Major General Orde Wingate (1903–44) was the most controversial British military commander of the Second World War, due to his idiosynchratic leadership style, which led some to question his sanity, and his fiercely pro-Zionist stance. More than sixty years after his death he still splits opinion amongst soldiers, academics and writers.Anglim’s biography fills a significant void in the literature, making extensive use of Wingate’s papers – official and private – to place him firmly in the context of the British army of the time. The man who is revealed is shed of his mythology, but a more interesting figure emerges – one of significant historical interest. This study also helps to inform contemporary controversies including the Arab-Israeli conflict, reactions to insurgency and terrorism, and the role of special and elite forces in modern warfare.

"'Anglim’s excellent account is a valuable addition to the subject ... a first rate analysis, dispassionate and objective, about Wingate’s influence on the development of military tactics during his life.'"