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Command in the Royal Naval Division: A Military Biography of Brigadier General A.M. Asquith, DSO
Arthur Asquith was the Prime Minister's son, friend of Winston Churchill and Rupert Brooke, and one of the most gifted and courageous amateur soldiers of the Great War. He rose from Sub Lieutenant to Brigadier in just over three years, won three DSOs for gallantry, the Croix de Guerre, was wounded four times and recommended for the Victoria Cross and Distinguished Service Cross—becoming a legend to both his fellow officers and men. This book looks back at his illustrious military career.
238 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1999
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March 22, 2019
Arthur Asquith, third son of the British Prime Minister at the start of the Great War in 1914 was a great man in his own right. Not as a politician, civil servant, or business tycoon but as an Officer in the Royal Navy. Immediately visages of daring do at sea in great battles come to mind, but there is a forgotten aspect of the Royal Navy’s contribution, one where over 40 percent of all their casualties occurred. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, devised a way for the large number of stokers (men who shoveled and trimmed the fires in coal fired warships) excess to the revolutionary replacement of coal with oil, to contribute to the war effort.
Unique in the history of the war, these men and a brigade of Royal Marines formed the Royal Naval Division, a front line infantry formation that fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in many of the most horrific battles of that horrific war. Sub-lieutenant Asquith joined the division at its formation. Wounded four times, he rose from Sub-lieutenant (Ensign in the US Navy) to Brigadier General in less than four years.
Frequently decorated and “mentioned in dispatches”, he not only fought the Turks and Germans, but all the English political efforts to assign him to safe posts on the death of his elder brother. He deserved the Victoria Cross, but was denied for the sake of “appearances”.
Captain Cristopher Page’s stellar biography of Asquith in the context of the Royal Naval Division is a major contribution to the documentation of World War I. Captivatingly written and perfectly edited I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful read. The descriptions of Asquith’s fearless recognizances of German positions, unsurpassed leadership in battle, and constant concern for the wellbeing and effectiveness of his men are superb. For any serious student of the Great War, I highly recommend this serious literary contribution.
George W Jackson
Captain USN (Ret)
aka G. William Weatherly (author of the Sheppard series)
Unique in the history of the war, these men and a brigade of Royal Marines formed the Royal Naval Division, a front line infantry formation that fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front in many of the most horrific battles of that horrific war. Sub-lieutenant Asquith joined the division at its formation. Wounded four times, he rose from Sub-lieutenant (Ensign in the US Navy) to Brigadier General in less than four years.
Frequently decorated and “mentioned in dispatches”, he not only fought the Turks and Germans, but all the English political efforts to assign him to safe posts on the death of his elder brother. He deserved the Victoria Cross, but was denied for the sake of “appearances”.
Captain Cristopher Page’s stellar biography of Asquith in the context of the Royal Naval Division is a major contribution to the documentation of World War I. Captivatingly written and perfectly edited I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful read. The descriptions of Asquith’s fearless recognizances of German positions, unsurpassed leadership in battle, and constant concern for the wellbeing and effectiveness of his men are superb. For any serious student of the Great War, I highly recommend this serious literary contribution.
George W Jackson
Captain USN (Ret)
aka G. William Weatherly (author of the Sheppard series)
Displaying 1 of 1 review