With limited battle-ready units to draw on in the wake of Rommel 's recent successes , on 15 May Brigadier William Gott attacked Attack in three columns with a mixed infantry and armoured force .

In August 1942 , General Claude Auchinleck had been sacked as Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command and his successor , Lieutenant-General William Gott was killed Killing on his way to replace him as commander of the Eighth Army .