«A Slashing Man of Action»

The Life of Lieutenant-General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston MP

Nonfiction, History, European General, British
Cover of the book «A Slashing Man of Action» by Elaine McFarland, Peter Lang
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Elaine McFarland ISBN: 9783035399530
Publisher: Peter Lang Publication: October 16, 2014
Imprint: Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Language: English
Author: Elaine McFarland
ISBN: 9783035399530
Publisher: Peter Lang
Publication: October 16, 2014
Imprint: Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Language: English

Hailed by General Sir Ian Hamilton as «a slashing man of action», Aylmer Hunter-Weston began the Great War as one of the British Army’s rising stars. By its close, his reputation was very different. Branded by some contemporaries as a «butcher» and a «mountebank», he has also been criticised by modern military historians both for his role in the Gallipoli campaign and also at the Somme, where his corps suffered the worst losses of any engaged on the first day of the battle. Drawing on original archival research, this is the first full-length study of his colourful and controversial career. It explores how he gained his sanguinary reputation, and asks how far this was actually deserved. Rejecting a simplistic «butchers and bunglers» approach, it argues that Hunter-Weston was an intelligent and highly professional soldier, whose failures can best be understood by reference to the structural challenges of modern war on a mass scale. There is no doubt that his personal flaws and idiosyncrasies contributed to his woeful image, but he also emerges as a transitional figure, frustrated by a battlefield in which managerial skills had become more important than heroic personal leadership. Indeed, his career offers valuable glimpses into the practical business of generalship, including the under-researched «political» role of senior officers. While not one of Britain’s great commanders, «Hunter-Bunter» remains one of the most compelling.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Hailed by General Sir Ian Hamilton as «a slashing man of action», Aylmer Hunter-Weston began the Great War as one of the British Army’s rising stars. By its close, his reputation was very different. Branded by some contemporaries as a «butcher» and a «mountebank», he has also been criticised by modern military historians both for his role in the Gallipoli campaign and also at the Somme, where his corps suffered the worst losses of any engaged on the first day of the battle. Drawing on original archival research, this is the first full-length study of his colourful and controversial career. It explores how he gained his sanguinary reputation, and asks how far this was actually deserved. Rejecting a simplistic «butchers and bunglers» approach, it argues that Hunter-Weston was an intelligent and highly professional soldier, whose failures can best be understood by reference to the structural challenges of modern war on a mass scale. There is no doubt that his personal flaws and idiosyncrasies contributed to his woeful image, but he also emerges as a transitional figure, frustrated by a battlefield in which managerial skills had become more important than heroic personal leadership. Indeed, his career offers valuable glimpses into the practical business of generalship, including the under-researched «political» role of senior officers. While not one of Britain’s great commanders, «Hunter-Bunter» remains one of the most compelling.

More books from Peter Lang

Cover of the book Ertragsteuerrechtliche Behandlung grenzueberschreitender Spaltungen von Rechtstraegern by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Polnisch-deutsche Unternehmenskommunikation by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Cost Accounting in Anglophone Subsidiaries by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Towards Solving the Social Science Challenges with Computing Methods by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Der Einfluss des unionsrechtlichen Beihilfenverbots auf das deutsche Steuerrecht by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book «Bande dessinée» als Experiment by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Assessing Urban Governance by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Die Reaktion des europaeischen Beihilferechts auf die Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Institutions of Hanseatic Trade by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Fashion Tales by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Le journalisme flexible by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Poverty and Inequality in Ecuador, Brazil and Mexico after the 2008 Global Crisis by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Verbandshaftung bei Spielmanipulation durch Fußball-Schiedsrichter by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book Schweizer Jahrbuch fuer Musikwissenschaft- Annales Suisses de Musicologie- Annuario Svizzero di Musicologia by Elaine McFarland
Cover of the book The Convergence Crisis by Elaine McFarland
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy