North Africa was poorly supplied, poorly staffed and the Auk did what he could under exceptionally straightened circumstances. A charity calls for a public inquiry into the number of people who die while being held by police. cOULD ANY OTHER BRITISH GENERAL AT THAT TIME DONE THE SAME CAMPAIGNS WITH THE SUCCESS KITCHENER AND WOLSELEY ENJOYED. The Muslims killed him, stripped him naked, defiled his body, caeved his head off and plaved it on a spike. I’d rank him good rather than great, if only for his lackluster performance in France in ’44, but you’re absolutely right about his personality causing so many problems. He was constantly at odds with the American High Command – some of whom accused him of lacking aggression – and he clashed with Marshall and Eisenhower over Allied strategy, but nobody for the Western Allies had more influence in how the war in Europe unfolded than Alanbrooke. The home nations share a varied and shared history unlike anywhere else, so we thought it only right to create a section dedicated to our mutual heritage. In fact, Alan Clark made the phrase up entirely when he wrote the book ‘The Donkey’ in 1961. His reputation is a very bad one; he is characterized as a general who sat hundreds of miles behind the front and had a willful disregard for the lives of his men – the Donkey that commanded the Lions. The man who probably did more to defeat Nazi Germany than any other man.Martin Mortimer, Petts Wood, Kent, Has to be Marlborough. Without him we would not have had Hong Kong, or kept intact half our empire. During that war he was taken ill and had to return to the UK to recuperate. With Churchill, he combined to create the most effective higher command of any nation of the war despite the sometimes flawed judgment and the increasing constraints it operated under. Haig commanded the largest army ever to be put in the field by the British Empire, in the principal theatre, for three years. There he retook Calcutta after it had fallen to Siraj Ud Daulah. England and Wales were formally united in 1536. They arrived just too late. He was instrumental in establishing a new nationwide ex-servicemen's welfare organisation, the British Legion, 1918-28.". Top 10 Shockingly Rich Celebrities & Their Net Worth, 10 Awesome Greek Gods You’ve Never Heard Of. The General Strike of 1926 and the worsening economy led to radical political changes, and women were granted the same universal suffrage as men (from age 21 instead of previously 30) in 1928. “the Hundred Days Offensive, of which Foch played little part except for giving the plan presented by Haig the go-ahead.”. He had the oldest equipment of any Allied army, and had to handle the most trying and difficult of logistical operations. It was only about 40 years after WWI during the 1960s that revisionists rewrote history and attacked Haig. Rawlinson was the general most responsible for planning the battle of the Somme, and it was his army that bore the brunt of the fighting. However, this has still not entirely reached the public perception of Haig, with his name is still somewhat blackened by 1960s flower power propaganda. He achieved some success which appeared to be a watershed, only to be given the boot because of Churchill’s whimsy. History is one of the most important topics to study, and we've found the best history books to read right now. I think Joffre, Allenby, and smith dorrien were very good generals and the worst were nivelle, pershing,French, gough and Rawlinson who would not listen or take advise from anyone. Appreciate the nods to Allenby and Slim, who often get lost in the shuffle. Haig is the most controversial addition to the list. Its capital is London. Brian Horrocks – commander of XXX Corps who as a battalion commander covered the Dunkirk rettreat and as corp commander was responsible for commanding ground forces in the ill-fated Market Garden operation – but a very practical, truly human leader who deeply cared for his men and the plight of civilians. FM Haig has been given a bad deal since the post-WW2 period. IN SOUTH AFRICA HE WAGED A SUCCESS COUNTER INSURGENCY WAR AGAINST THE bOERS. Plumer was a man who operated in prudent reality: he did not expect his army to break through the enemy lines and charge to Berlin, nor did he expect his men to be superhuman. The Auk – Claude Auchinleck – who really stopped the rot in North Africa in WWII until he got the boot from Churchill, which opened the door to Monty. Wingate inspired ordinary soldiers, with the benefit of intense training, to go into the Japanese jungle , take them on and beat them. The term is often used as a synonym for the United Kingdom, which also includes Northern Ireland and a number of offshore Unlike Hannibal, I sought to use data to determine a general’s abilities, rather than specific accounts of generals’ achievements. Plumer looked the part of a typical First World War British General, with his receding chin and white moustache, yet he was anything but. The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. With Simon Schama, Michael Kitchen, Samuel West, Lindsay Duncan. Wellesley won the Peninsular War. 130,000 BC: Neanderthal Britain The dominate human species is Neanderthal. The part Foch played in that was to approve it being undertaken, and coordinate it with the operations of the French and American in the Muese-Argonne Offensive to overwhelm the German Line. tHE MARK OF A GREAT GENERAL IS 1) DID HE WIN 2) WHAT WAS THE SIZE OF THE FORCE HE COMMANDED AND 3) DID HE PUT HIS PARTICULAR STAMP ON THE ARMY OR VICTORY. Each book covers political, economic and social history written in Marr's unique style; you can almost hear Marr's voice reading the history to you as you peruse the paragraphs and prose within them. This made Clive famous and led to the British being able to equalize power between them and the French in the region, an equality that only lasted until Clive’s absence when the French retook power. There is very little between Wellington and Marlborough. Until 1707, this section deals primarily with English history. I agree the Auk had his faults, but he had the understanding during Op Crusader to continue the attack – his failure was believing the enemy was defeated and returning command to Ritchie when Afrika Korps were in fact reinforcing (and that was more a failure of intelligence than generalship). A high class administrator and master logistician, he spent considerable concern on the welfare of his troops and when tested on the field of battle he always prevailed. Great Britain, island lying off the western coast of Europe and consisting of England, Scotland, and Wales. There is hardly a concensus of Montgomery’s worth amungst historians or even his contemporaries, and given the abrasiveness of his personality it is not exactly clear how much personal animosity influenced the opinions of his contemporaries. He was the most extraordinarily soldier. About 15,000 years ago, the weather became warmer. Love him or loathe him, Cromwell's claim to greatness and his unique rise to become head of state was based firmly upon his soldiering career. Yet he is seen today as the victor of Damascus, which he was. 5 comments. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He fought in Burma and India in a very different way to that of most other British Generals of the Second World War and indeed of most other British Generals of all time. No where is Lord Roberts mentioned, his turning at Kimberley is one beautiful military movement in history. This is a list of full generals in the British Army since the Acts of Union 1707.The rank of general (or full general to distinguish it from the lower general officer ranks) is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers in the British Army. He had a grasp of both the immediate and wider strategic details, and was a master of maneuver and tactics. When he returned to India, the balance of power had shifted firmly in France’s favor. Meanwhile, Clive had but 540 British Infantry, 600 British Sailors, 800 Sepoys, 14 field guns and no cavalry. Kitchener IN A CAMPAIGN MARKED BY BRILLANT LOGISTICS CONQUERED THE SUDAN.. What are the criteria? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Earl was one of the greats! The entry on Haig was neither a positive nor a negative position. Parliament demanded he return to Blighty and he refused to leave the people there to face certain death. He was not a man loved by his men, but he was admired and respected by them and that is what mattered. Biographics – History, One Life at a Time. IN ALL OF THESE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST VERY FORMIDABLE TERRAIN HE WAS SUCCESSFUL. Either the lister got lazy or there are a shortage of British Generals here. Some of Britain’s best-known poets, thinkers and authors flourished in the Victorian era, like poet Elizabeth Browning, playwright Oscar Wilde and authors Emily Brontë and Charles Dickens. Everyone has heard of the phrase “Lions led by donkeys” which was supposedly said by an anonymous German general. Discover thousands of years of England’s history, stretching from the arrival of the earliest known humans 900,000 years ago to the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria. IN WORLD WAR 1 IT WAS HE WHO RAISED THE LARGEST ARMY BRITAIN HAD EVER SEEN, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO VICTORY. None has left such a lasting legacy to the British Isles, or one that transcends military history so much that it has passed into folklore.". Up to mid-1916, he presided over an army made mainly up of men with no previous military experience and who had to be made battle-ready in a pressingly short time and the eager new men of 1915-16 were not the skilled professionals of 1914. Planning and supply? The Making of Modern Britain and A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr provide, in my opinion, the best general history of Britain in the 20th century. His 14th Army was an amalgamation of British, Australian, New Zealanders, Indian and African troops, yet he fostered a spirit of unity within them that was unequaled by any other army of the war. I am surprised that EM Dill is not on the list. And it was arguably Jeffrey Amherst who was the most important British General for the victory in the French and Indian War. Liked it? ROFLMAO. Nobody in the Second World War achieved more with less than William Slim. Haig knew that and with his commanders tried again and again to introduce new approaches to battle tactics, techniques and weapons. On the issue of Marlborough over Wellington: Trust me. Montgomery is another controversial figure of history, with his legacy caught up in nationalistic arguments and his less flamboyant command style overshadowed by the Blitzkriegs of the day. While others relied more heavily on the outdated cavalry, he embraced the tank, enlarged the artillery and, in the final campaign of the war, oversaw the biggest victory ever achieved by Britain in any war in the Hundred Days Offensive, on a scale of men involved and territory fought in. He came out of retirement to evacuate British civillians from Egypt which he did successfully and stayen in Khartoum to protect the local population from Muslim jihadists (yes, it was the same crap then). “Daddy” Plumer was arguably the finest commander on the Western Front and his victory at Messines was one of the most complete in the entire war. Britain had to spend a great cost in the World War 2 even though the allies won. I wouldn’t put him on my “best” list either, but so many criticisms of him are overblown or originate with Alan Clark’s book. hide. Perhaps the referance to the “Lions led by Donkeys” phrase threw you but the entry on Haig in this list does not portray him as the “Butcher” that his greatest critics do. Evan Davis examines Liberia's attempt to rebuild its economy following the recent civil war. The Duke of Marlborough was, by far, the greatest military man of his generation. I wrote a Worst British Generals list for Listverse a few years back and got lots of flak for excluding Haig. Really? In 1707, when Great Britain was created by the Act of Union between Scotland and England, English history became part of British history. Terms & Conditions. The History of Britain Magazine Welcome to the History of Britain! Here five experts give their reasons why their man should be voted Britain's most treasured military commander. From Mary Beard on Ancient Rome to tales of Soviet espionage, delve into the past with these recently published works He then marched through the middle of the Nawab’s camp to break a siege where the enemy had 40,000 cavalry, 60,000 infantry and 30 cannons. In 1918, the American General John Pershing, remarked that Haig was “the man who won the war”. Arthur Wellesley – 1 st Duke of Wellington. Allenby is widely regarded as one of the best commanders of the First World War and is certainly remembered as one of the most successful. Do you agree with our experts? But looking at the list it has to be Slim because he was fighting in difficult terrain and also against an enemy that had been waging war longer than the Germans and had not known defeat.Len Kelly, Chorley, UK, What about Montgomery? From the best of 2020 to books written in ancient times, below you'll find expert recommendations of all the best history books.If you're looking for the latest books, the UK's Wolfson History Prize celebrates the best books written that year.These are seriously researched history books that are also highly readable, selected systematically from the hundreds that are published every year. As CIGS, he was responsible for deciding what theatre got what in terms of manpower and logistics, and for choosing the commanders of the various theatres and armies. Both were top notch, outstanding generals without whom the war they fought in would have been lost. Excellent post, and good on you for not avoiding controversy. Rawlinson is a controversial addition to the list for those who know of him. A visionary General may be to much to ask for but don’t insult the brave men who wallowed in mud sometimes up to their knees, soldiers that fought and died gallantly in conditions we can never truly appreciate. It recognized that his reputation isn’t good and that that reputation is not wholely undeserved but also regonized that Haig did accomplish significant things in the field and in administration that led to the ultimate victory over the Germans. Peter Snow is a retired BBC TV presenter and author of At War With Wellington. A great General must now be measured by his ability to adapt to the theatre of war as it changes through the ages, the ability to keep the men under his control as safe as reasonably possible and ultimately his success in battle (preferably a speedy victory). Biographics – History, One Life at a Time. Some worked and some didn’t, but in the end, the learning curves and evolved training, experience and intelligent use of new weapons all led to the events of 8th August 1918. Foch played little part in the conduct of Hundred Days Offensive. I would definitely rate General Charles Gordon above Monty and Haig. This is a list about “Generals” not “Admirals”. Its wrong. American General James Gavin said that the 1st US Army’s staff regarded Monty as both a perculiar man and a highly competant officer and that he himself, despite not agreeing with all of Monty’s methods, believed him a capable commander who he had never lost fondness for. 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