What did John French do?

What did John French do?

Top British military commander John French (1852-1925) first earned renown as a successful cavalry leader during the Boer War. He was appointed chief of the Imperial General Staff and then commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at the start of World War I.

Why was John French replaced?

Haig, who was formerly French’s trusted subordinate and who had saved him from bankruptcy by lending him a large sum of money in 1899, replaced him. French was then appointed Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces for 1916–1918….John French, 1st Earl of Ypres.

The Earl of Ypres
Relations	Charlotte Despard (sister)

Who was the French commander?

Famous French Military Leaders

Name	Years	Identity
Jean Lannes	1769–1809	French
Napoleon Bonaparte	1769–1821	French
Louis-Nicolas Davout	1770–1823	French
Jean Lafitte	c. 1780–c. 1823	French

Who was the leader of France during the American Revolution?

King Louis XVI approved negotiations to that end. With Franklin negotiating for the United States, the two countries agreed to a pair of treaties, signed on Feb. 6, 1778, that called for France’s direct participation in the war. At Valley Forge that day, Washington’s army was suffering.

When did Haig replace French?

On the outbreak of war in 1914, Haig was commanding the BEF’s 1st Army Corps, whose overall commander was Sir John French. By the end of 1915, it was clear that French was ill-suited to the role, and in December Haig was appointed commander in chief in his place.

Who was the greatest French general?

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), also known as Napoleon I, was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. Born on the island of Corsica, Napoleon rapidly rose through the ranks of the military during the French Revolution (1789-1799).

What is a French general called?

Army general (French: Général d’armée) is the highest active military rank of the French Army and the National Gendarmerie. It is also used in the Air and Space Force, where it is called Général d’armée aérienne.

What does Butcher of the Somme mean?

Commander-in-chief during the battle of the Somme, Field Marshall Haig has often been called ‘Butcher of the Somme’ since the battle. A butcher, of course, is someone who kills animals and prepares them to be sold before selling them himself. The newspapers all said Haig was leading the BEF well, so people believed it.

Why did they walk at the Somme?

The heavily encumbered British soldiers would leave their trenches at 7.30am, not at dawn but in broad daylight. They would walk, not run, in order to stay in formation. They would not creep forward while their own bombardment was in progress.

Who was the youngest general in France?

Deffontaines became the youngest general in France on his promotion to général de brigade in 1913….

Achille Pierre Deffontaines
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	French Army
Years of service	1878–1914
Rank	Général de brigade