lieutenant general sir april december senior british_army officer served campaigns late nineteenth early twentieth centuries world war placed command half war enemies canadian political military elite suffered disastrous casualties operations forced eventual retirement service despite opposition faced transformed ill trained poorly prepared canadian recruits tough veteran soldiers laid foundations later victories ridge operations accomplished wrote books keen proponent hunting believed risk developments motor sports early life born village suffolk son lieutenant colonel wife attended gained commission transferred 1st foot later december transferred days later replacing promoted officer father regiment foot soon queen joining regiment halifax nova_scotia soon transferred gibraltar later south_africa detached post young officers stationed forming ready reserve young educated officers available volunteers staff command positions african colonial campaigns whilst attached post saw service boer war following year served anglo egyptian war fighting battles years later attached failed expedition relieve rescue general gordon campaign presented bronze medal diving rescue drowning soldier service campaigns promoted captain stationed year married daughter vicar miss years career spent staff duties old regiment england ireland undertook training sent commander regiment local troops second war following campaign successful conclusion returned wrote book account war thesis tactical uses mounted infantry second book military tactics followed called counter attack book pink scarlet published tactical treatise concerning relationship fox hunting cavalry connection military concerns training young officers developing new innovations cavalry tactics released compilation notes campaign entitled lessons notes peace war second boer war shortly outbreak second boer war returned south_africa command boer forces experience mounted infantry ideal role boer british fighting masters mounted infantry tactics suffered heavy losses hit run campaigns instrumental forming british counter tactics brigade great effect elite troops regiments canadian soldiers force overall command experienced british soldier previously canadian militia lifelong friend canadians popular preferred commander 2nd governor general canada lord unsuccessfully petitioned british government brought canada militia innovations resulted successful operations participating battles relief capture result contribution campaigns rewarded confirmation brigadier general appointment companion order bath receive ceremonial post aide camp queen_victoria died year mentioned despatches times including march received queen south africa medal peacetime given command british 2nd promoted major general years later posted indian 6th based returned england semi retirement half pay hunt master developing enthusiasm world war outbreak world war summer placed charge troops counties norfolk suffolk soon requested command newly formed experience south_africa commanding canadian troops personally selected sir canadian minister militia met shipments canadian troops october immediately came conflict minister hughes preceded men insisted canadian contingent fully trained battle ready equipped best weaponry available saw charges differently commenting poor quality politically appointed officers low degree training operational problems ross rifle weapon personally approved hughes training new charges troops wet autumn weather dismissing officers appointed hughes proved hughes representative england colonel secured accommodation canadian soldiers expense british brigade refused barracks hughes determined enemies wrote canadian prime minister treat men firm iron hand covered velvet glove special require dispatched france february briefly initiated trench warfare periphery attached sir belgian town april canadians bore furious german attack year afternoon germans began heavy french trenches canadians french troops stationed saw fog traveling land covering advance german forces fog gas occasion substance warfare broke fled suffering casualties matter minutes canadians consequently forced defend twice length line face new deadly weapon held days ground lost division suffered casualties nearly men battle failure troops held found touch line unable accurate information situation stage commanding battalions miles line central great confusion distant headquarters trenches addition personal ross rifles proven useless battle officer corps performed poorly particular brigadier general commander turner brigade major colonel son caused havoc second day battle withdrew line opening yard gap germans threatened entire colonel reported personally hughes difficulties blamed heavy casualties leadership indicating division saved actions turner hughes ross rifle controversy situation worsened battle failed suffered nearly casualties operation month later second battle cost casualties gain solely fault actions remained popular prime minister men resulting promotion command entire second division arrived late despite popularity continued hold opposed political circles taking offense refusal accept promotions hughes canadian officers instead promoting veteran british officers place main area argument men ross rifle early clear serving lines ross useless conditions trenches british lee rifle meant canadian troops continually running ammunition hughes invested great political capital weapon refused switch british alternative issue reached head newly knight commander circulated document listing deficiencies rifle claiming canadian soldiers longer wished use hughes furious defiance sent letters senior military figures backing ross attacking character responded ordering subordinate commanders prepare reports efficiency ross rifle sent copy order hughes note turner action delayed long regards turner reasons wanting gone following april british troops taken large crater near ruins belgian town brigade turner division ordered hold gain german counter attacks management canadian forces turner german soldiers overran crater causing canadian casualties land crater gains heavy cost days sir commander overall responsibility demanded immediate dismissal turner claimed dismissed resign sought dismissal officers supporters clear uncertain terms commander chief sir turner went longer rely canadian support solution diplomatic crisis compromise transferred nominal post inspector general highly effective sir replaced command supported sir succeeded command exchange finally got rid ross rifle canadian troops reissued lee preparation upcoming battle aware purely nominal nature position later requested staff car informed longer entitled september british_army position retained retired active service age retirement enjoyed active retirement colonel commandant pursuing hunting active member concerned growing popularity motor sports result demise traditional expended energy promoting living years life moored died december sudden heart attack buried survived wife later arranged private papers given nation currently stored reputation retained strong feelings treatment hands hughes allies commenting friend canadian politics strong nonetheless liked men commanded remembered times death englishman fine type affection inspired knew great dictionary canadian biography recalls decent honourable man faithful interests canadian soldiers minister biographer wrote conflict hughes likely affected career place canadian history successors commander remembered relatively unknown canadians work detailing alleged british command incompetence contains photograph canadian soldier lion alleging unnamed soldier bravery second battle fact photograph taken following year march near belgium namesake given peaks alberta canada works counter attack pink scarlet hunting school lessons notes peace war
Edwin Alderson