 In March 1942 , Horrocks was given command of the newly formed 9th Armoured Division and gained the temporary rank of major @-@ general on 27 June . Horrocks , an infantry soldier with no experience in dealing with cavalry , was an unusual choice for commander of an armoured division . He trained the division hard , organising exercises to improve the effectiveness of his troops , and to familiarise himself with armoured warfare . Despite never having commanded a division in battle , he was further promoted to acting lieutenant @-@ general and sent to Egypt to command the Eighth Army 's XIII Corps , under Montgomery . General Sir Harold Alexander and Lieutenant @-@ General Montgomery had decided to make a " clean sweep " when replacing the dismissed Claude Auchinleck as Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief ( C @-@ in @-@ C ) Middle East and Eighth Army commander respectively . Officers perceived to have failed under the old regime were removed , and Montgomery 's favoured commanders were brought in . Among these was Horrocks , an officer whom Montgomery felt was " exactly what was wanted for the job that lay ahead " . 
