The First World War, 1914-1918; Personal Experiences Of Lieut.-Col. C. À Court Repington Vol. II [Illustrated Edition]

Lieut.-Col. Charles à Court Repington C.M.G.

• Publisher: Lucknow Books
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781786250940
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World War I
• Index: History

Includes the First World War Illustrations Pack – 73 battle plans and diagrams and 198 photosA fascinating history of the First World War seen through the eyes of a highly respected and connected War Correspondent.Lieut.-Col. Charles à Court Repington was a career soldier in the British Army; renowned for his service in the Sudan, Burma and the Boer War, he was drummed out of the service for having an affair with the wife of British official in 1902. He was well known as an excellent staff officer and remained closely tied to the comrades that he had fought and served with including the future leaders of the British Army in the First World War. Cutting his teeth as a war correspondent during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, he was ideally placed as the War Correspondent of the Times when war broke out in 1914 to report on the unfolding tragedy. Using all of his connections and influence he visited the Western Front many times and was in intimate correspondence and contact with the senior figures of the British Army such as Sir John French, Sir Douglas Haig, Herbert Plumer and Horace Smith-Dorrien. No great respecter of private conversations or confidences he lost many friends when he wrote The First World War; his work was critical, well-written, caustic and unbiassed.These classic memoirs remain as valuable and vivid as they when they were written. This second volume covers the period from spring 1917 until the end of the war.

CHAPTER XL — THE PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919

The rejoicings continue—The history of the Police Strike—The Allies begin their march to the Rhine—Enthusiastic reception of M. Clemenceau and Marshal Foch in London—Facts about American divisions and strengths in France this year—Hearty reception of F.M. Sir Douglas Haig and his Army Commanders in London—A courteous letter from Sir Auckland Geddes—Huge majority for the Coalition at the General Election—The Peace Conference assembles in Paris—Troubles in the Army the result of strain—The Lord Chancellor and the Dean of Durham—The King reviews the young troops—Some good stories at Sir E. Cassel’s house—Parties and gossip—Lord Dalmeny on Allenby—Death of the Dowager Lady Londonderry—Haig and Robertson change places—The march of the Guards through London—Secrecy in Paris—Mr. Lloyd George attacks Lord Northcliffe—Visit to Beaconsfield—Mr. Laughlin’s experiences—Visits to Easthampstead Park—Our maritime losses— Death of Lady Paget—Visit to the Rhine—Situation of our Army on the Rhine—Return to Paris—A talk with Marshals Foch and Pétain—Their dissatisfaction with the Conference—Count Sobanski on Poland —A conversation with General Pershing—Peace with Germany signed at Versailles, June 28.

Saturday, Nov. 16. The rejoicings continue, and London still covered with flags. A strange absence of news from the Armies, but the German retreat has begun, and our advance after them begins tomorrow. On Thursday had tea with Mrs. Greville, who has been asked to subscribe to both party funds, and has refused both! Stayed gossiping late. On Friday lunched with the Ian Hamiltons, and met Mr. Sheldon S. Crosby, of the U.S. Embassy, who was interesting on the subject of the future after the war, believing that we should make a Nineteenth Century Peace because we were not advanced enough to accept an International Army and Navy. He disbelieves in disarmament and the League of Nations, but thinks that the latter will someday come from the submerged tenth, and the International Force, too. A good speaker and actor. General Ellison there. I asked him to jot down for me his ideas on the future of Army Organisation. Robertson has sent me his, and I am writing to Monro to know his views from the Indian standpoint. Crowds to see the German guns in the Mall. I took Letty to see them. Two continuous lines of guns each side all the way down, and half up Constitution Hill. All calibres. The saddest sight was two blind Australian soldiers brought up by their pals to feel the guns which they had captured. They felt them and patted them all over. Such fine fellows too!

Sunday, Nov. 17. Wrote on the economic and food situation of Germany. Had tea with Freddy Wodehouse to hear the inner history of the Police Strike which occurred early in September while I was abroad, and led to his resignation and that of the Chief Commissioner, Sir Edward Henry. There had been a Police Union created some years ago by an Inspector who had been dismissed. It had lately become more active, and the Police had been forbidden to join it. A constable named Theil had disobeyed and had been dismissed. The Union then gave New Scotland Yard some 36 hours in which to reinstate Theil and increase the Police pay by 13s. 6d. a week. No notice was taken of the threat, and the Police were then called out by the Union. They came out, first 800, then 2000, then 4000. Smuts tried to settle matters, and the War Cabinet saw the Union people, when the threat was made—so it is rumoured—that the Trade of London would be suspended the next day unless the Union Ultimatum was accepted. The War Cabinet surrendered. Neither Sir E. Henry nor Freddy could stay in such circumstances. There had been no serious complaint of insufficient pay before, but the Police had been unsettled by the great rise of wages all round. Freddy thinks that the want of company officers in the Force had been a .mistake, and that there should have been an officer in each division to keep close touch with the men. The Police Strike created the worst possible impression in London, and this once popular body has lost the confidence of the public. The Specials called out did well, except in the working-class areas and East End, where they failed to respond. Our Hampstead S. division turned out well. Sir Nevil Macready has succeeded Henry, and the W.O. loses a good A.G.

Sunday, Nov. 24. Six days after the signature of the Armistice the Allies advance to occupy Alsace-Lorraine and the Rhine Province, Luxemburg, and the Palatinate. We send our two Senior Generals, Plumer and Rawlinson, with the 2nd and 4th Armies...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• CHAPTER XXIII - THE GRAND FLEET, AUGUST 1917
• CHAPTER XXIV - THE HARWICH NAVAL FORCES, SEPTEMBER 1917
• CHAPTER XXV - EVENTS AND OPINIONS
• CHAPTER XXVI - THE FRONT IN FRANCE, OCTOBER 1917
• CHAPTER XXVII - WAR BY COMMITTEE
• CHAPTER XXVIII - FIRST MUTTERINGS OF A STORM
• CHAPTER XXIX - THE ARMY STARVED FOR MEN, JANUARY 1918
• CHAPTER XXX - THE WAR COUNCIL OF FEBRUARY 1918
• CHAPTER XXXI - THE MORNING POST PROSECUTION
• CHAPTER XXXII - THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE OF MARCH 1918
• CHAPTER XXXIII - ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND, APRIL 1918
• CHAPTER XXXIV - THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE CONTINUES MAY AND JUNE 1918
• CHAPTER XXXV - THE DEFEAT OF THE GERMANS, JULY 1918
• CHAPTER XXXVI - THE BRITISH AND FRENCH FRONTS AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1918
• CHAPTER XXXVII - THE ST. MIHIEL OPERATION, SEPTEMBER 1918
• CHAPTER XXXVIII - ITALY AND THE VATICAN, AUTUMN 1918
• CHAPTER XXXIX - THE FINAL OPERATIONS AND THE ARMISTICE OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1918
• CHAPTER XL - THE PEACE CONFERENCE, 1919