Chateau generals?
'One of many first-world-war myths exploded by Holmes concerns the bravery (or lack of it) of Britain’s most senior officers. In fact, says Holmes, some 58 general officers were killed in the war, many near the front line. Ten generals held the Victoria Cross, and 126 the DSO. As Holmes asserts, “Much can be said about the generals of the first world war, but they were certainly not physical cowards.”'
Hew Strachan in the Sunday Times. I wonder what constitutes a general officer and if all of them were British.
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The source that Richard Holmes used was Bloody Red Tabs by Graham Maddocks and Frank Davies. It has short biographies of about 70 generals who were killed, and about 200 who were wounded. I think the figure of 58 may be Western Front only. They cover Dominion troops as well as British.
The definition of general officer was Brigadier General and above - in WW2, Brigadiers no longer ranked as generals.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0850524636/qid=1084277485/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_8_3/202-4359425-2249428
The source that Richard Holmes used was Bloody Red Tabs by Graham Maddocks and Frank Davies. It has short biographies of about 70 generals who were killed, and about 200 who were wounded. I think the figure of 58 may be Western Front only. They cover Dominion troops as well as British.
The definition of general officer was Brigadier General and above - in WW2, Brigadiers no longer ranked as generals.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0850524636/qid=1084277485/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_8_3/202-4359425-2249428
Posted by Dave Collins on May 11, 2004