Books on the BEF 1914

[David Filsell]

I am aware of the debates about Edmonds and casualty figure, but is there evidence that he was truly mendacious or was he inaccurate?

[phil andrade]

I am aware of the debates about Edmonds and casualty figure, but is there evidence that he was truly mendacious or was he inaccurate?

There was a degree of mendacity, I think, David.

He chose to ignore evidence from the German Medical History : if memory serves, he knew of the existence of this, and claimed that there were no such data available.

It's hard to believe that a man of his intellectual and administrative accomplishment could have been thoroughly inept in his marshalling of statistics. I reckon he was rather conspiratorial in his approach, and hoped that his methods would not be challenged or analysed.

That said, I have to admit that we have witnessed dreadful examples of ineptitude from actuaries who failed to get their sums right when it came to the impact of longevity on pension fund calculations....maybe there was a comparable failure on the part of Edmonds : but I doubt it.

I reckon AJP Taylor was right when he wrote that the British Official Historian performed a " conjuring trick" when it came to his assessment of German casualties.

Edit and afterthought : As far as British casualties were concerned, I don't think Edmonds ever displayed mendacity in his rendition.

Phil (PJA)

[David Filsell]

Phil

Thanks for your reply.

While I accept that his figures are frequently questioned, but ....