An Army of Brigadiers

There have been two major studies in recent years that have explored the roles and responsibilities of British generals at different levels within the British Expeditionary Force’s command structure. Dr Simon Innes-Robbins has written about the generals at predominantly GHQ and Army levels whilst Dr Andy Simpson has explored the development of the role of corps commanders during the Great War. For the first time Dr Trevor Harvey’s study provides an analysis of command at the level of the infantry brigade. His study is based on a critical period during the Great War, the period from late in the Battle of the Somme to the end of the Battle of Arras in mid-May 1917.Dr Harvey’s analysis is based on the service records of 116 brigadier-generals whose brigades played some part in the Battle of Arras. He explores their roles, responsibilities and backgrounds, both in theory and in practice, in the lead-up to and during the battle to explain and illustrate the range and limitations of their commands. Based on this analysis, Dr Harvey presents case studies of five brigadier-generals, their staff officers and their battalion commanders. Each brigadier-general has been selected from one of the five corps that participated in the Battle of Arras which provides an operational backdrop to the exploration of their roles. The brigadier-generals exhibit, in different combinations, their different operational experiences, their different career paths and their different personal characteristics. In undertaking his research, Dr Harvey has drawn on a wide variety sources, including diaries, letters and personal papers privately held by descendants of his chosen subjects. From the evidence drawn from the case studies, Dr Harvey identifies a series of threads about the responsibilities and actions which these brigade commanders share. He argues that the application of these threads enables the orthodox ‘administration and training’ interpretation of the role of brigadier-generals to be successfully challenged as both unnecessarily narrow and unduly limited. This ground-breaking study is a significant addition to the historiography of generalship during the Great War.

“In this scholarly and penetrating study of brigade command at the Battle of Arras, Trevor Harvey has shed much valuable light on the crucial role played by the BEF’s ‘middle managers’ in the Great War, and has at last done justice to the men upon whom the actual conduct of military operations ‘at the sharp end’ so often devolved.” Professor Peter Simkins, University of Wolverhampton and President of the Western Front Association

“This excellent book provides a fascinating study of the role of British brigadiergenerals in the largely forgotten Battle of Arras 1917. Underpinned by comprehensive research and written in an informative and engaging style, this is an important new contribution to our understanding of command in the First World War and essential reading for any student of the conflict.” Dr. Spencer Jones, Senior Lecturer in Armed Forces and War Studies, Department of History Politics and War Studies, University of Wolverhampton

“Trevor Harvey has with this book made an important and long-awaited contribution to the literature on the BEF on the Western Front. Brigade command has been very much neglected until now. Trevor’s painstaking and in-depth research has produced a work which for the first time gives us a detailed insight into how this level of command functioned in the BEF. He has shown the human face of command by bringing out the personalities of his sample of brigadiergenerals and their staffs and subordinates. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of the BEF in the First World War. It is not written in a dry academic style and should be accessible to many other readers. My only regret is that the sheer volume of research required led him to focus on a narrow period. I hope he will be able to repeat the performance for other battles too.” Dr. Andy Simpson, Author of Directing Operations: British Corps Command on the Western Front 1914-18

 

Reviews from the hardback edition:

“This is the sort of book that Helion does so well - a specialist analysis that will be of benefit not only to historians and serving soldiers but also to the wargamer.” Miniature Wargames

“An Army of Brigadiers” is certainly good value at the prices I have seen...An interesting and important book.” Long Long Trail website

“Highly recommended - and an absolute must for those with specific interest in the Battle of Arras and events of 1917.” Britain at War

“This is a fascinating book for anyone with an interest in all things Western Front…And, in the centre of the book - Maps - big colourful, easy-to-read maps. Love it!” Wargames Soldiers Strategy

“The extensive research is comprehensively referenced, supported with data and well illustrated with maps and photographs…a must have for the serious student of the British and Commonwealth Armies of 1917. 5 stars.” SOLDIER Magazine

“ … Impressively researched… Harvey provides a wealth of fascinating detail and astute analysis, and makes a substantial contribution to the operational history of the under-researched Battle of Arras… At last, we have a weighty study of brigade command in the BEF, and we owe Trevor Harvey a debt of gratitude…” Stand To!

“as…..one would expect excellent research…….it fills a gap in the literature….superbly presented by Helion” SOFNAM 

“An Army of Brigadiers is an interesting read for the military historian and will provide scholars with an excellent foundation for further research. It is well footnoted and includes seven appendices including lists of brigade commanders at the Battle of Arras, Distinguished Service Order citations, and the relevant Orders of Battle.” Canadian Military History

"This excellent in-depth study of Brigade Commanders, their staff and their performance in battle is superb. The extensive research is comprehensively referenced, supported with data and well illustrated with maps and photographs. Not a light read but a must have for the serious student of the British and Commonwealth Armies of 1917." Despatches

"...Overall, this is an excellent and informative study and is highly recommended to all, from the scholar 
to the casual reader with just a passing interest in the organisational structure of command at the 
front and, the crucial role played by Brigade commanders during the Great War." Great War Group Salient Points Magazine