Douglas Haig as Corps Commander in 1914

[@carsonhaught9934]

Interesting speaker and writer. Having read and heard stuff about Haig my conclusion is to ask who if anyone could have done a better job? His was a very tough assignment which brought him a lot of flak whatever he did or did not do. OK he made some mistakes but few leaders are immune to that. Soldiers liked him I think so who is to argue. And he delivered on his task in that the German army was removed from France and Belgium. It is, I think, more about how long it took him than how he did it. But he was the boss at the time and like all such men he must weather the critics and take some credit then, now and forever. I doubt we shall see his like again. The talk was useful and I shall listen again. One part maybe missing but I know time is short, his relationship with his political masters... a thankless job for any of his ilk... then and now!

[@jamesmurdoch9805]

The revisionists of the 1960s, influenced by some of the 'War Poets', besmirched Haig's character - ignored was the esteem in which he was held by WW1 veterans

[@garry_b]

We'll never really know who could have done a better job, but his predecessor, Sir John French, certainly did a worse one. Lloyd George said he wanted to sack Haig after Passchendaele, and looked to Maurice Hankey and General Smuts to advise on a replacement - but the only name they came up with was Claud Jacob, and Lloyd George declined him. (Why they didn't go for Herbert Plumer is a mystery to me, but whether he would have been better or worse in the top job is a moot point)

[@rpm1796]

@@jamesmurdoch9805 Well said... Over this past week, when I first came aboard, locked on by all these incredible presenters, the one thing I walk away with, is that to his last dying breath, the Earl made his life's mission to devote everything for Tommy and all his magnificent Dominion rascals. By 17', through his leadership, the BEF, with the Empire, after suffering unimaginable carnage, stayed firm to innovate a whole new intricate way to wage hell, previously impossible to even comprehend.A true Lion who led Tigers.☮

[@3vimages471]

FSR meaning? (Yes I am an amateur)

[@zeredbaronn]

Field Service Regulations

[@seanmoran2743]

It seems to me Haigs eventual appointment as Commander in Chief was political more than merit. It also seems like Smith Dorrien was poorly treated at the time

[@kidmohair8151]

it is my opinion that there is a great deal too much attention paid to the leaders, the "great men", in most histories. the great man approach ignores the thousands of ordinary men and women who made it possible for *any* leader to become that "great" man. this channel (in most instances) cannot have that charge levelled at it. this, however, is not one of those times.

[@davidworsley7969]

The content is good-the delivery not so.

[@dan7979822]

If the British troops were commanded by German officers they would have done much better.

[@lechevaliermalfet1]

the German officers were no better.

[@nickjung7394]

Dwight Newsom the Germans fought the war in exactly the same way as the British. Attrition was the accepted manner and was practiced by both sides in the same way. The short period of time that the US were involved was, literally, what tipped the scales.

[@Phantomrasberryblowe]

Dwight Newsom Like lost?

[@chrisbuesnell3428]

@@nickjung7394 The Americans fought exactly the same way. In fact pershing ordered a full frontal attack into german machine guns on the 11th november 1918. Two hours before the armistice came into effect. The us attack on the argonne resulted in large casulties. Again attacks straight against entrenched germans. Again the 2 us divisions that attacked with the british 4th army on the 8th of august suffered high casulties. They made the same mistakes. Overshot trenches, massed infantry and failing to clear german trenches. Inexperienced troops are inexperienced whether they are french British american or Martian

[@nickjung7394]

Chris Buesnell I agree. Anyone who has served knows that discipline and training provide the structure; experience and trust in your commanders and those who are involved with you will, unless this trust is inappropriate, help to keep you alive.

[@graemesydney38]

Another apologist for the donkey. The overnight rest before the Aisne was a major an obvious failing. The speaker says continuously that the donkey was worried about and acted to avoid encirclement but here the task was to gain the high ground for tactical advantage. The speaker goes on to say even if he had gained the high ground he would have been stopped and there would have been no advantage. The speaker just doesn't know what he is talking about, neither the actual history of the Germans peering down on the Brits knowing their every move from individual to corp level, and been able to hide their movements and artillery on the reverse slope. Wellington won because he understood the value of the high ground and the reverse slope. Neither the donkey nor this speaker don't understand.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

Why don't you show a bit of common courtesy and refer to people by their names? It would make your criticisms of them much more readable.

[@SuperStiggler]

Oh dear. Another armchair commander.

[@Ensign_Cthulhu]

Robert Perry We are to an extent all armchair commanders in this regard. The most difficult thing when pronouncing judgement here is to set aside hindsight. The thing which annoys me most is people who judge people like Haig on the basis of people like Montgomery, when at the end of the day the equipment, tactics and techniques Monty used were either still in the process of being evolved or beyond the technological capabilities of the time. This is why the WW1 generals used the tank as an instrument of break-in rather than a Blitzkrieg weapon; WW1 tanks had neither the speed nor the endurance nor the reliability to do this job, and the generals knew it. What they needed and dreamed of was a tank that could move as fast as a horse, but industry could not provide it.

[@nickjung7394]

Graeme SYDNEY just an observation, guns shoot up as well as down, similarly with watching the enemy someone looking down does not always have a better view than someone looking up. Aerial reconnaissance reveals what is going on on reverse slopes.....simply occupying high ground does not necessarily ensure victory.

[@garry_b]

For a speaker who "just doesn't know what he is talking about", Mr Sheffield seems to have written rather a lot of well-reviewed books and mysteriously become a university professor and President of the Western Front Association. He did a lot of original books and changed the way a lot of people, including me, see WW1.