Very enjoyable lecture. I've been a member of the WFA for several years now & cannot recall a good word ever mentioned about Lloyd George. My wait continues...
Lol. It's so funny. And my man Andy Lambert is going around basically tea-bagging everyone in power back then. Respectfully, and fully dignified in his approach, but a ☕ 🛍️ nonetheless
An excellent summation of someone who continues to be downplayed by the histories, who played an important role in keeping Britain and the Empah in the fight when things were darkest. The soldiers who did the fighting, from whose ranks he came, were his main concern. 1:02:12 I have to take exception to the French "ceased to fight for (...) most of" the year in the wake of the 1917 mutinies. They would defend against any attack, and engage in gathering intelligence (trench raids), and small attacks, but large scale offensive operations (à la Nivelle) were out of the question. Verdun followed by Nivelle's Champagne offensive, had wasted too much blood. Their air forces were also very active. But the Germans were, after all, *on their soil*, and driving them out was in the mind of most, if not necessarily, all, of the poilus in the lines.
I do truly admire Robertson and his rise to the top. Although I'm an American with a relatively different class society than in the UK, there are still some barriers for lower-class people with less money have to get through to reach the highest positions of society, as how much money you have does unfortunately influence how much power and influence you'll gain. That being said, I have to disagree with Robertson's dedication to the Western strategy that Beadle seems to agree with. Germany was the big dog in the fight and had to be defeated, but if you just concentrate on one front and not coordinate with your allies, the enemy can use most of their resources against you, making it harder to defeat them. Although the British politicians may have taken it a bit too far in a way, I actually think that the Eastern strategy did have some merit to it, as that attacking Germany's weaker allies forces them to fight on multiple fronts and divide their precious resources and manpower to prop their allies up and keep them from being knocked out of the war. It's very similar to how the Allies operated in situations like in the Balkans in 1915 to help Serbia and in Italy after Caporetto in 1917 to help the Italians. It should also be noted that there were more opportunities for mobility in certain areas of the East during the war; it was not entirely like the Western Front, as Robertson didn't realize. Robertson had some good ideas in the Western strategy and in staff work/coordination, but I think his inflexibility in grand strategy and inability to work with the politicians hurt him.
As an FYI. Wully was 16L. 16/5L have another Tpr to Maj Gen who served in A Sqn from 1986-89, leaving us to attend RMAS by recommendation of his Tp Ldr & Sqn Ldr retiring as a Maj Gen!
I was somewhat surprised that at 2:14 there was a reference to him having had "bum fights" with Loyd George...listened several times...only to eventually realize he said bun fights... which made more sense 😂
Industrial unrest was partly caused by "dilution," de-skilling jobs to allow women to work in war factories. This caused resentment by skilled men who saw their security under threat.
Yes in theory, but said soldier woud ve very unlikely to have gone through as many of the non-commisioned ranks as Robertson did. It would take a truly exceptional (and lucky) Soldier to make WO2 before 30, and anyone aiming for a Comm ission would have been noticed/picked out well before then.
Very enjoyable lecture. I've been a member of the WFA for several years now & cannot recall a good word ever mentioned about Lloyd George. My wait continues...
Lol. It's so funny. And my man Andy Lambert is going around basically tea-bagging everyone in power back then. Respectfully, and fully dignified in his approach, but a ☕ 🛍️ nonetheless
What a career, what a man!
What a wonderful exposé. Thank you very much.
Thanks for this a very fascinating character
Superb talk, absolutely fascinating study of Robertson. You should finish that book Ross.
Agreed. Ross, get that book written and published. Robertson career deserves more exposure and analysis.
An excellent summation of someone who continues to be downplayed by the histories,
who played an important role in keeping Britain and the Empah in the fight when things were darkest.
The soldiers who did the fighting, from whose ranks he came, were his main concern.
1:02:12 I have to take exception to the French "ceased to fight for (...) most of" the year in the wake of the 1917 mutinies.
They would defend against any attack, and engage in gathering intelligence (trench raids), and small attacks, but large scale offensive operations (à la Nivelle) were out of the question.
Verdun followed by Nivelle's Champagne offensive, had wasted too much blood.
Their air forces were also very active.
But the Germans were, after all, *on their soil*, and driving them out was in the mind of most, if not necessarily, all, of the poilus in the lines.
I do truly admire Robertson and his rise to the top. Although I'm an American with a relatively different class society than in the UK, there are still some barriers for lower-class people with less money have to get through to reach the highest positions of society, as how much money you have does unfortunately influence how much power and influence you'll gain.
That being said, I have to disagree with Robertson's dedication to the Western strategy that Beadle seems to agree with. Germany was the big dog in the fight and had to be defeated, but if you just concentrate on one front and not coordinate with your allies, the enemy can use most of their resources against you, making it harder to defeat them. Although the British politicians may have taken it a bit too far in a way, I actually think that the Eastern strategy did have some merit to it, as that attacking Germany's weaker allies forces them to fight on multiple fronts and divide their precious resources and manpower to prop their allies up and keep them from being knocked out of the war. It's very similar to how the Allies operated in situations like in the Balkans in 1915 to help Serbia and in Italy after Caporetto in 1917 to help the Italians. It should also be noted that there were more opportunities for mobility in certain areas of the East during the war; it was not entirely like the Western Front, as Robertson didn't realize. Robertson had some good ideas in the Western strategy and in staff work/coordination, but I think his inflexibility in grand strategy and inability to work with the politicians hurt him.
Great presentation, thank you.
This is my great great uncle
What year with Robertson server in to the Island. I was very interested on this topical.
As an FYI. Wully was 16L. 16/5L have another Tpr to Maj Gen who served in A Sqn from 1986-89, leaving us to attend RMAS by recommendation of his Tp Ldr & Sqn Ldr retiring as a Maj Gen!
I was somewhat surprised that at 2:14 there was a reference to him having had "bum fights" with Loyd George...listened several times...only to eventually realize he said bun fights... which made more sense 😂
Nothing would surprise me about L-G though!
Were the amount of industrial strikes an influence in the lack of armaments being produced?
Industrial unrest was partly caused by "dilution," de-skilling jobs to allow women to work in war factories. This caused resentment by skilled men who saw their security under threat.
Would that today be possible, rising from private-trooper to general?
Yes in theory, but said soldier woud ve very unlikely to have gone through as many of the non-commisioned ranks as Robertson did. It would take a truly exceptional (and lucky) Soldier to make WO2 before 30, and anyone aiming for a Comm ission would have been noticed/picked out well before then.
I live 50 metres from the house he grew up in..👍