The Doctrine of the British Army: The Conception & Implementation of Field Service Regulations in the British Army 1900-1918

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The Doctrine of the British Army is a comprehensive study of British military thought between 1900 and 1918. The work seeks to explain how Field Service Regulations defined appropriate tactics, for every Western Front battle, under French and under Haig; and how it dictated the evolution of fighting units, and support formations, throughout the war. Between 1909 and 1914, the British Army transformed into a modern professional army, fit to compete in a continental war, by establishing the flexible doctrine, within a rigid framework, which would guide it to victory in 1918. This doctrine and the men who established it have long been overlooked. Essential reading for students and researchers, The Doctrine of the British Army restores Field Service Regulations to their rightful place at the centre of the story of the British Army. Then, as now, non-adherence led to failure, compliance to success in battle, in logistics and in the administration of war. 13 b/w photos, 5 b/w maps

Author Bio

David Keable-Elliott is a retired general practitioner. In 2016, he published The Young Gunner, the story of his grandfather at war from 1914 to 1918. A research paper on the ineffectiveness of German artillery in 1914; and a book, Mons, an Artillery Battle, followed; all under the name David Hutchison. His recent research has focused on the origins and impact of Field Service Regulations on the British Army. His ground breaking paper was published, after peer-review, in 2023, challenging long-held perceptions on the British Army's performance on the Western Front.