Simon_Fielding Posted 13 July , 2016 Share Posted 13 July , 2016 I have always felt under informed when discussion of the British Army in the Great War centres on Divisions and their commanders. Can you recommend reading that might move me on from boots, bullets and battalions? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 13 July , 2016 Share Posted 13 July , 2016 These may be of interest; The Somme by Gary Sheffield and Passchendaele in Perspective by Peter H Liddle. The volumes of the Official History which are usually available from public libraries on request may be what you are looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 13 July , 2016 Share Posted 13 July , 2016 There more than a few Divisional histories, and a number of books on command at Corps level, and Corps commanders, but I can't think of an examination of divisional commanders. Which is not a lot of help, sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 13 July , 2016 Share Posted 13 July , 2016 Just found one 'Far from a donkey' by John Baynes, a life of Ivor Maxse, commander 18 Div. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMeech Posted 13 July , 2016 Share Posted 13 July , 2016 4 hours ago, Simon_Fielding said: I have always felt under informed when discussion of the British Army in the Great War centres on Divisions and their commanders. Can you recommend reading that might move me on from boots, bullets and battalions? ? Hi 'Command and Control on the Western front' edited by Sheffield and Todman, has a chapter on 'Command and Control in Battle: British Divisions on the Menin Road Ridge, 20 September 1917' by John Lee. 'From the Somme to Victory' by Peter Simkins has four of the chapters relating to divisions. 'British Generalship on the Western Front' by Simon Robbins includes information on divisional command. 'British Fighting Methods in the Great War' edited by Paddy Griffith, has a chapter on 'Co-stars or Supporting Cast? British Divisions in 'The Hundred Days', 1918' by Peter Simkins. Also 'The SHLM Project - Assessing the Battle Performance of British Divisions' by John Lee. 'Stemming the Tide' edited by Spencer Jones has two chapters relating to Divisional Command. 'Courage without Glory' edited by Spencer Jones has: 'Henry Horn as Divisional Commander' by Simon Robbins. '8th Division and the Action at Bois Grenier, 25 September 1915' by Alun Thomas. 'Gas, Grenades and Grievances: The Attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt by 46th (North midland) Division, 13 October 1915' by Michael Woods. Simon Peaple has also done a book on the 46th Division in WW1 'Mud, Blood and Determination' Looking at academic sites on the internet you may find several PhD papers relating to Divisions. There are quite a few other books that include 'Divisional' content. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 13 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 13 July , 2016 Wow - thank you Mike - brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 14 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2016 11 hours ago, paulgranger said: Just found one 'Far from a donkey' by John Baynes, a life of Ivor Maxse, commander 18 Div. Thanks - sounds just the ticket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 14 July , 2016 Share Posted 14 July , 2016 There are brief pen portraits of many First World War British generals (ie brig gen and up) at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/warstudies/research/projects/lionsdonkeys/index.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 14 July , 2016 Share Posted 14 July , 2016 Putty by Anthony Leask - Lt General Sir William Poulteney - Helion Haking by Michael senior - Pen & Sword Plumer by Geoffrey Powell - Pen & Sword Command on the Western Front Sir Henry Rawlinson by Prior & Wilson - Pen & Sword Haig's Generals by Robin Neillands - Robinson Publishing British Generalship on the Western Front by Simon Robbins- Routledge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 14 July , 2016 Author Share Posted 14 July , 2016 Thanks Squirrel - Kindle Haig's Generals is currently 99p! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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