Norman Oliver Lash | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1908 (1908) |
| Died | 1960(1960-00-00) (aged 51–52) |
| Awards |
|
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Arab Legion |
| Battles/wars | 1948 Arab–Israeli War |
Norman Oliver[1]Lash (1908–1960)[2]OBE was a British police officer seconded to theJordanianArab Legion. On 15 May 1948, Brigadier Norman Lash was handed the field command of the operations of theArab Legion inPalestine.[3]
He appointedAbdullah el Tell to lead the offensive onJerusalem during the1948 Palestine war, the war for which he was criticised by many British officials for being the field commander of an Arab army. A representative of the British chief of staff, describedGlubb Pasha, and his two senior aides, Norman Lash andRonald Broadhurst as "Soldiers of fortune of British nationality" during the 1948 war.[4]
Ironically, he was also criticised by Arab officers, as being more of a politician than a military leader. He negotiated the Jordanian-Israeli armistice agreement, that resulted in what came to be known as the green line. Norman Lash reached the rank of Major General, and was retired from Jordan'sArab Legion on 1 April 1951. He was replaced by Brigadier Sam Sidney Arthur Cooke of the Lincolnshire Regiment. According to Ma'an Abu Nawwar, an Arab officer in theArab Legion Norman Lash had less experience as a soldier, compared to his successor Cooke.[5]
1943 –Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)[6]
1947 –Third Class of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance[7]
1943 –Third Class of the Order of Independence[8]