Infantry COs
British Infantry Battalion Commanders of the First World War
British Infantry Battalion Commanders of the First World War
Over 5,000 officers are known to have served as infantry battalion commanders during the Great War.
Over 5,000 officers are known to have served as infantry battalion commanders during the Great War.
These officers emerged from a small cadre of professionals and amateurs (the former chosen on seniority, the latter on social position) and, with an infusion of adept citizens, evolved into a tough, experienced group promoted largely on merit.
Peter's first book evolved from his PhD research ...
Peter's first book evolved from his PhD research ...
Published by Ashgate (and now by Routledge) in 2015, the book covers the COs of August 1914; the 'dugouts' who commanded the newly raised battalions; the hiring and firing of COs and the evolution of battalion command; the citizens of 1914 who with no previous military experience rose to this level of command in the second half of the war; the then concepts of leadership; and, finally, the issue of whether a meritocracy in command developed.
He is currently working on a regimental directory of infantry COs.
He is currently working on a regimental directory of infantry COs.
Review in 'Stand To!'
(Journal of the Western Front Association)
“This is an important book. The research is impressive, the text clear, the conclusions are sound and illuminating.”
Reviewing the book for Strife Journal,
Dr William Philpott, author of Bloody Victory, wrote:
“This book is highly recommended as an important contribution to the study of the British army in the First World War, and of military command more broadly.”
Geoffrey Hayes, writing for H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online
concluded:
“This is a remarkable piece of scholarship, a fine example of the Birmingham school of military history. The combination of statistical work and rich personal accounts stands as a testament to the author’s exhaustive curiosity.”
In addition to his book on COs ...
Peter has contributed a chapter on 'The Infantry Battalion Commanding Officers of the BEF' to Spencer Jones's book on 1914, Stemming the Tide
(Helion 2013); and another on 'Infantry Battalion Command on the Somme' in Spencer's book on 1916, At All Costs
(Helion 2018).
His article written jointly with Australian historian Dr William Westerman, 'Fit to Command a Battalion', on the training of COs at Senior Officer School, Aldershot, appeared in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (2015), pp.120-138.
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Wilmot Rickman
The expansion of the British Army 1914-15 created a need for battalion Commanding Officers. Many were 'dug out' of retirement. These men have come to be seen as out of date, physically unfit, and generally less than competent.
Arthur Rickman was a retired officer of the Northumberland Fusiliers, appointed to command the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, the 'Accrington Pals'. In contrast to the trope concerning such officers, he was highly efficient, commanding for the entire war. Peter has written about his development as an officer ...
