Innovative and tactically brilliant, Major-General Ivor Maxse had a knack for command both in field and staff roles. Known for his courage, he repeatedly ignored instruction for the benefit of his troops and his decisions and roles rank him as a key commander. Yet, he remains relatively unknown. John Ash explores the General’s career.
Among the Most Important Men of the Great War?
Major-General Sir (FREDERICK)
Often forgot amongst the bloody horror of 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, are the successes, the most famous being that of the 36th Ulster Division. The battle took place on the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne and popular visions of the division advancing wearing orange sashes, whether myth or reality, only adds to the legacy of their remarkable achievement. Despite having to retreat in the face of a counterattack and to protect their flanks, the division’s commanders used their initiative and had not stuck to the constricting orders issued to the wider army. Their innovation and training paid off.
Further along the line, near Albert, another division – the 18th (Eastern) – also had some hard-fought gains. The 18th were fortunate to be operating close to the wellexpe…
