Mark Clark?

Just web searched it. Title is Mark Clark & it is by Blumenson
Thanks .
Some how I missed that book.
I still need to read Blumenson books on the Falaise Pocket "the Battle of the Generals" and his book on the Kasserine Pass. I have both in my to read pile.
(It a very big pile of books)
And I keep a eye out for his book on Clark.
 
He loses some marks for his threat to retire when offered Twelfth Army.
Well, that was an insult, and Leese should never have offered that command to him. He told Slim to his face that he was unqualified to plan or command Operation Zipper, the assault into Malaya, offered the 12th Army command to him (basically going from command of 14th Army to just 2-3 divisions) and then gave the 14th Army (or tried to at least) to Christieson without clearing it with Brooke, who tore him a new one when he found out.
Slim was convinced that he had been sacked, that Leese had the right to do so, and that he would rather retire than command 12th Army. He had just carried out the masterstroke of Operation Extended Capital, which obliterated the Japanese in Burma, and that somehow didn't count?
 
Well, that was an insult, and Leese should never have offered that command to him. He told Slim to his face that he was unqualified to plan or command Operation Zipper, the assault into Malaya, offered the 12th Army command to him (basically going from command of 14th Army to just 2-3 divisions) and then gave the 14th Army (or tried to at least) to Christieson without clearing it with Brooke, who tore him a new one when he found out.

I am not convinced it was an insult. IIRC Slim himself admitted he was extremely tired, and had no amphibious experience, and continuing to use the 14th Army name in future combat reflected what had been done in the Med with 8th Army. Leese handled it badly - there was some logic in giving Slim a break in the UK while nominally in command in Burma - but Mountbatten's HQ seems to have been a mess.
 
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