As Churchill 's chief military adviser , Ismay frequently attended wartime conferences and meetings of the Allies and accompanied other British leaders , such as Foreign Minister Anthony Eden , on their travels . Ismay 's travel to the conferences began in 1941 , when he went with Lord Beaverbrook to the first Moscow Conference . Because English participation in the conference was a secret , Ismay faked influenza to explain his absence from London while it was taking place . The Conference was also the first time that Ismay worked closely with the Americans , whom he found " quite congenial . " Ismay would continue to work closely with the Americans throughout the remainder of the war , and he accompanied Churchill on his 1942 trip to the United States . Shortly after their return , US General Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Britain to command the American forces . He established close relations with Ismay , who liked him greatly , and assisted him in co-ordinating with both British forces and the Cabinet . Eisenhower thought highly of Ismay , remembering him for his " stalwart support " , and noting , " He was one of those men whose great ability condemned him throughout the war to a staff position . Consequently his name may be forgotten ; but the contributions he made to the winning of the war were equal to those of many whose names became household words . " Not long after Eisenhower arrived , on 16 August 1942 , Ismay was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General . Around the same time , his good relations with the Americans were recognised by others in the government . Thus , in November 1942 , when Eleanor Roosevelt visited Britain , Lady Ismay was chosen to host her for one night of her stay
first Moscow Conference
Moscow Conference (1941)
Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay