Douglas Haig: War Diaries & Letters 19141918

by Douglas Haig, John M. Bourne (Editor)

There's a commonly held view that Douglas Haig was a bone-headed, callous butcher, who through his incompetence as commander of the British Army in WWI, killed a generation of young men on the Somme and Passchendaele. On the other hand there are those who view Haig as a man who successfully struggled with appalling difficulties to produce an army which took the lead in defeating Germany in 1918, winning the greatest series of victories in British Military history. Just as the success of the Alanbrooke war diaries can be put down to its 'horse's mouth' view of Churchill and the conduct of WWII, so Haig's Diaries, hitherto only previously available in bowdlerised form, give the C-in-C's view of Asquith - he records him getting drunk and incapable - and his successor Lloyd George, of whom he was highly critical. As Haig records the relationship it was stormy ('I have no great opinion of L.G as a man or leader' - Sept 1916). The diaries show him intriguing with the King (George V) vs. Lloyd George. Additional - and never previously published - are his day by day accounts of the key battles of the war, not least the Somme campaign of 1916.' I found Foch (Allied C-in-C) most selfish and obstinate...Foch suffers from a swollen head, and thinks himself another Napoleon.' Haig is revealed as an early admirer of the tank and of the 'airoplane'. He revels in turning the well-meaning BEF under Sir John French into the professional fighting force that eventualy one the war.

Genres: History, World War I, Biography

550 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Shake n' Vac]

What is excellent about this selection of entries as chosen by Sheffield and Bourne - two lads that work locally to me and don't seem to have done too bad for themselves - is that they aim to reflect Haig as widely as possible (militarily, politically and socially). The introduction is balanced with the editors admitting their own former prejudices (albeit historical prejudice), then reassessment, of Haig; however, this isn't one of those works that comes down on one side or another (and it is only an introduction, anyway), but offers valid criticism as well as sympathy to his position at different times.

The overwhelming part of this book is, as the title says, extracts from Haig's copious diary entries from the war years. Haig kept a diary for longer than the war year - proving it wasn't a financial thing; and, in fact, he never intended any publication while he was alive. Anyway, read the diary and see what Haig had to say for himself.... but think on what Sheffield and Bourne say and try, as they did, to set aside prejudice and set him into his context; if you do, and then call him a womble, then fair play.

[Garth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historic content rather than good writing.
In the Introduction the Editor discounts the saying "Lions led by Donkeys", but I'm not convinced this diary disproved that theorem.
I found Haig's politicking, his preoccupation with "the men" saluting properly, his repeated claim that the common soldiers were in good spirit, and his apparently casual acceptance of casualties in their thousands quite disagreeable.

[Errol Cavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much-needed addition to any Great War Library. For the first time we have a an authorativley edited edition of extensive extracts from his 38 manuscript volume of his wartime diary and letters. They provide an important insight into one of the most contyroversial commanders olf modern times.

[Tony Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really changed my mind on Haig, and I'm thankful for it. brilliant

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I read this was because I wanted to research into my grandfathers brother Richard Redman. He was killed in the battle of the Somme in August 1916.
On page 222 dated August 23rd 1916 he describes and complains about the very action that lead to the death of my great uncle.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

helps one to understand the vagaries of the man and why he received and continues to receive less than favourble comments