The Great War Generals
On The Western Front
1914-18

Book Review

Reviews by "Old Duffer"

Robin Neillands for Robinson

To understand all is, so we are informed, to forgive all. Neillands has taken as his topic the competence or otherwise of the British World War One generals. He does this by, very usefully, summarising the campaigns of the Army from 1914 to 1918. Each chapter dealing with a major series of battles. By avoiding the narrative style of Lynn McDonald, or the schmaltz of Martin Gilbert, Neillands purports to cut through to the vital issues. Why did Rawlinson get it wrong on the First Day of The Somme, and why did he get it right at Flers-Coucelette? (No comment on why Viv Stanshall should select him to be "Sir Henry at Rawlinson End").

Was Allenby just a brown-nose whose idea of generalship was doing exactly what he was told. Was Sir John French completely out of his depth? Was Haig callous and indifferent to his men? Were the Australians and Canadians really so much better than the best of the Brits (of course not, most of them were British!). In each case one gets a clear set of opinions from Neillands.

Neillands is especially fond (for it is a damn good measure) of noting what the troops thought of their commanders. Birdwood and Byng greatly enjoyed being commanders of ANZAC and Canadian troops, and the feelings were clearly reciprocated. Hubert Gough was clearly disliked by most of his Army, but ultimately his sacking in the Kaiserschlacht was unfair (though he should have caught it for Passchendaele). Gough, French and Kavanagh (Cavalry Corps at Cambrai, or more accurately not at Cambrai) all get the thumbs down. Haig is found guilty of one major offence, namely not knowing when to stop. Smith-Dorrien is left as a big question-mark as befits one of the few survivors of Isandhlwana. Plumer gets the thumbs up, Byng and Rawlinson could, and did, do better.

Monash and Currie are noted as top men, as is Maxse but naughty Harper gets a stern wigging for not combining with the tanks. It is noticeable that most of the failings of the generals were being addressed by mid-1918 when even Haig had learned a lighter touch, not pushing his luck too far on each offensive. Neillands even finds it in himself to understand Lloyd George. You may or may not be persuaded, but you will enjoy the book.

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