The Little Field Marshal

[Old Tom]

This account of the life of Sir John French was first published in 1981 and re-issued in 2004. I could not find a review although it is mentioned several times. I would commend it as a sympathetic description of an outstanding soldier who was 'out of his depth. as commander of the BEF. Richard Holmes gives a concise history of French's early career, his exploits in South Africa, his influence on army doctrine in the years leading to 1914, the Curragh incident, the war up to his relief and his further service at home and in Ireland.

Old Tom