Educated at Harrow School, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) in February 1915,[5] and served with distinction with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France during the First World War.

Following the arrival of the German Afrika Korps under the command of Erwin Rommel, the Axis counter-attacked in April and 7th Support Group, which had been refitting in the Delta, was called upon to stabilise the front and to reform the retreating forces, which was achieved at the Libyan–Egyptian border.

In May, Gott was placed in command of a mixed force to plan and conduct the ambitious Operation Brevity which succeeded in re-taking the Halfaya Pass but failed in its wider objectives.

[17] During the next major Commonwealth offensive, Operation Crusader, in November 1941, 7th Armoured Division was severely mauled by the Afrika Korps at the battle of Sidi Rezegh, but kept the field and contributed to the British Eighth Army's ultimate success.

[18] Gott's permanent rank had been made up to full colonel in October 1941[19] and he was promoted to acting lieutenant-general and given command of XIII Corps in early 1942.

[20] During the Battle of Gazala, the 8th Army's performance was fatally handicapped by a breakdown in relations at all levels; within XIII Corps during this period Gott's relationship with his subordinate Dan Pienaar, the commander of 1st South African Division, had deteriorated completely.

Of XIII Corps performance in the action, the stand by 150th Brigade, and the breakout by 50th Division are notable, while the low point was the loss of Tobruk with its entire garrison during the withdrawal to Egypt.

216 Squadron RAF flown by 19-year-old Flight Sergeant Hugh "Jimmy" James, was intercepted and shot down by Unteroffizier Bernd Schneider and Emil Clade of Jagdgeschwader 27 (Fighter Wing 27).

It is thought the Germans broke the code used by a loquacious American air attaché in Cairo, Bonner Fellers and intercepted an operational broadcast.

However, "a cold appraisal of his soldiering in North Africa reveals no stunning display of tactics or Rommel-esque grip that bends scared and exhausted men to the will of the born leader.