Jon,

How Hunter Bunter survived in command on the Western front is a complete mystery to me though he was a MP as well and maybe this influence was a help. I do believe after 1916 his corps was always in quiet sectors. Perhaps Haig, if he chose that is, was not able to get rid of him, but did atleast isolate him!

regards

Arm

Jon,

How Hunter Bunter survived in command on the Western front is a complete mystery to me though he was a MP as well and maybe this influence was a help. I do believe after 1916 his corps was always in quiet sectors. Perhaps Haig, if he chose that is, was not able to get rid of him, but did atleast isolate him!

regards

Arm

... but you would agree Haig took him back to command VIII Corps for the Somme offensive

He may have been 'forced' to take him

regards

Arm

Forced by who? I think there was probably only one man who, if he made a "suggestion" of giving VIII Corps back to Hunter-Weston in time for the Somme offensive, would have been hard to refuse.

Note to self: Remember to look through Haig Diaries at home tonight.

Forced by who?  I think there was probably only one man who, if he made a "suggestion" of giving VIII Corps back to Hunter-Weston in time for the Somme offensive, would have been hard to refuse. 

Note to self: Remember to look through Haig Diaries at home tonight.

Just checked the references to the Haig diaries and Hunter Weston as I thought there were some in regard to him not really wanted, but I could not. Am sure i have read that Haig did not want HW, alas i will ponder and search further.

regards

Arm

Just checked the references to the Haig diaries and Hunter Weston as I thought there were some in regard to him not really wanted, but I could not. Am sure i have read that Haig did not want HW, alas i will ponder and search further.

regards

Arm

Arm - I also looked through the Haig diaries and nearly came up with the same result!

Without referring back to the book, my interpretation of Haig's reluctance for Hunter-Weston was that Hunter-Weston had not commanded on the Western Front. It was not so much that Haig believed Hunter-Weston had failed miserably at Helles but that Haig did not rate the Gallipoli campaign, or the Turks, as real fighting. How wrong Haig was in this regard.

but that Haig did not rate the Gallipoli campaign, or the Turks, as real fighting.  How wrong Haig was in this regard.

Bloody oath, he was wrong.

Kim

Yes your right Jon, but he does not seem to criticise him after the event or on going through the war.

I was sure that HW's Corps was not trusted again though with a major attack and often went to quiet sectors? I stand to be corrected.

regards

Arm

Yes your right Jon, but he does not seem to criticise him after the event or on going through the war.

I was sure that HW's Corps was not trusted again though with a major attack and often went to quiet sectors? I stand to be corrected.

regards

Arm

Arm - your comments have made me wonder if there is anything said by Gough on Hunter-Weston.

VIII Corps (and X Corps) were transferred to Gough's Reserve Army in the evening of 1 July, with Gough taking command of the northern sector of the battlefield. I think this was relatively quiet for the rest of the campaign as the subsequent offensives concentrated on exploiting the gains made in the southern sector and also wrestling control of the important high ground around Poiziers and La Boiselle. This is opposed to Hunter-Weston being purposely frozen out, which may have been the case but I dont know.

I was sure that HW's Corps was not trusted again though with a major attack and often went to quiet sectors? I stand to be corrected.

regards

Arm

Arm,

As I got to about page 200 yesterday in Hart’s THE SOMME I read that when Haig made that “I bet they never left their trenches” comment in his diary it was about VIII Corps. For some reason I recalled this comment as having been aimed at 46 and/or 56 Div (VII Corps) next in Line at Gommecourt. Now I know it was about VIII Corps I agree that Haig didn’t trust VIII Corps from that day on (although he was naïve and stupid to make such a comment in the first place) and I don’t think VIII Corps were given an opportunity to properly redeem themselves until 1918 (but I might be wrong, perhaps it was 1917)! The trouble is so much info goes in but far too much KWAK, Passch and the black stuff as well – my brain gets easily muddled, which is why I am using my blog to keep notes. Hopefully I will never again have to say “I read somewhere … but I cant remember where”.