THE SILENT GENERAL: HORNE OF THE FIRST ARMY

A Biography of Haig's Trusted Great War Comrade-in-Arms

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Last edited by Simon Oliver
January 3, 2020 | History

THE SILENT GENERAL: HORNE OF THE FIRST ARMY

A Biography of Haig's Trusted Great War Comrade-in-Arms

  • 2 Want to read

Whether or not Henry Sinclair Horne was the 'silent' General he might certainly, if he were still alive, lay claim to being the 'forgotten' General of the Western Front. His self-effacement in a profession not renowned for shrinking violets undoubtedly made its contribution to his relative anonymity - he wrote no memoirs nor kept anything more than sketchy diaries - but it is still surprising that such an important contributor to the defeat of the German army in the Great War has not until now received the attentions of a biographer. After a customary slow start in the late Victorian army, Henry Horne first made an impact during the Boer War, fortuitously as it was to turn out, under the eyes of a Colonel Douglas Haig. By the outbreak of the Great War, Henry Horne was a Brigadier General. Two years later he was a full General in command of the BEF's First Army. His was one of the most rapid elevations to top rank recorded in the war. In the two years he spent as an army commander he commanded the brilliant capture of Vimy Ridge, the desperate defensive Battle of the Lys, the successful assault on the Drocourt-Quéant Switch, the outstanding crossing of the Canal du Nord and the liberation of Douai, Cambrai, Lens, Valenciennes and Mons. Napoleon always sought to ensure that his generals were lucky. In that respect Henry Horne would have suited him. He was lucky in having a long-standing close professional relationship with the Commander-in-Chief, FM Haig; in having under his command at First Army the elite Canadian Corps and some distinguished British divisions; and in having as his Chief of Staff one of the outstanding staff officers of the war. But there was more to Henry Horne than just luck. This belated biography assesses Henry Horne's relationship with Haig and the Canadian Corps. It also evaluates his contribution to the technical advances of the artillery during the war and describes the battles which he conducted. It attempts to accord to Henry Horne the recognition and credit that he deserves but which has for so long been withheld.

Publish Date
Publisher
Helion and Company
Language
English
Pages
352

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Edition Availability
Cover of: THE SILENT GENERAL: HORNE OF THE FIRST ARMY
THE SILENT GENERAL: HORNE OF THE FIRST ARMY: A Biography of Haig's Trusted Great War Comrade-in-Arms
May 2007, Helion and Company
Hardcover in English

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Book Details


The Physical Object

Format
Hardcover
Number of pages
352
Dimensions
9.1 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
Weight
1.4 pounds

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL8655427M
ISBN 10
187462299X
ISBN 13
9781874622994
Library Thing
6527604
Goodreads
1652053

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History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
January 3, 2020 Edited by Simon Oliver Edited without comment.
April 28, 2010 Edited by Open Library Bot Linked existing covers to the work.
March 16, 2010 Edited by WorkBot update details
December 10, 2009 Created by WorkBot add works page