http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UZLpvzEyWE
HAIG: UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Douglas Haig in Life, Death and Memory
A brief biography of Haig Born in Edinburgh in 1861 to a middle class
family- both his parents had died by the time he was 18
Gained a place at Oxford University- spent more time socialising at the Bulllingdon club and playing polo than studying
Entered Sandhurst and joined the army, whilst also representing England at polo
Distinguished himself in the Sudan War (1898) and the Boer War (1899-92) and was mentioned in dispatches four times
Was made Chief od Staff in India in 1909 By 1914 had gained a reputation for:- Organisation- Administration- Quarreling with other army officers
Haig in the War 1914-1918 Haig acted as one of the key
commanders of the British army under Sir John French, who he had served under in the Boer War
By September 1915 Haig had taken over command due to the British army’s poor performance at Loos (and through shafting his boss French politically to take command)
Haig was in command through the rest of the war including at the Somme (1916) and Passchendaele (1917)- both offensives that saw a vast British death toll
Two Sources that Define Haig
‘The weather report is favourable for tomorrow. With God’s help, I feel hopeful. The men are in splendid spirits. The wire has never been so well cut, nor the Artillery preparation so thorough.’
‘Every position must be held to the last man; there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end.’
Diary, Day before Somme 1916
Speech, Rallying Troops 1918
Crowd to Welcome Haig at St. Andrews, 1919
Post-War, 1918-28
Earl Haig FundPublic Figure British Legion President
Haig in Death, 1918-28
Haig in Death, 1918-28
‘He was incomparably the finest soldier of this fateful age… His memory will live and grow with the grandeur of the events and which he strove and over which in the end ruled.’ Winston Churchill
British Legion Journal- Memorial Issue for Haig’s Death
Haig the Hero