Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE (June 19, 1861 - January 28, 1928) was a British soldier and senior commander during World War I. He had independent wealth: his family manufactured Haig & Haig whisky.

Related Topics:
Field Marshal - Sir - KT - GCB - OM - GCVO - KCIE - June 19 - 1861 - January 28 - 1928 - British - World War I - Whisky

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Born in Edinburgh, Haig attended Clifton College and studied at Brasenose College, Oxford and from 1884 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He took a commission in the 7th Queen's Own Hussars and saw service in India, in the Omdurman campaign in the Sudan and during the Boer War. Haig returned to India in 1903 as a Colonel and inspector of general cavalry. He was promoted to Major General before returning to England to a post in the War Office in 1906.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - Clifton College - Brasenose College, Oxford - 1884 - Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - India - Omdurman campaign - Sudan - Boer War - 1903 - Colonel - Major General - England - War Office - 1906

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Haig helped found the British Expeditionary Force and in 1914 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and placed in command of the 1st Army Corps. Following relative successes at Battle of Mons and Ypres (1st Battle of Ypres), Haig was promoted to full General and made second-in-command of the British forces in France under Sir John French. In December 1915 Haig became Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, with French returning to Britain to head the Home forces. He directed several British campaigns, including the British offensive at the Somme, in which the forces under his command sustained over 500,000 casualties while ultimately taking only few kilometers of ground, and the campaign at Passchendaele (3rd Battle of Ypres). In 1917 Haig was made a Field Marshal. In 1918 following the final German assault Haig's forces had much success.

Related Topics:
British Expeditionary Force - 1914 - Lieutenant General - 1st Army Corps - Battle of Mons - Ypres - 1st Battle of Ypres - General - France - Sir John French - 1915 - Commander-in-Chief - British offensive at the Somme - Passchendaele - 3rd Battle of Ypres - 1917 - Field Marshal - 1918

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After the war, Haig was created Earl Haig (with a subsidiary viscountcy and a subsidiary barony). He was commander-in-chief of home forces until his retirement in 1921. After the war, he was criticised by some historians for what was perceived to be excessive slaughter of troops under his command, earning him a nickname as the "Butcher of the Somme". There is a running joke on his tactics on the popular BBC comedy series 'Blackadder' 'Blackadder goes Forth'. Others, gave him much praise, arguing that he performed well given the situation and circumstances in which he was placed. Most notably, American General John J. Pershing remarked that Haig was "the man who won the war".

Related Topics:
Earl Haig - Baron - 1921 - Nickname - BBC - Blackadder - John J. Pershing

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He was instrumental in setting up the Haig Fund for the financial assistance of ex-servicemen and the Haig Homes charity to ensure they were properly housed; both continue to provide help many years after they were created.

Related Topics:
Haig Fund - Haig Homes

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Haig died in 1928 at the age of 66, and is buried at Dryburgh Abbey. He remained an enormously popular public figure until his death, and his state funeral was perhaps the most widely attended public spectacle up until that time in British history.

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