Lessons from the Mud: 55th (West Lancashire) Division at the Third Battle of Ypres

In Basil Liddell Hart’s 1930 account of the Third Battle of Ypres, a tearful, anonymous Staff Officer reportedly uttered words which have entered the historiography of the battle: Good God, did we really send men to fight in that? First World War generals and their Staff Officers have a reputation for failing to comprehend the conditions their men were fighting in. They are also accused of failing to adopt to the reality of warfare on the Western Front. All too often in discussions, the Lions led by Donkeys attitude prevails which has been reinforced by Blackadder’s ‘General Melchett’. These views came to dominate public perceptions of the Western Front in the 1960s. Just how accurate is this view? Lessons from the Mud questions this perception of uncaring generals incapable of adopting new methods capable of addressing trench warfare. Paul Knight has, for the first time, transcribed in their entirety a unique collection of reports compiled for one general of one division’s experiences in two battles during the Third Battle of Ypres. Compiled within days of each battle, these provide an authentic voice from the trenches. The views expressed are free and frank, with personal analysis of battle plans, tactics and weapon systems. They are written in such a way as to question the class-dominated deferential view of the British Army of 1917. General Sir Hugh Jeudwine commanded the 55th Division from January 1916. His command of the division was highly regarded and was placed in the top third of the British Expeditionary Force. Jeudwine was neither a Donkey nor a Melchett. He also appears to have been genuinely liked. After the war, he became Inspector General of the Territorial Army and Honoury Colonel to one of the division’s artillery regiments.