In overall command of the expeditionary force was Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, and second son of George III. With notable exceptions, few authors have much to say of a complimentary nature regarding the Duke of York's abilities as a field commander. For instance, Fortescue, in "A HISTORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY' referred to his mediocre intellect, his lack of patience in adversity, and his inability to deal with unforeseen situations. Unfortunately, Fortescue's personal opinions have done much to colour the views of subsequent authors, since volume four of his history, first published in 1906, remains the only complete account of the Flanders campaign in English. For example, over fifty years later Duncan Jones categorised the Duke as "unimaginative ... lacking in resourcefulness and somewhat slow of brain."

The biography of the Duke by Colonel Burne, published soon after the Second War, has achieved much in rehabilitating the Duke of York's reputation as a General, but it is unfortunate that the opinions expressed by Fortescue at the turn of the twentieth century remain the more widely known. The aim of this paper is to examine the various difficulties encountered by the Duke as a commander in the field, and to suggest why, as Richard Glover has stated, "there are few of whom historical misjudgement has been more gross."

Although the appointment of the Duke of York was made in deference to the wishes of the King, there were several sound reasons for placing him at the head of the expeditionary force. First, the respective Allied armies were under the personal direction of the Austrian Emperor, the King of Prussia, and the Hereditary Prince of Orange, all of whom were at the front. It was therefore a definite advantage to have the British contingent commanded by a Prince of the Blood, who would be able to converse with his colleagues on equal terms.

Indeed, the British Ambassador at The Hague, Lord Auckland, had specifically requested the Duke of York before his appointment was ever announced by the government.

Second, although only 29 years of age at the outbreak of war, the Duke had undergone an extensive military training. This had commenced at an early age, when he had received instruction from Gerard Lake, later to be his brigade commander in Flanders. However, the Duke's military education began in earnest when he departed for Germany at the age of seventeen, accompanied by his military tutor Colonel Richard Grenville. His stay lasted for seven years, during which time he twice visited Frederick the Great in Berlin, in 1783 and 1785, and the court of Vienna. By the time he returned to England in 1787, the Duke of York would have been amongst the most well-versed officers in the art of war that Britain possessed.

In addition to this, the Duke's allies in Flanders were predominantly German. Not only did he speak their language, but he was familiar with their armies and military systems from his long residence in Hanover prior to the Revolution. It is certain that he knew many of the Hanoverian officers who were to act under his command, and it is also probably that he had met several of the senior Austrian and Prussian commanders who were now his colleagues.

This knowledge of his subordinates and allies made the Duke an obvious candidate for the command of Britain's contribution to the First Coalition, especially as a very high percentage of the troops under his orders were Hessians hired by the Government, Hanoverians and Austrians. (3)

Perhaps the only major criticism that can be made of the Duke's appointment is of his youth and inexperience in actual war. Far from being "The Grand Old Duke of York", as portrayed by the rhyme, Frederick was not yet thirty. The Government hoped that some of the disadvantages caused by his relative inexperience could be offset by appointing senior officers, such as Gerard Lake, who would be able to advise the Duke if necessary.

Also, with the exception of Lord Cornwallis who was still in India in 1793, there were no obvious candidates for the command of the expeditionary force. The American war had been ultimately unsuccessful, and had not revealed any senior officers of real ability. It may therefore be stated with truth that the Duke of York was amongst the best officers available to the British Government in 1793.

More Duke of York 1793-4 Part I

Introduction
British Expeditionary Force
Strategy and Siege of Dunkirk