George A. Webster

A daily Great War tweet using the words of the man who was C-in-C of the BEF, 1915-1919, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. And the No 1 Haig web resource is at:

[Peter Hart @PeterHart1915]

Was asked what historical TV prog would you most want to be involved in? Answer: 'Britian's Lost General' - on Haig our finest ever C-in-C!

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

4/9/14 - Retreat continues south to a chateau at Faramoutiers, three miles south-west of Coulommiers......

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

..... The night passed quietly except for attack by troops of Uhlans on an outpost of the Black Watch next Aulnoy. .....

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

....Canny Scots, they had attached a strand of barbed wire across the main road so that, when the German horsemen charged down......

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

....... and tried to gallop through the picket in the dark, the horses tripped up, eight Uhlans were killed and the officer was captured.

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

3/9/14 - Retreat continues. Spent night at La Fringale - a shooting box, evidently used by a syndicate of sportsmen from Paris.

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

2/9/14 - Retreat continues. Spent night at Meaux.........

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

....... which was like a city of the dead - no one moving in the streets except some aged men and women.

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

1/9/14 - Marched at daybreak. Rearguard (the Guards) heavily attacked mid morning........

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

..... Fighting continued until late evening with losses of 100 men before breaking with enemy.........

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

..... HQ established at chateau belonging to Mr Waddington, formerly French Ambassador to London.

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

31/8/14 - The whole of I Corps crossed the Aisne and billeted on its south side. HQ established at Villers-Cotterets....

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

...... It was daily becoming more evident that, unless some special arrangements were made for reducing the weight carried by the men.....

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

.... the Corps would not be able to continue its march for many more days without seriously impairing its value as a fighting force.....

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

..... I therefore decided to send off by train from Villers-Cotterets......

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

.. about half of the ammunition carried by the Divisional ammunition columns, and make use of the waggons to carry kits and exhausted men...

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

...... In this way fifty waggons per Division were released and were placed at the disposal of the Divisional Commanders.....

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

..... This was an extreme measure, but having regard to the nature of the operations in which we were engaged.......

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

... there seemed to be no likelihood of requiring even half the amount of ammunition normally carried by the Divisional ammunition columns..

[George A. Webster @Haigs_War]

.......In the end this arrangement was more than justified by the result.