FUTILE EXERCISE?: The British Army's Preparations for War 1902-1914

1-246380

Considers whether the claim that the British Army was the best trained, best organized, and best equipped army which ever went forth to war is justified. Conventional wisdom has it that the British Army in 1914 was utterly unprepared for the development of trench warfare from October 1914 onwards, and that it took many lives and a costly 'learning curve' for the British to come to terms with the new conditions of warfare. Raises issues about how armies learn from their experiences and how they prepare for war without employing bullets and shells. Contains 50 black and white photos and illustrations, as well as 4 black and white maps.