Strategy, World War I, National & International Security, Military, Political Science 

British Fighting Methods in the Great War is a collection of modern writings by leading experts on the war on the Western Front. Whereas much attention has traditionally been given to strategic or political matters, these essays highlight tactical issues. They show that the British high command could boast more achievements in tactics than is usually assumed.
Paddy Griffith assesses the extent of tactical reform in the British Army resulting from the first day of the Somme and finds that considerable progress was already being made by the time of the notorious battle of Passchendaele. Colonel Jonathan Bailey shows how quickly British artillery manage to progress from a very backward state in 1914 into what was to remain its essential form for most of the twentieth century. The combat motivation of the ‘New Armies’ in the final campaign forms the subject of Peter Simkin’s contribution- and he finds them considerably more competent than their critics believed. Dr G.D. Sheffield reveals the (perhaps surprising) role of the British Military police, while Geoffrey Noon makes a long overdue medical analysis of the treatment of casualties, dispelling much mythology. Dr J. P. Harris traces the rise of armour, including a novel view of tank headquarters, and Dr Stephen Badsey highlights the often misunderstood importance of the cavalry in the development of breakthrough doctrine. Finally, John Lee describes the new spirit inspiring the rising generation of BEF studies, with particular reference to work in progress on the divisional histories.
 

This collection points out the very real and substantial evolution of tactics that went on in response to new warfare and how this had a real effect on the positive performance of the British Army from 1916 onwards. - from Amzon 

CONTENT

Figures of Tables ...............................................................................vii

Notes on Contributions .......................................................................ix

- Introduction by Paddy Grifith .............................................................xi

1. The Extent of Tactical Reform in the British Army by Paddy Grifith ........P. 1

2. British Artillery in the Great War by Jonathan Bailey ...........................P. 23

3. Co-stars or Supporting Cast? British Division in the
Hundred Days; 1918 by Peter Simkins .................................................P. 50

4. The Operation Role of British Military Police on the
Western Front, 1914 - 18 by G.D. Sheffield ..........................................P. 70

5. The Treatment of Casualties in the Great War by Geofrey Noun ...........P. 87

6. The Rise of Armour J.PL. Harris .......................................................P. 113

7. Cavalry and the Development of Breakthrough
Doctrine by Stephen Badsey............................................................... P. 138

8. The SHLM Project- Assessing the Battle Performance of
British Divisions by John Lee ..............................................................P. 175

- Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations ................................................P. 182

- Selected Bibliography .....................................................................P. 184

- Index ...........................................................................................P. 187