Ww1 british commanders. They fought against the Central Powers, mainly Germany.

Ww1 british commanders. The head of the division is a general officer commanding (GOC), who receives orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then uses the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. Apr 25, 2017 · Army commanders and their chiefs of staff of the British Army, November 1918. However, they also led some of the greatest battles of all time. This section of the GG Archives' World War I Collection highlights biographies of the most influential Allied generals, men whose strategic decisions determined the course of The painting depicts 22 of the approximately 1,500 brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals, generals, and field marshals who served in the British and Imperial armies in the First World War. Although the public debate centres on British commanders, don’t forget these non-British examples of military ineptitude. Meet the top 10 WWI generals whose leadership shaped the course of the war, from Foch and Haig to Atatürk and Pershing. Frederick Roberts: Bobs Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts was one of Britain’s most successful military commanders of the 19th century, winning victories during the Second Afghan War and revitalising the British campaign in the Boer War. During this period general officers were those who held the rank of field marshal, general, lieutenant-general, major-general or brigadier-general and generally commanded units of brigade size or larger. Bailey paid £5,000 for each of the three paintings and donated all three to the National Portrait Gallery. They were incapable of fighting effectively, and repeatedly ordered their men to undertake This list includes all British officers of general rank who are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) as having died while serving during the First World War. Discover authentic military uniform replicas at Paddelaters. What did French, British, and German commanders think of the quality and effectiveness of the American army in Europe in WW1? These World War I quotations about command, strategy and methods of warfare have been compiled by Alpha History authors. Neither England nor Scotland has had its own army since the Acts of Union in 1707. It was formed in France on 13 July 1915, under the command of Lieutenant-General Charles Monro. Royal Navy Officer Insignia of World War I This page is intended to give an overview of Royal Navy officer ranks in World War I, and the three major changes that occurred in those years. He also helped establish the Royal British Legion and worked hard to raise funds for it. Further Reading John Hardyman - a biography The Three Howell-Price brothers British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War by Peter Hodgkinson You Tube: Battalion Commanders in WW1 Article by David Tattersfield Platoon commanders, usually separated from their company and battalion commanders, carried a tremendous burden of responsibility. Jun 22, 2007 · The AIF Generals At the beginning of 1917 the general officers commanding the divisions and brigades of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were a fairly experienced group, although quite a few were newly promoted or had been recently posted to command a different unit. Jul 13, 2023 · British military officer John Denton Pinkstone French, known as Field Marshal Sir John French, Earl of Ypres, served as the commander in chief of the British Expeditionary Forces during World War Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, First World War British commander. But what i… The British First Army 1914-1918 First Army The addition of a level in the hierarchy of the growing British Expeditionary Force took place when the First and Second Armies came into existence on 26 December 1914. The British Commandos were a formation of the British Armed Forces organised for special service in June 1940. The First Army was placed under the command of General Sir Douglas Haig, who up to this point had commanded I Corps. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 545 total. David Lloyd George’s war memoirs quickly undermined Haig’s standing, and British generals during World War One became increasingly vilified in popular culture. The British Army’s Experience 1914-1918 (Staplehurst: Spellmount 2004), page 102. Adjutant-General: Major-General Sir Charles Macready KCB. It’s an old saying, describing the useless generals (‘ donkeys ‘) leading the brave soldiers (‘ lions ‘). The Commanders of World War II were for the most part career officers. There An Indian Expeditionary Force was sent to France and Belgium in September 1914 and held part of the frontline against the German army until October 1915, sustaining 22,000 casualties. The French and British divisions marched north from Thessaloniki in October 1915 under the joint command of French General Maurice Sarrail and British General Bryan Mahon (Commander, British Salonika Force, 1915). Dec 26, 2019 · Sir John French was the Commander in Chief of British forces for the first half of World War I. Jan 25, 2012 · This list is specifically limited to the period between the beginning of the Spanish War of Succession and the end of the Second World War, and is restricted to generals who were born in the British Isles. How valid is this interpretation of British generals like Haig in World War One? The First World War was a horrific war that started on 28th July 1914 and lasted until 11th November 1918. 🌍 Famous Generals of World War I: The Leaders Who Shaped the Great War 🏅 🔍 Overview: The Commanders Who Defined the War The First World War was not only a clash of nations but also a test of military leadership. Mar 27, 2019 · Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig has had the unenviable reputation of being the worst British general of all time, a bone-headed “donkey” who threw away the lives of his men in futile attacks. Were they 'donkeys' or skilled and motivated officers? Who w Military Commanders: Allied Forces Sir Edmund Allenby Sir William Birdwood Louis Botha Alexei Brusilov Sir Julian Byng Luigi Cadorna Edouard de Castlenau Yuri Danilov Armando Diaz Auguste Dubail Faisal ibn Ali Ferdinand Foch Sir John French Joseph Gallieni Sir Hubert Gough Adolphe Guillaumat Sir Douglas Haig Sir Ian Hamilton Joseph Joffre Lord 1. Having held positions of Director of Military Training and Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, Haig was appointed the Commander in Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in December 1915. Finally, it traces the way in The result was evacuation. The first people to expose the British generals to angry ridicule were the war poets, who blamed them for sending men into the appalling conditions of the Western Front. The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was more than 41 million; there were over 18 million deaths and 23 million wounded, ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human Feb 1, 2014 · Having said that the generals blame for the results should be at the very least shared with their political masters, I am still willing to express dissatisfaction with the approach of Haig and many of his senior commanders. Listed below are 10 greatest World War I generals who played a key role in the outcome of the war, which dramatically influenced the later 20th May 5, 2023 · The generals of the First World War, particularly those that served on the Western Front in France and Belgium, have collectively been condemned throughout the last century as a dangerously myopic bunch. It does not include English Army generals or Scottish Army generals. This feeling has also leaked into the public sphere; the same nation that mourned the death of Field Marshall Haig in 1928 now regularly argues that soldiers were “lions led by donkeys”. The Role of Generals One of WWI’s major blunders was the generals’ poor leadership. Those fighting along with the Allied Powers (at one point or another) are depicted in blue, the Central Powers in orange, and neutral countries in grey. The British Army’s Experience 1914-1918 (Staplehurst: Spellmount, 2004), page 202. Sir Ian Hamilton was a British general, commander in chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the unsuccessful campaign against Turkey in the Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I. All but two of the subjects reached the rank of at least lieutenant-general, and most were commanders of armies or army corps. The 1st Division is a division of the British Army; the division was first formed in 1809. Four Chief Allied Commanders of WWI The Allied commanders of WWI hailed mainly from the countries in the Triple Entente: England, France, and Russia. The Battle of the Somme has become a byword for what is perceived as the futility and senselessness of the fighting on the Western Front during the First World War. Five men have made the cut and a debate at the museum will decide the winner. Commanders This area of the Who's Who category of the site contains biographies of the many and varied men who provided military leadership during the four years of war on all fronts. The idea is that brave soldiers (the "lions") were needlessly sacrificed by out-of-touch and uncaring commanders (the "donkeys") who had no understanding of the realities of trench warfare. com Sep 24, 2014 · Anything you’d like to share? Let us know your thoughts on the most inspiring commanders of the First World War. In 1923 Monro was appointed Governor of Gibraltar. Learn about the iconic British WWI military attire, including officer and soldier uniforms. This presentation, Dr Peter Hodgkinson looks at battalion commanders in the British Army in WW1. The significance of the British army's colonial experience needs to be evaluated and related to the changes which took place among its divisional commanders between 1914 and 1919. In many ways, the debate has now moved on from such stereotypes. World War I took place between 1914 and 1918 during which time the United Kingdom (UK) was part of the Allied Powers which fought against the Central Powers. As Commander-in-Chief, India Monro had responsibility for the Mesopotamian campaign. Unfortunately for the men in his command, British commander Douglas Haig was one of those leaders. The campaign all but ended in German East Africa in November 1917 when the Germans entered Mozambique and continued the campaign living off Portuguese supplies British field commanders’ despatches The full list of despatches that were printed in the “London Gazette”, with links to the online versions, can be found here: Original despatches as printed in London Gazette I have transcribed some of the despatches for presentation on the Long, Long Trail. The most prominent of these organizations was the GHQ of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the Western Front. It's about the number of British generals killed WW1. [1] During August 1915 the Third Army took over a trench line south of the French Tenth Army, which had to keep in position for the forthcoming autumn offensive. They fought against the Central Powers, mainly Germany. Map of the World showing the participants in World War I. He achieved rapid promotion and Jul 14, 2017 · A century after the end of the Great War in 1918, debate still goes on about whether Allied generals were incompetent buffoons or have been unfairly criticized. It remained a weighted process, however, favouring the professional officer, Bailey commissioned two other commemorative portraits, General Officers of World War I (originally entitled Some General Officers of the Great War) by John Singer Sargent, and Statesmen of World War I by Sir James Guthrie. They were Chateau Generals in approach and in attitude. In this capacity, Haig General Officers of World War I by John Singer Sargent oil on canvas, 1922 118 in. The emphasis on British commanders eclipses the bizarre statements frequently made by Great British Commanders: WW1 Also Rans with Gordon Corrigan Gordon returns to discuss those WW1 Commanders that lost out to Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. See full list on britannica. From Oh What a Lovely War to Blackadder Goes Forth, popular culture has alternately attacked and ridiculed their lack of tactical imagination and consistently over-optimistic view of the conflict. His leadership during the battle made him one of the most controversial figures of the war and has been intensely disputed ever since. “It is rare in military history for a commander to be faced by such a range of options,” notes Geoffrey Regan, “any one of which guaranteed success. For the insignia of reserve officers, please see Royal Navy Reserve and May 6, 2025 · Explore the defining WW1 battles and campaigns, the vital role of British Army leadership, and how regimental sergeants shaped history. World War I battles were commanded by many brilliant generals on both sides. And if he’s to be held accountable for these losses, Haig is also credited for the British Army’s steamrolling succession of victories after August 1918. It considers the variations of individual response to such treatment and to experiences of the war more broadly. Discover their key battles and strategies. How do the senior-most commanders rate in retrospect? (Hulton Deutsch (Getty Images)) The list of commanders in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I gives the engagements and the respected officers during the conflicts. By Roger Daene World War One on the Western Front is often times depicted as a series of senseless battles where infantry ran across open fields only to be slaughtered by machinegun and artillery fire. See also Category:British generals – note that a "Brigadier" is not classed as a "general" in the British Army, despite being a NATO 1-star A fundamental weakness in the British historiography of the war, which has traditionally concentrated on the activities of GHQ and its relationship with a small number of army commanders, or on the experiences of the ordinary soldier in the front-line trench. After the war he became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany and then Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1946–1948). The famous stereotype is that of ‘lions led by donkeys’, the donkeys being the uncaring, incompetent generals, responsible for thousands of their mens deaths through sheer callousness. The evolution of infantry battalion commanders in the First World War progressed from a prewar system based mainly on promotion by seniority to one largely based on merit. David Lloyd George's view sums up the attitude of many people towards Haig and other British generals of World War One. From the outset, it is obvious that not all of the British generals could have been entirely good, completely bad, or unprepared for high command when it came. So the French divisions advanced up the Vardar river The air commanders of World War I were army or navy officers who came to command air services during the first major conflict in which air power played a significant role. While arguments have been made for this decision being the fault of various commanders, in the end, the decision and even insistence that gas be used in that battle came from Haig. Some generals have since been criticized for their strategies and tactics, but many Haig served as commander in chief of British Home Forces from 1918 until his retirement in 1921. The only two divisional commanders are Major-General Lukin and Oct 6, 2022 · World War I (WWI), contemporarily called “The Great War,” was commanded by some of the fiercest military generals in history. Combined, they led some 65 million men, many of which sacrificed their lives for an advancement of a few feet. He served as a Brigadier-General in the Second World War. And for the British generals in particular this was the first war of the masses, with all that that means in the way of transportation, feeding, housing, medical services and welfare. They Did any of these generals, publicly or privately, during or after the war, ever express any genuine remorse over these deaths? What about the civilian atrocities that occurred during the war, from the rape of Belgium to the Armenian genocide? Jan 29, 2025 · This article examines British soldiers’ attitudes towards the First World War. His inability to work with France resulted in him under-manning co-operations between Britain and France, hindering many Allied initiatives during the war. Pages in category "Generals of World War I" This category contains only the following page. However, it is fair to say that the role of a military commander in World Recent studies of the British Army during the First World War have fundamentally overturned historical understandings of its strategy and tactics, yet the chain of command that linked the upper echelons of GHQ to the soldiers in the trenches remains poorly understood. ” Oct 30, 2024 · A new BFBS Forces News podcast, featuring defence analyst Michael Clarke, analyses figures from British history who were successful leaders. Generals promoted by the Kingdom of The Battle of the Somme was the first campaign launched by Sir Douglas Haig after he took over command of the British Army on the Western Front. However, the London War Office was reluctant to advance too deep into Serbia. During this period general officers were those who held the rank of field marshal, general, lieutenant-general, major-general, or brigadier-general and generally commanded units of brigade size or larger. For more specific details, including cap insignia and shoulder straps, please see Royal Navy Officer Insignia of World War I, by Branch. Many of the generals were inexperienced and failed to adapt to the new technologies of warfare. (2997 mm x 5283 mm) overall Given by Sir Abraham ('Abe') Bailey, 1st Bt, 1922 Primary Collection NPG 1954 On display in Room 25 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery Feb 28, 2025 · The 1915 Battle of Loos saw a complete disaster for the British Army when they released poison gas — and managed to gas themselves. May 26, 2024 · The phrase "lions led by donkeys" has become a popular shorthand for the perceived incompetence and callousness of British generals during World War One. By modern standards, the lifestyle he led behind the frontlines was contemptible. Knowing now that the WWI generals were men in an era-defining conflict doing their very best, it is possible to revisit their legacy with a less critical perspective. Jun 15, 2025 · Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig was a British field marshal, commander in chief of the British forces in France during most of World War I. In addition to directing the tactical battle the division is involved in, the GOC oversees a Mar 16, 2010 · Hi there, I am sure this may well have been covered in earlier posts. Introduction World War I, or the Great War, was an unprecedented global conflict that saw the mobilization of millions of soldiers and stretched across four tumultuous years (1914-1918). The rank of general(or full generalto distinguish it from the lower general officerranks) is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers in the British Army. This list may not reflect recent changes. They feature statements from contemporary figures, political leaders, military commanders, service personnel, anti-war campaigners and historians of World War I. [1] He Jun 13, 2025 · From Franz Ferdinand to Vladimir Lenin, learn more about the leaders of World War I. He was popularly portrayed as a hero and given money and titles, but never another job. Peter Hodkinson is an academic who wrote an interesting piece called The Infantry Battalion Commanding Officers of the BEF which featured in the 'Command at the Sharp End' section of "Stemming the Tide: Officer and General Headquarters (GHQ) was the organization that commanded all British and Indian forces in a particular theater of the First World War. Often misunderstanding the nature of the defensive scheme, they decided to stay put and fight it out to the death or surrender when the situation was hopeless rather than execute a methodical, fighting withdrawal. There are some controversial additions and the ranking is purely my own personal opinion. Mar 26, 2012 · The terrain gave the British a chance to flank the fort without difficulty, while unoccupied hills nearby offered prime artillery positions. x 208 in. British generals – particularly the commander-in-chief Sir Douglas Haig – are blamed for causing needless casualties. So my apologies for asking the question again. The Third Army was part of the British Army during World War I. Here five experts give their reasons why their man should be voted Britain's most treasured military commander. For example, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig was criticized for his tactics during the Battle of the Somme, which resulted in heavy casualties for the British troops. The popular conception is that there were little innovations in tactics. The United Kingdom was a leading Allied Power during the First World War of 1914–1918. This is a list of full generals in the British Armysince the Acts of Union 1707. If you would like to suggest a quotation, please The caricatures of British generals during the First World War as incompetent and unfeeling are very familiar. Wilhelm Balck, a German division commander, had written many articles and manuals on tactics before the Great War. This list includes all British officers of general rank who are listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) as having died while serving during the First World War. Feb 3, 2015 · British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War by Peter Hodgkinson. Pages in category "Royal Navy admirals of World War I" The following 130 pages are in this category, out of 130 total. Here we have sampled 10 of the war generals whose strategies and military tactics determined the outcome of World War 1 and have significantly influenced the modern military establishment. After the events leading to the British Expeditionary Force 's (BEF) evacuation from Dunkirk, the disastrous Battle of France, Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, called for a force to be assembled and equipped to inflict casualties on the Germans and bolster British morale Feb 21, 2025 · Discover the history, design, and evolution of British World War 1 uniforms. In 1916 Monro briefly commanded the British First Army in France before becoming Commander-in-Chief India later that year. It looks at what motivated men to enlist and the strategies employed by the military for enforcing discipline and maintaining morale in a force made up of citizen-soldiers. The armed forces were greatly expanded and reorganised—the war marked the founding of the Royal Air Force. His strategy of attrition (tautly summarized as “kill more Germans”) resulted in enormous numbers of British casualties but little immediate gain in 1916–17 and Apr 8, 2011 · The National Army Museum has conducted an online poll to find the top British general of all time. He then served as NATO 's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe until his retirement in 1958. In order to reconnect the lines of communication between the General Staff and the front line, this book examines the British Dec 15, 2023 · Officers in all combatant armies spent the first few years of World War I simply trying to adapt old tactics to emerging technologies. A barrage of criticism can be directed at Haig, as it can at other generals of the First World War. Certainly, a revolution in the The British First World War cavalry generals, by the end of the war belonged to one of the smallest arms of the British Army, they did however, including those belonging to the British Indian Army, provided some of its highest ranking commanders. The common image: waves of young soldiers marching into machine gun fire, led by blundering generals who refused to adapt. [9] Andrew Simpson, 'British Corps Command on the Western Front 1914-1918 in Gary Sheffield and Dan Todman, eds. Technology at the time had changed so rapidly that most military leaders didn’t have a good grasp on how it would alter fighting in battle forever. This is a list of people who held general officer rank or the rank of brigadier (together now recognized as starred officers) in the British Army, Royal Marines, British Indian Army or other military force. Jul 15, 2019 · Among the most controversial figures of British army literature, Sir Douglas Haig was seen as an old school general uncomfortable with the developing technologies of WW1. 7 greatest military leaders in British history Britain has been involved in countless battles and wars throughout its history so it's needed some pretty skilled military leaders to guide it through. Raging between 1914 and 1918, the bloody war was fought between the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria, the Allies – a coalition of nations including the United States, Britain, Italy, Russia, France and Japan, and the Central Powers of Austria-Hungary and Germany. For generals in the Royal Marines, see List of Royal Marines full generals. Under Haig, the British Empire engaged the main enemy in the main theatre of war and defeated it. Although its performance came under criticism from British commanders and later historians, the Force contributed in a crucial way to stemming the German advance, and remains a testimony to the way Indian human Aug 24, 2024 · Forget everything you think you know about WW1 British tactics. May 11, 2007 · If Haig was a victorious commander, as his defenders maintain, his victory was not decisive enough to convince, among others, Adolf Hitler. Chief of the General Staff: Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Murray KCB, CVO, DSO. Henry Rawlinson – 1st Baron Rawlinson Rawlinson is a controversial addition to the list for The war also posed problems for the army commanders, given that, prior to 1914, the largest formation any serving general in the BEF had commanded on operations was a division. In March 1918, a conference of British and French commanders and diplomats appointed Foch Generalissime, or Supreme Commander of Allied Armies, in order to facilitate better coordination between all forces on the Western Front. And, moreover, they were not responsible as a group for all the many misfortunes that befell the BEF. The highly controversial introduction, in January 1916, of conscription for the first time in British history followed the raising of one of Nov 1, 2024 · Many generals failed miserably in their commands during World War I. In fact, no generation has ever faced such a technological onslaught , such a surge of innovation and new techniques. Hamilton joined the army in 1872, transferring to the 92nd Highlanders and serving with them in the Second British Infantry Battalion Commanders of the First World War Over 5,000 officers are known to have served as infantry battalion commanders during the Great War. Generals have always been criticised, especially if they lose! They were most certainly as brave as their men - at Gallipoli there was no chateau rest areas and several generals were killed or wounded in action during the campaign. From 1948 to 1951, he served as Chairman of the Commanders-in-Chief Committee of the Western Union. They were forced to adapt to new technologies and forged the direction of modern warfare. The previous battle in the British Battles sequence is Tirah 1897 The next battle in the First World War is the Battle of Mons To the First World War index Commander-in-Chief: Field Marshal Sir John French GCB, GCVO, KCMG. However, others have quoted me a low The East African campaign in World War I was a series of battles and guerrilla actions, which started in German East Africa (GEA) and spread to portions of Mozambique, Rhodesia, British East Africa, the Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, PC (28 September 1852 – 22 May 1925), known as Sir John French from 1901 to 1916, and as The Viscount French between 1916 and 1922, was a senior British Army officer. At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Haig was the general in charge of the 1st Corps. We will update this page with new quotes from time to time. Of the five divisional commanders, only Walker (1st Division) had been in command of a division for more than one year Historians often criticise the commanders of World War One, labelling them incompetent and reckless with the lives of their troops. Apr 22, 2024 · Douglas Haig was a British commander on the Western Front for most of the First World War. Monro died in 1929 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. The expansion of the British Army saw some officers promoted from brigade to corps commander in less than a year. A hero and great leader of men - or a power hunger and callous man, with little compassion for his men? Explore more from Great Commanders Douglas Haig: The chief Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig commanded the British Army when it achieved arguably its greatest victories, those over the Germans on the Western Front during the First World War (1914-18). This made the Third Army geographically separate from the other British Major General Sir George Gorringe CB CMG DSO, the CO of the 3rd Indian Army Corps in the Mesopotamian Campaign and of the 47th Division on the Western Front. , Command and Control on the Western Front. Born in Kent, he saw brief service as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, before becoming a cavalry officer. . After the war, Haig became something of an awkward figure for the British government. 10. Quartermaster-General: Major Oct 25, 2018 · This legacy quickly became tarnished. My understanding is that 58 officers of Brigadier general rank and above were killed WW1. The war's sprawling scope demanded leaders of great strategic acumen, perseverance, and innovation. A popular view This is a list of people who have held general officer rank or the rank of brigadier (together now recognized as starred officers) in the British Army, Royal Marines, British Indian Army or other British military force since the Acts of Union 1707. A popular view Mar 10, 2011 · The generals Douglas Haig was 'brilliant to the top of his Army boots'. rkgjz twmquq jpwphg xpzaab fbkto ahvp kmqvyz aezzzh bgnbohz fimeja

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