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HAIG: UNKNOWN SOLDIER Douglas Haig in Life, Death and Memory

A brief biography of Haig  Born in Edinburgh in 1861 to a middle class family- both his parents had died by the time he was 18  Gained a place at Oxford University- spent more time socialising at the Bulllingdon club and playing polo than studying  Entered Sandhurst and joined the army, whilst also representing England at polo  Distinguished himself in the Sudan War (1898) and the Boer War ( ) and was mentioned in dispatches four times  Was made Chief od Staff in India in 1909  By 1914 had gained a reputation for: -Organisation -Administration -Quarreling with other army officers

Haig in the War  Haig acted as one of the key commanders of the British army under Sir John French, who he had served under in the Boer War  By September 1915 Haig had taken over command due to the British army’s poor performance at Loos (and through shafting his boss French politically to take command)  Haig was in command through the rest of the war including at the Somme (1916) and Passchendaele (1917)- both offensives that saw a vast British death toll

Two Sources that Define Haig ‘The weather report is favourable for tomorrow. With God’s help, I feel hopeful. The men are in splendid spirits. The wire has never been so well cut, nor the Artillery preparation so thorough.’ ‘Every position must be held to the last man; there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end.’ Diary, Day before Somme 1916Speech, Rallying Troops 1918

Crowd to Welcome Haig at St. Andrews, 1919

Post-War, Earl Haig FundPublic Figure British Legion President

Haig in Death,

‘He was incomparably the finest soldier of this fateful age… His memory will live and grow with the grandeur of the events and which he strove and over which in the end ruled.’ Winston Churchill British Legion Journal- Memorial Issue for Haig’s Death

Haig the Hero