during operations in the Mohmand area in 1935.

He held a variety of lofty command positions during the Second World War, notably including Commander-in-Chief Middle-East Forces between July 1941 and August 1942 where he experienced mixed fortunes. After being relieved of this command he eventually accepted the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1943, a post which he had held briefly at the beginning of the war. Despite his dislike of the post war partition of India into the states of India and Pakistan Auckinleck helped to prepare the Indian Army for its division into the armies of the two fledgling nations before returning to Britain in 1948.

One of 233 official photographs collected by Captain Roy Wiltshire in his capacity as Editor of the Indian Army Review.