brigadier john charteris

Includes 30 maps, plans and illustrations.

A detailed personal account of Earl Haig, the man and his principle campaigns, by his closest colleague and confidante. The renowned novelist Buchan, who served under Chateris during the First World War, provides a foreword.

“General Charteris had the privilege of serving with Lord Haig in India and at Aldershot, and for the whole of the Great War with the exception of the last two months. During the Battle of the Somme I had the privilege of serving under General Charteris. When, in 1921, the Official History was taking shape, Sir J. E. Edmonds asked Lord Haig whom he would like to go through it on his behalf, with special reference to the work of the I Corps, the answer was: “Send it to Charteris. He knows as much about it as I do.”

This book is therefore a study of Lord Haig’s career by one who was himself a sharer in its most momentous stages. It is also a study of a famous soldier by one who brings to the task not only a knowledge of war, but the understanding born of a deep affection. A great man, especially a great man of action, is apt to appear before the world as a combination of abstract powers and virtues, impressive like a statue set up in some public place, but a little remote from our common life...Future historians will discuss every detail of his campaigns, and every aspect of his genius. But in the meantime the world has cause to be grateful, I think, to General Charteris for providing these mémoires pour servir —a personal narrative of how Lord Haig appeared to a colleague and a friend.”-Foreword.

“The most competent and authoritative biography of Haig published to date, written by one who was closely associated with him. The book throws much light on Allied strategy as well as on the problem of the high command.”- William L. Langer – Foreign Affairs magazine