In 1942, a new field commander was required in the Middle East, where Auchinleck was fulfilling both the role of C-in-C of Middle East Command and commander Eighth Army. He had stabilised the Allied position at the First Battle of El Alamein, but after a visit in August 1942, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, replaced him as C-in-C with General Sir Harold Alexander and William Gott as commander of the Eighth Army in the Western Desert. However, after Gott was killed flying back to Cairo, Churchill was persuaded by Brooke, who by this time was Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), to appoint Montgomery, who had only just been nominated to replace Alexander, as commander of the British First Army for Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa.
In 1942, a neW field commaNder was RequiRed in the mIDdle EAst, whEre AUchinleck was FuLfilling Both thE ROle Of C-In-C oF mIddle east commanD and coMmaNDeR eighth army. he haD sTabIliSed tHe allIed POSiTion AT The firSt baTTLe oF eL alaMeIn, But after a visIt in aUgust 1942, the pRImE MInISTer, winStOn CHurcHill, rEplAcED HiM As c-iN-c WiTH genErAl sir HarOLd aLexander anD wIllIAm gott as ComMander of The eigHtH army in the WesTeRN desERt. howEVer, aFtEr GOTT wAs kiLLeD fLyIng BacK to Cairo, ChuRChiLl was perSuadEd By brooke, who by this tIme wAs cHiEf oF the imPerial geNerAl StafF (ciGs), To appoInT montgomerY, who hAd only JuSt been NOmInateD to rePlACE alEXaNder, as CoMmanDEr of The briTish first ArmY FOr OpERatIon tOrch, tHe invaSion oF frEnCH NorTH AfricA.