taking notes

[Ron Clifton]

Hello Ash

For information on most of the major combatant nations I can recommend this book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/World-War-Databook-Essential-Combatants/dp/1854107666

It is available from Amazon as you can see, but I have seen it offered on other sites such as eBay at just over £8.

One or two pedantic points: Kitchener's role was actually Secretary of State for War, but in most other nations he would have been called Minister of War. Similarly, von Moltke and von Falkenhayn (and later von Hindenburg) were Chiefs of the Great General Staff, the title of Commander-in-Chief being applied to the Kaiser.

I have been studying the Great War for about sixty years and I am still learning new facts, so don't give up! Your method of Q&As on cards seems to be a good one, especially if you yourself find it helpful.

These books may also be useful to you as regards the structure of the British Army:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Battles-Engagements-British-Flanders-1914-1918/dp/0948130180

https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Regiments-1914-18/dp/1843421976

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Order-Battle-Divisions-Part-Division/dp/184734738X

The last of these is Part 1: there are also Parts 2A, 2B and (in a combined volume) Parts 3A & 3B.

Good luck! As you have already seen, there are plenty of people on this Forum who are willing to help you.

Ron

[Ron Clifton]

On 18/06/2021 at 15:23, Alecras234 said:

How many troops made up the BEF that landed in France in 1914?   80,000 

The original BEF which landed in August 1914 contained four infantry divisions, one cavalry division and lines of communication troops. The total was about 125,000 men. The two regular divisions (4th and 6th) which had been held back in the UK, but which joined the rest by early September, bringing the total to about 165,000.

Ron