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The Kitchener Enigma: The Life and Death of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, 1850-1916
In this critically acclaimed biography, now fully updated, Royle revises Kitchener’s latter-day image as a stern taskmaster, the ultimate war lord, to reveal a caring man capable of displaying great loyalty and love to those close to him.
New light is thrown on his Irish childhood, his years in the Middle East as a biblical archaeologist, his attachment to the Arab cause and on the infamous struggle with Lord Curzon over control of the army in India.
In particular, Royle reassesses Kitchener’s role in the Great War, presenting his phenomenally successful recruitment campaign – ‘Your Country Needs You’ – as a major contribution to the Allied victory and rehabilitating him as a brilliant strategist who understood the importance of fighting the war on multiple fronts.
New light is thrown on his Irish childhood, his years in the Middle East as a biblical archaeologist, his attachment to the Arab cause and on the infamous struggle with Lord Curzon over control of the army in India.
In particular, Royle reassesses Kitchener’s role in the Great War, presenting his phenomenally successful recruitment campaign – ‘Your Country Needs You’ – as a major contribution to the Allied victory and rehabilitating him as a brilliant strategist who understood the importance of fighting the war on multiple fronts.
- GenresBiography
501 pages, ebook
First published September 16, 1985
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44 people want to read
About the author
Trevor Royle
56 books34 followersTrevor Royle is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Panel for Commemorating the First World War.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 20, 2020
This book is by no means a hatchet job, which in my view makes it all the more damning. There is no doubt in my mind, having read it, that Kitchener was a very Bad Thing indeed – and this is not an opinion I held before I started reading it.
He was tactically inept on the battlefield (this is Haig’s verdict – Haig! - on Omdurman). He was neglectful of the medical care of his own soldiers, and was a war criminal: shooting prisoners, destroying cultural monuments, and showing himself an utter barbarian e.g in using the Mahdi’s hollowed out skull as a drinking cup. It goes without saying that he was an egregious racist even by the standards of the time. I am also in no doubt about his essential greed and corruption.
Royle claims there is no direct evidence for his homosexuality. And yet Kitchener was obsessed with flower arranging, place settings, and handsome young ADC’s. If that’s not gay then I’m the Queen of Sheba.
There are a few things one can say in Kitchener’s favour. He was a better diplomat than he was a soldier: he completely outwitted the French in the Fashoda incident (not difficult) but also in such a way that war was prevented (far harder). He understood that the first world war would be much longer and need far more resources of everything than anyone else at first realised. He was undermined by deceitful popinjays like Sir John French and Lloyd George but showed himself more magnanimous than his small minded opponents (not difficult).
When he climbed aboard HMS Hampshire for his final voyage he was already yesterday’s man. His death was preventable but the result of incompetence and bad luck rather than conspiracy. This entire book is full of interest, but the detailed descriptions of the sinking of the Hampshire, with the last view of the doomed Kitchener standing on the deck as the ship slipped beneath the icy wind-whipped grey waves, is unforgettably sad and moving.
He was tactically inept on the battlefield (this is Haig’s verdict – Haig! - on Omdurman). He was neglectful of the medical care of his own soldiers, and was a war criminal: shooting prisoners, destroying cultural monuments, and showing himself an utter barbarian e.g in using the Mahdi’s hollowed out skull as a drinking cup. It goes without saying that he was an egregious racist even by the standards of the time. I am also in no doubt about his essential greed and corruption.
Royle claims there is no direct evidence for his homosexuality. And yet Kitchener was obsessed with flower arranging, place settings, and handsome young ADC’s. If that’s not gay then I’m the Queen of Sheba.
There are a few things one can say in Kitchener’s favour. He was a better diplomat than he was a soldier: he completely outwitted the French in the Fashoda incident (not difficult) but also in such a way that war was prevented (far harder). He understood that the first world war would be much longer and need far more resources of everything than anyone else at first realised. He was undermined by deceitful popinjays like Sir John French and Lloyd George but showed himself more magnanimous than his small minded opponents (not difficult).
When he climbed aboard HMS Hampshire for his final voyage he was already yesterday’s man. His death was preventable but the result of incompetence and bad luck rather than conspiracy. This entire book is full of interest, but the detailed descriptions of the sinking of the Hampshire, with the last view of the doomed Kitchener standing on the deck as the ship slipped beneath the icy wind-whipped grey waves, is unforgettably sad and moving.
November 10, 2022
I have finished reading “The Kitchener Enigma: The Life and Death of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum”. 1850-1916” by Trevor Royle.
This is a biography of Horatio Herbert Kitchener the legendary British General who is famous for his campaigns in Egypt, Sudan and South Africa (during the Boer War) and his time as Secretary of War during World War One. He was killed when his ship was sunk by a German mine in the North Sea in 1916.
Kitchener was born to a military family in rural Ireland where his family owned an estate. However, he was quick to note that while he was born in Ireland he definitely considered himself an Englishman. It was said that his family was not against the traditional British method of evicting tenant farmers’ families; setting their roof on fire and horsewhipping them. Unfortunately, his anti-Irish prejudice remained with him all of his life. He was closer to his mother than his father. Although befitting his class much of his young childhood experiences involved the intervention of a nanny. His mother died early in his life from illness and he kept in contact with his father, although they were never especially close.
Kitchener’s was commissioned as a Military Engineer after training in the Woolwich Military Academy. Kitchener’s first assignment seemed in many ways more archaeological than military. He was assigned to help survey parts of the Holy Lands, provoking a lifelong fascination with Arabic culture. In contrast to his anti-Irish views, Kitchener loved Arabic culture and became a fluent Arabic speaker. This led him neatly into a career which centred mainly on the Holy Lands, Egypt and eventually Sudan. His natural fluency with negotiating with Arabic speaking tribes in southern Egypt allowed him to rise through the ranks in intelligence gathering roles.
Kitchener was a gifted officer but in terms of getting the assignments he wanted, he knew he was in a crowded field. Kitchener learned to play politics, cultivating contacts in important social circles who could lobby for his desired assignments on his behalf. These lobbying efforts were vital to him soon becoming a well-known British imperial hero.
Kitchener’s commanding of the campaign in Sudan in the late 1890s is what really made his reputation. His assignment was to help a combined force of the Egyptian Army (effectively commanded by the British) and British Forces advance down the Nile to Khartoum. British tabloid press called for British honour to be restored after the fanatical Muslim Mahdi Army overran Khartoum and executed the British Governor Gordon. A combination of Kitchener’s hard military logistical organisation, the warm regard of his troops and his sheer will to succeed brought overwhelming Imperial forces to bare on the Mahdi’s Army. The Battle of Omdurman consequently led to the complete defeat of the Mahdi’s forces, although Kitchener’s lack of experience commanding formations nearly led to a fatal mistake at the end. Nevertheless, honours, fame and further promotion followed.
Apart from the Sudan his most famous assignment must have been his assignment as Minister of War during World War One. The author gives a firm and fair assessment of his time in this office. The Shells Crisis, was indeed in part due to Kitchener’s late misunderstanding about the importance of using High Explosive shells against trenches, although he did remedy this. But legitimate praise is given for him organising the complicated military production base to get anywhere near the production levels necessary to meet the challenges of war against industrialised opponents. Chancellor David Lloyd George’s case against Kitchener in his crusade to side line him was in small part due to legitimate concern, but much of it was sheer shameless political scheming. British Field Marshal John French was a shameless collaborator in this. But Kitchener for his faults never wanted a political position. He saw himself as a soldier and had a complete distaste for political scheming.
In conclusion I believe this book gives a thorough recounting of Kitchener’s life. I would say in the interests of fairness there is more storytelling than analysis of the man’s actions. But where there is analysis legitimate points are made. This is no shameless glamorisation or hatchet job but a warts and all account. Like many characters, he is shown as having inexplicable contributions. He had a love of Arabic culture but looked with disdain on the Irish and the Welsh. He was driven to accept a dreaded political role on the outbreak of WW1 but served his country when asked. Despite his sense of duty he could be light fingered and was known to simply walk off with trinkets he liked from people’s houses. But he saw many big military logistical problems clearly and called out the prices of solving them with grim frankness. An example of this is when during an early cabinet meeting at the start of WW1, Kitchener carefully explained to the politicians present why the war would be bloodier and longer than they ever imagined.
But the standout bit for myself was the part that ran through the events leading to the death of Kitchener at sea and the aftermath. It is very clear from the author’s meticulous research that the subsequent Naval Inquiries were marred by incomplete evidence being submitted to them. The events that led to Kitchener’s death have not been called outright a cover up. But it is clear that vital pieces of the puzzle were conveniently omitted to spare the embarrassment of decision makers who made clear mistakes.
This is a biography of Horatio Herbert Kitchener the legendary British General who is famous for his campaigns in Egypt, Sudan and South Africa (during the Boer War) and his time as Secretary of War during World War One. He was killed when his ship was sunk by a German mine in the North Sea in 1916.
Kitchener was born to a military family in rural Ireland where his family owned an estate. However, he was quick to note that while he was born in Ireland he definitely considered himself an Englishman. It was said that his family was not against the traditional British method of evicting tenant farmers’ families; setting their roof on fire and horsewhipping them. Unfortunately, his anti-Irish prejudice remained with him all of his life. He was closer to his mother than his father. Although befitting his class much of his young childhood experiences involved the intervention of a nanny. His mother died early in his life from illness and he kept in contact with his father, although they were never especially close.
Kitchener’s was commissioned as a Military Engineer after training in the Woolwich Military Academy. Kitchener’s first assignment seemed in many ways more archaeological than military. He was assigned to help survey parts of the Holy Lands, provoking a lifelong fascination with Arabic culture. In contrast to his anti-Irish views, Kitchener loved Arabic culture and became a fluent Arabic speaker. This led him neatly into a career which centred mainly on the Holy Lands, Egypt and eventually Sudan. His natural fluency with negotiating with Arabic speaking tribes in southern Egypt allowed him to rise through the ranks in intelligence gathering roles.
Kitchener was a gifted officer but in terms of getting the assignments he wanted, he knew he was in a crowded field. Kitchener learned to play politics, cultivating contacts in important social circles who could lobby for his desired assignments on his behalf. These lobbying efforts were vital to him soon becoming a well-known British imperial hero.
Kitchener’s commanding of the campaign in Sudan in the late 1890s is what really made his reputation. His assignment was to help a combined force of the Egyptian Army (effectively commanded by the British) and British Forces advance down the Nile to Khartoum. British tabloid press called for British honour to be restored after the fanatical Muslim Mahdi Army overran Khartoum and executed the British Governor Gordon. A combination of Kitchener’s hard military logistical organisation, the warm regard of his troops and his sheer will to succeed brought overwhelming Imperial forces to bare on the Mahdi’s Army. The Battle of Omdurman consequently led to the complete defeat of the Mahdi’s forces, although Kitchener’s lack of experience commanding formations nearly led to a fatal mistake at the end. Nevertheless, honours, fame and further promotion followed.
Apart from the Sudan his most famous assignment must have been his assignment as Minister of War during World War One. The author gives a firm and fair assessment of his time in this office. The Shells Crisis, was indeed in part due to Kitchener’s late misunderstanding about the importance of using High Explosive shells against trenches, although he did remedy this. But legitimate praise is given for him organising the complicated military production base to get anywhere near the production levels necessary to meet the challenges of war against industrialised opponents. Chancellor David Lloyd George’s case against Kitchener in his crusade to side line him was in small part due to legitimate concern, but much of it was sheer shameless political scheming. British Field Marshal John French was a shameless collaborator in this. But Kitchener for his faults never wanted a political position. He saw himself as a soldier and had a complete distaste for political scheming.
In conclusion I believe this book gives a thorough recounting of Kitchener’s life. I would say in the interests of fairness there is more storytelling than analysis of the man’s actions. But where there is analysis legitimate points are made. This is no shameless glamorisation or hatchet job but a warts and all account. Like many characters, he is shown as having inexplicable contributions. He had a love of Arabic culture but looked with disdain on the Irish and the Welsh. He was driven to accept a dreaded political role on the outbreak of WW1 but served his country when asked. Despite his sense of duty he could be light fingered and was known to simply walk off with trinkets he liked from people’s houses. But he saw many big military logistical problems clearly and called out the prices of solving them with grim frankness. An example of this is when during an early cabinet meeting at the start of WW1, Kitchener carefully explained to the politicians present why the war would be bloodier and longer than they ever imagined.
But the standout bit for myself was the part that ran through the events leading to the death of Kitchener at sea and the aftermath. It is very clear from the author’s meticulous research that the subsequent Naval Inquiries were marred by incomplete evidence being submitted to them. The events that led to Kitchener’s death have not been called outright a cover up. But it is clear that vital pieces of the puzzle were conveniently omitted to spare the embarrassment of decision makers who made clear mistakes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2022
Fascinating book about the very busy life and times of Lord Kitchener, with whom I share a surname. Are we related? Not sure! (But I got called 'Lord' at high school by a teacher). Learnt so much about one of Britain's most beloved military figures. There's lots more to the man than the famous recruiting poster and that cariacture-ish version of him we see so often portrayed. Royle is eminently readable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews