- from ‘the War Illustrated Deluxe’, vol. IV page 1119
- 'General Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B.'
Personalia of the Great War
- two portraits - left from a war-time French magazine
- right from an earlier official portrait
Nothing was mere remarkable in the early months of the Great War than the changed view of the German forces in the field in reference to "French's contemptible little army." Our men were splendid. Again and again the crack line regiments of the enemy were hurled against them in vain. The famous Prussian Guard failed no less disastrously when set against them than did the Kaiser's pet Bavarians. It takes nothing from their prowess when it is added that they were splendidly led. And of all their leaders none rendered more marked and distinguished service in critical situations than General Sir Douglas Haig.
His Early Work and Honours
Born en June 19th, 1861, Douglas Haig was the younger son of John Haig, J.P., of Cameronbridge, Fifeshire, and Rachel, fourth daughter of Hugh Veitch, of Stewart- field, Midlothian. Educated at Clifton and Brasenose College, Oxford, he went on to Sandhurst, and then, in 1885, joined the 7th Hussars, passed the Staff College, and in 1888 was adjutant of his regiment. It was not until 1898 that he gained his first experience of active service. This was in the Soudan, with Kitchener, with whom he was present at the Battles of the Atbara and Omdurman. Mentioned in despatches, he was promoted to the brevet rank of Major, and gained both the British medal and the Khedive's medal with two clasps.
On the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899 he was specially promoted to take over the colonelcy of the 17th Lancers (the "Death or Glory Boys"), and accompanied Sir John French to Natal as Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General for Cavalry. Present at nearly every important action, including the Battles of Elandslaagte, Reitfontein, Paardeburg, Diamond Hill, and the Relief of Kimberley, he was Chief Staff Officer to General French during the important actions around Colesberg. At one time he had no fewer than fifty columns under his command, and proved himself a cavalry leader full of dash, courage, and initiative. Thrice mentioned in despatches, he was appointed A.D.C. to King Edward, promoted to the rank of Brevet-Colonel, and awarded two medals with nine clasps, each clasp commemorating a general engagement in which he took part. In addition he was made a Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
India, Marriage, Authorship, and Staff Duties
In the year 1903, when he was made a Companion of the Victorian Order, he went out to India as Inspector-General of Cavalry, holding this post till 1906. In the meantime, in 1904, he was raised to the rank of Major-General; and, in 1905, married the Honourable Dorothy Vivian, daughter of the third Lord Vivian. The wedding was one of the most notable of the society functions of the year, the ceremony taking place in the King's private chapel at Buckingham Palace, when both King and Queen were present, signed the register, and afterwards entertained the happy pair at a wedding breakfast. There is one daughter of the union. "Lucky Haig," as he was known in the Service, became a society as well as a military cognomen for the gallant officer.
From 1906 to 1907 Major-General Haig fulfilled the-duties of Director of Military Training, and about this time published a valuable little book on " Cavalry Studies," which proved that in theory as well as in practice he was in the run of the cavalry leaders of the day, his book taking its place beside the similar studies of Field- Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood. A year later Major-General Haig was Director of Staff Duties at Army Headquarters, and became in 1909 a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order. He then went out again to India as Chief of Staff, remaining there till 1912, being invested in 1911 with the insignia of a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.
From 1912 to the outbreak of the Great War Sir Douglas Haig was General Officer commanding at Aldershot, his services being further signalised by his appointment as a K.C.B.
When Germany set Europe in flames in August, 1914, Sir Douglas Haig was appointed by Lord Kitchener to the command of the First Army Corps, and so once again was in close co-operation with Sir John French in the field.
His name appears repeatedly in the first, third, and fourth despatches of the Commander-in-Chief. First of all came the ordeal of the retreat from Mons to the Bavai-Maubeuge line. Then the desperate fighting south and east of Maroilles and the withdrawal of his troops to a safer position in the darkness of night. Throughout, Sir Douglas Haig displayed to the full those high qualities which had won for him so rapid a promotion in the past.
High Praise from General French
Next came the formidable fighting along the Aisne. We find Sir John French writing thus of the engagements which were fought on September 14th: "The action of the First Corps en this day under the direction and command of Sir Douglas Haig was of so skilful, bold, and decisive a character that he gained positions which alone have enabled me to maintain my position for more than three weeks of very severe fighting on the north bank of the river." Again, in the same despatch, is this further testimony: "I cannot speak too highly of the valuable services rendered by Sir Douglas Haig and the Army Corps under his command. Day after day and night after night the enemy's infantry has been hurled against him in violent counter-attack which has never on any one occasion succeeded, while the trenches all over his position have been under continuous heavy artillery fire. The operations of the First Corps on this day (September 14th) resulted in the capture of several hundred prisoners, some field-pieces, and machine-guns."
The History he made at Ypres
As in the masterly retreat from Mons and in the battles of the Aisne, so in the even greater ordeal of the fighting around Ypres and Armentieres Sir Douglas Haig was ever to the fore, bold, dashing, tireless, and effective himself, and the cause of gigantic efforts of heroism on the part of those under him. It must have been a bitter disappointment to him when the plan for the capture of Bruges and the driving back of the fee in the direction of Ghent had, perforce, to fall through in October.
When the commands were reorganised Sir Douglas Haig took over, in addition to the duties of controlling the movements of the First Corps, both the 7th Division and the 3rd Cavalry Division of the Fourth Corps. Vivid pen-pictures have been vouchsafed us of the glorious stand of British arms against the desperate and all but overwhelming forces with which the Germans endeavoured to capture the ancient Belgian town of Ypres. But not a tithe of the full history of the immortal struggle has yet appeared. Nor is it likely to appear till some considerable time after the war, in which it was but an unforgettable incident. On one day alone, towards the end of October, nearly the whole of Sir Douglas Haig's command was employed in counter- attack.
His Rise to the Rank of General
The determination of the foe to break through the British line, regardless of cost, seemed unceasing. Regiment after regiment of the line was sent forward, only to be broken in turn. In November, urged on by almost frantic orders from Berlin, the redoubtable Prussian Guard took up the venture, to be repulsed with " enormous loss." No wonder that Sir John French, writing en November 20th, found it all but impossible to express his admiration for the prowess and skill in command and the heroism of the troops which survived such historic and unprecedented onslaughts. "Throughout this trying period," he declared, "Sir Douglas Haig, ably assisted by his Divisional and Brigade Commanders, held the line with marvellous tenacity and undaunted courage. Words fail me to express the admiration I feel for their conduct, or my sense of the incalculable services they rendered. I venture to predict that their deeds during these days of stress and trial will furnish some of the most brilliant chapters which will be found in the military history of our time."
On November 16th, 1914, Sir Douglas Haig was promoted to the rank of full General "for distinguished service in the field"; and in June, 1915, he was awarded the G.C.B.
