SIR – I am writing to express surprise at the distorted history of the Great War (‘Deaths Unforgivable’, Letters, January 22).
In 1914, the British Government declared war on Germany as part of our alliance with France and Russia. The BEF took part in the defence of Paris (August 1914) and of the Channel Ports (October-November).
Why judge a four-year war by one day? On July 1, 1916, the British attack was let down by their artillery.
Why not the BEF’s attack on the Bazentin Ridge on July 14 (BEF broke the German line and took all of its objectives)? Or the attack at Flers in September 1916 (BEF used tanks to break through the German line)? Or our allies, the French army at Verdun, pushing the Germans back to their starting line while the BEF was fighting on the Somme.
British generals had their HQs in large houses due to the requirement of a large staff and a telephone exchange. Brigadier-Generals moved forward, during an attack, to a battlefield HQ, close enough to the action to keep in touch with junior commanders but far enough back to avoid being shelled.
Peter J Palmer, Buttermere Road, Bradford
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