1861-1936, British World War I Field Marshal
Nicknamed "the Bull" for his famous outbursts of temper, Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby originally joined the Inniskilling Dragoons. After service in colonial campaigns, he attended staff college, led a cavalry column in the
Boer War, and by 1909 was promoted to major general and inspector general of cavalry.
On the Western Front, Allenby became commander of the Third Army in 1915 and directed the ill-fated Gommecourt diversion at the
Somme on July 1, 1916. The following spring his army took part in the Arras offensive. Allenby's aggression had little scope in this structured offensive, which bogged down after three days.
Douglas Haig then advised caution, but Allenby ordered "relentless pursuit" of the now heavily reinforced enemy; the attacks suffered severe losses, resulting in complaints by divisional commanders to Haig. Allenby was removed and sent to the Middle East.
Away from the operational confines of the Western Front, Allenby became a changed man. He kicked to life the slumbering Palestine campaign against Turco-German forces; his dramatic arrival at units was preceded by the warning signal BBA—"Bloody Bull's About." In late 1917 Allenby accepted the clever deception plan of his staff for a left feint against Gaza, while actually turning
Beersheba on the right wing. Again Allenby ordered relentless pursuit. This time it worked, as did another deception plan in 1918 when a right feint east of the Jordan enabled the left wing to succeed. Allenby captured Jerusalem and Damascus, and after the war was appointed high commissioner in Egypt, where he displayed some political skills.
Allenby was lucky to be sent to Palestine, where he had room to maneuver with cavalry, twice as many troops as the enemy, air superiority, and good logistics. He took advantage of these assets. Yet Allenby remains enigmatic—a failure in France, successful in the Middle East—capable of furious rages but a humanist who was well read, a student of nature, and a keen historian of the
Crusades.
Tim Travers
