As a armchair historian and lover of British history, never heard of this man until I stumbled onto your channel. Very informative, keep up the good work
What an outstanding achievement - from Private to Field Marshal!! His superiors saw his ability and gave him the deserved breaks. What an amazing career!!
The famous British explorer Captain James Cook comes to mind > the 2nd born of 8 children to farm labourer's in Ednam ! his family moved to Airey Holme farm at Great Ayton, where his father's employer, Thomas Skottowe who soon realised young James was no average kid and even paid for his education ! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_voyage_of_James_Cook
@Sheepsfoot2 Yes. It's a pity that Capt Cook met a premature end in Hawaii. One wonders what else he may have achieved but for that unfortunate encounter. 👍
Excellent programme....there were some impossible mountains blocking progress from private into the officer ranks... and that's the way the upper classes wanted it. Privates could not be gentlemen. It's still incredibly tough to come up the ranks from Private, Able Seaman or Aircraftsman into the officer ranks. The Guards had a policy up to the recent past (or present), that if you were "from the ranks" and wished to go for Officer training....then you would not be allowed to return to the Guards. You would be blocked...blacklisted.
In America we call men who rise from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks Mustangs oh, it is good to know that they were still Mustangs in other countries military. It sounds like he was one of those officers who could say been-there-done-that to just about everything. I really enjoyed this tale too, I find that I am running into the same characters over and over, the Officers Corps with a tight-knit group of solid professionals and the fact he saw Germany as a threat to the British Empire makes him a visionary. Kudos to you my friend for another wonderful adventure you have taken your audience along! 😀
I served in 16/5L '83-'94, a Regiment that was formed out of the amalgamation of 16L & 5L in 1922. Back in 1987 we had a young trooper in A Sqn who was identified by his Tp Ldr & Sqn Ldr to have leadership talents. He went on to become a Maj Gen and is a friend of many of us 16/5L Officers. He joined a Scots infantry Regt! There can't be many Regts in the British Army that have spawned Privates/Troopers to General outside conscription and Total War!
@@TheHistoryChap Hi Chris. Great documentary about Sir William Robertson DSO. I have a little bit of historical information in relation to him. Winston Churchill wanted him to command the British army in Ireland during the turbulent period 1919-1921 but due to Robertson's clashes with Lloyd George the latter chose General Neville McCready due to his experience of commanding both police and army.
Really well put together -- thanks a lot. According to Wikipedia(!), Robertson was responsible for the rise of another great British Field Marshal -- Bernanrd Montgomery: In 1919, as a captain fresh from service in the army of occupation on the Rhine, Monty, " Had not at first been selected for the Staff College in Camberley, Surrey (his only hope of ever achieving high command). But at a tennis party in Cologne, he was able to persuade the Commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the British Army of Occupation, Field Marshal Sir William Robertson, to add his name to the list."
An absolutely fascinating story. Thank you History Chap. I am an ex-pat Englishman . I have lived in New Zealand since 2005. In that time, I have found out much about New Zealand servicemen, in particular, Charles Upham VC and bar, and Major General Sir Howard Charles Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO and bar, ED. Not to mention Willie Apiata VC. You tell a good story, and I'd love to hear you tell one of these. Thank you Sir.
General Field-Marshal Robertson was evidently extremely able , surmounting all the obstacles and snobbery of a British Officer's mess and overcoming substantial economic hardship to make it to the top from such humble beginnings. He is an icon. Absolutely brilliant!
Chris, An excellent picture of a worthy subject. Well done! One aspect of "Wully" Robertson's career which - perforce - you could only skim over, was his time as QMG BEF, which included the Retreat from Mons. During that long and arduous march in the dog days of August and with the Germans snapping at the BEF's heels, there was not enough time to arrange for conventional re-supply of the British troops (especially when it came to rations). At Robertson's behest, small dumps of food - cart-loads of bread, tins of bully beef, sides of bacon, tins of water, etc. - were established at periodic intervals along the lines of march of I and II Corps, from which the soldiers of the BEF could grab what they wanted (and could carry) almost without breaking step (and without having to submit the requisite Army Forms or provide receipts). It was and remains a remarkable example of improvised logistics (not fully matched by the Germans) and made a major contribution to the survival of the BEF until it could play its critical part at the Battles of the Marne and Aisne. As Napoleon said: "An army marches on its stomach". Adam Johnson
A life of duty well lived I served in the USMC under Commandant General Grey. A man who like Sir William Robertson enlisted and rose from Private to Senior Officer in the Marines.
Thank you Chris, that was outstanding! No, I'd never heard of Sir William Robertson let alone Field Marshal William Robertson. So thank you for telling us his fascinating story!
Like everyone here, I am a history nut. Particularly military history. You, Chris are the history professor I never had at school. Many, many thanks for your videos.
My grandfather's name was William Robertson and he fought at the Dardanelles (Gallipoli). As a consequence he had a very low opinion of Winston Churchill whose idea that fiasco was. I believe Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty at that time.
It was a good idea. More then poorly executed. The hills surrounding Gallipoli were empty on the day of invasion but the decision was made to go back to the beach,as an example. In WWII the allies were still attempting to attack the soft underbelly of Europe. When your stalled in one location then you attempt to flank.
My grandad, an ANZAC, mentioned that he was one of those who returned to the beach. They were being cut off by the Turks while the British troops were waiting on the beach for their officers to disembark.
Wonderful video. Thank you so much. There was a Canadian general in WW1 who's name escapes me? But what little I've learned of him was also very interesting. I believe he was the highest Canadian general. Love your channel.
What an awesome fascinating achievement story of Robertson. It’s sad that even today Donkey Politicians get in the way of experienced Lion Military operations. Thank you for sharing.
He did endorse the Battle of the Somme and Ypres (Passchendaele) which were also the largest single day losses of British servicemen on record. Not really pointed out in this commentary. A great man indeed but some balancing facts needed at times!
@@TheHistoryChap have you read any of Dudley Pope’s books Either Fiction or nonfiction? I am a rabid fan of his Lord Nicolas Ramage novels and I picked up ‘ The Black Ship ‘ about the H.M.S Hermione mutiny by accident ,thinking it was another sea story ( the bookstore staff made the same mistake and put it in fiction.)
Sir I fully agree with your assessment of the man. He truly deserves to be remembered as Great Britain's leading figure. Once again Sir kudos! I await the next video .
Nice presentation Chris...I learned something today after watching this video. This rise in the ranks is indeed, a most unusual event. I would've said almost impossible considering the Officer Class system that existed at that time and indeed..well into the mid 20th century. I heard that Enoch Powell (former MP) entered military service as a Private and rose to the rank of Brigadier (perhaps you could check this out) but nothing compares to Robertsons meteoric rise in the ranks. Another informative and well presented video. Keep it up.
Correct about Enoch Powell, though he was not from such a lower class background as Robertson (perhaps lower middle class?), and indeed had just been Professor of Greek at Sydney University before he enlisted. He was very quickly singled out for a commission and spent most of the war as a staff officer on intelligence work (I don't think he saw combat). However, he did claim to have enjoyed his short time as a private soldier with men of much lower intellect than himself. There is a very long (3 hour) recording on RUclips of an interview (audio only) with Powell about his wartime service (National Army Museum or IWM - I will try and find the link).
Sorry for the delay - had to take the doggy for a walk before it gets too hot! The link to the Powell interview is: ruclips.net/video/U_Se_QDKeC8/видео.html. Note that, although the whole thing is about 3 hours long, it was recorded as a series of interviews - every now and then you hear the interviewer announce a new tape. Although Powell was very proud of his (short) time in the Warwickshire Regt, in the still photos of him as an officer he seems to be wearing the General Service Corps insignia (an 'oddbins' corps for officers not assigned to a regular regiment or corps).
@@kennethgarland4712 Your video says that Robertson also had command of the Warwickshire regiment.....would this be the same Warwickshire regiment whose soldiers after surrendering were involved in an SS massacre at Wormault in the barn during the evacuation of British troops in 1940 ?
@@oldgitsknowstuff Sorry - I'm not sure what you mean. "Your video" - do you mean the interview with Powell that that I posted or to the video about Robertson? Neither Robertson nor Powell commanded the Warwickshires (Powell never rose above the rank of corporal during his short time in the regiment before he was selected for officer training). PoWs from the 2nd Battalion were indeed among those murdered by the SS in the massacre to which you refer.
@@kennethgarland4712. Yes, its a very hot and Sizzling day. Phew ! I wouldn't take a dog out on a day like this. I'm viewing your presentations on my TV whilst typing my observations. Regarding the Boer War.. I was told by a Royal Artillery veteran....That a certain regiment of Artillery were traditionally...NOT issued with a 'Jack knife'. Apparently this bit of kit was standard issue with the Royal Horse Artillery even in the 1940s. The RHA were fully motorised at that time yet its troops were still issued with the Jack Knife as standard kit. The exception being 1 Artillery regiment who..as a matter of disgrace...were never issued the Jack Knife because in a previous battle, this regiment, to ensure their safe escape....CUT THE TRACES of the horses towing the guns, thereby escaping and allowing the guns to be captured by the enemy..... Thats what I was told. Perhaps you might have information to clarify this ?
I was absolutely fascinated with sir Roberts what a career my God from private to field Marshall that is very very impressive and the guy had quite the career is just amazing I really enjoyed this story closer Roberts looking forward to the next one thank you very much your friend Southern Nevada Nicholas
@@TheHistoryChap You might like the book, "White Mountain: A Cultural Adventure through the Himalayas," by author Robert Twigger. He has a couple of chapters discussing Lord Curzon's 1904 Yak War into Tibet that you can use for research. He also covers Aleister Crowley's fascinating attempt to summit K2. AC actually had his Balti servants lug his book collection up the Baltoro Glacier, crazy guy!
had to Wikipedia him to see if he was lucky in his family life. Sadly things were not very rosy, but it seems he had a love match, which I'm very pleased for him. glad to watch a very interesting video about a man I never heard of before. great video thanks
Very good video! 👍 Personally, I've always admired this man, who proved the superiority of achievement and experience over social position. Something our own time still has much to learn from!
I recall being told by a teacher 70 British Generals died on active service in world war 1 and there were some like Major General Luke O'Connor who'd rose through the ranks to high positions (As a Major General, O'Connor, according to legend, apparently punched out another General when he stated that 'it is the lower classes job to die to preserve the way of life of the upper classes.' and pointed out to the prostrate officer "I am one of the working classes."- he was fiercely proud of being working class and Irish and since O'Connor was the first ever recipient of the Victoria cross, it made him 'flameproof'.)
It was 78 British Generals who died on active service. Believe it or not actually a higher fatality rate than the Infantry. Sounds ridiculous I know but there are far fewer Generals than there are infantry, so that 78 deaths during the war actually comes to a higher proportional loss for Generals than for the infantry soldier. Your infantry private had a 1 in 10 chance of dying during the war. Yes, 90% of infantrymen who served on the Western Front survived. The really bad casualties were among the NCO's and the Field Officers. Young Lieutenants had a 20% chance of not surviving the war, double that of the infantry. Those young officers by the way were mostly upper class, at least at the start of the war, and were virtually ALL volunteers. Those upper classes paid a price in blood themselves, a price that is often overlooked. While generally the phrase 'Lost Generation' when applied to the British losses of WWI is hyperbole, in the case of the upper class families it actually comes close to being true. A shocking number of them lost all or most of their sons on those bloody fields, a fact that is ignored by many, but should NOT be in my opinion. Not saying the upper class were right, I am merely pointing out that they did in fact pay a blood price themselves during both wars, and many of those families died out when their sons died in the mud of the Western Front.
@@alganhar1 Yup, thanks for that - knew it was a figure in the 70's. I agree that the wars wiped out all tiers of society - General H.R.Abadie lost all four of his sons in military service (two of disease in Africa & two in WW1).
When you comment on Robertson and his opinion on the Germans the picture of Robertson is very similar to the "Your country needs you "picture or is it Haig in the picture.Btw my Grandfather fought in Salonika as a member of the Seaforth Highlanders he survived to live a good life till his death in 1978 he never talked about his experience fighting in ww1 he liked a drink he was a hard worker and adored Glasgow Rangers his favourite football team he took me as a small boy to see Rangers play and i was hooked on the Queens 11 i still love them as do all the family in Glasgow 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Once again my thanks Chris for presenting a very compelling look into the life of a remarkable man. His story should serve as an inspiration to young soldiers for generations to come.
Chris another fascinating story. What is the reference or source for the painting of the brown officers charger with the dismounted Officer resting under a tree hanging on to the reins? Warmest regards Gerard
Just listening to this makes me want to start a damn revolution. A man of prodigious talent, hemmed in by financial factors. Wooley must have been a popular lad, for his officers to cough up what was quite a lot of money, and enable him to take the commission. Just goes to show; sometimes Jack IS a better man than his master.
The Labour Party, the “revolutionaries” are the ones who kneecapped the grammar schools, which probably elevated more talent from the working and lower middle class than any other institution in the 20th centuries. Ironically it gave the Public Schools a monopoly of seats at Oxbridge. after 1980. give us the likes of Cameron and johnson.
The only one to rise from private soldier to field marshall in the British army. An achievement not so rare in the French revolutionary army when Bonaparte said that every soldier had in his backpack the baton of a marshall. As several of his marshalls did. That's the difference between a social and economic class based army, like the Roman and Middle Age armies were, and a merit based army, like some current armies are or should, following the example of the French 1st Republic and the 1st Empire. And no, I'm not French.
The ranks of French revolutionary army produced field marshals and even Kings. Jean Baptiste Bernadotte rose from private to King of Sweden and Norway. His dynasty still rules Sweden.
The British Army was traditionally a small Professional Force entirely made up of volunteers. This was mostly as true of Wellingtons Army as it is of todays. It has only grown large enough to actually REQUIRE a Field Marshal an entire two times in its long history. During the two world wars. Even at its height, before World War One the British Army numbered only some 250,000 Regulars, with 250,000 Territorials (who could only be deployed outside the UK under very specific circumstances). In other words the British Army traditionally followed a very different model to the French Continental style conscript Army. It was never really meant for full on drag out fights with Continental style armies. The REAL power in Britain's fist was never its army, it was always its Navy. The Royal Navy was Merit based long before the French Navy, even before the Revolution killed off the majority of its best officers. And that showed in the dominance of the Royal Navy at sea during the period. Again, the Royal Navy unlike the French Navy was mostly volunteer. There were some pressed men but the vast majority of RN Sailors were volunteers. The French Navy? Their sailors were almost entirely conscripts... It is something of a fallacy to directly compare the British Army of the Napoleonic era with the French, as the Armies were built to entirely different purposes, as well as entirely different scales. The British Army even at the height of the Napoleonic Wars was actually never very large.
@@alganhar1 all what you say is true, but nobody compared both armies and nobody talked about any navy. I just said that Robertson was the only one who went from private to field marshall because of the classist policy in the 19th century British army where rich young and inexperienced men could buy a comission as officers. By the way, was the 19th century British army really made up of volunteers if a judge condemned you to several years in jail or even being sent to the (then) wild Australia but offered you to serve in the army or the navy? Think about so many Irish rebels and British poor people pushed to steal food just to survive one more day. Also, every navy in Europe abducted civil sailors in own and foreign ports. Because why to _serve_ in senseless wars between kings for a miserable wage and risking to be killed by foes or by the sea when you can get some profit as a fisher or as a merchant?
There may well have been officers of that era who lived up to the stereotypes we still read about today. BUT..in all these stories of achievement by those not "of the manor born" we hear of numerous officers who seek out or notice talent, and then support it to the hilt.
As a armchair historian and lover of British history, never heard of this man until I stumbled onto your channel. Very informative, keep up the good work
Many thanks. Please make sure you subscribe to my channel.
What an outstanding achievement - from Private to Field Marshal!! His superiors saw his ability and gave him the deserved breaks. What an amazing career!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
The famous British explorer Captain James Cook comes to mind > the 2nd born of 8 children to farm labourer's in Ednam ! his family moved to Airey Holme farm at Great Ayton, where his father's employer, Thomas Skottowe who soon realised young James was no average kid and even paid for his education !
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_voyage_of_James_Cook
@@sheepsfoot2 FYI I know one of Capt Cook's descendants.
@@tim7052 thats great mate , he had amazing qualities as a person anyone who reads his journal soon realises this !
@Sheepsfoot2 Yes. It's a pity that Capt Cook met a premature end in Hawaii. One wonders what else he may have achieved but for that unfortunate encounter. 👍
Up there with your presentation of "The Kid" We old squaddies just love tales of humble soldiers making their way! Thanks again Chris.
Fabulous. Thank you so much for keeping British history alive
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Excellent programme....there were some impossible mountains blocking progress from private into the officer ranks... and that's the way the upper classes wanted it. Privates could not be gentlemen.
It's still incredibly tough to come up the ranks from Private, Able Seaman or Aircraftsman into the officer ranks. The Guards had a policy up to the recent past (or present), that if you were "from the ranks" and wished to go for Officer training....then you would not be allowed to return to the Guards. You would be blocked...blacklisted.
In America we call men who rise from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks Mustangs oh, it is good to know that they were still Mustangs in other countries military. It sounds like he was one of those officers who could say been-there-done-that to just about everything. I really enjoyed this tale too, I find that I am running into the same characters over and over, the Officers Corps with a tight-knit group of solid professionals and the fact he saw Germany as a threat to the British Empire makes him a visionary. Kudos to you my friend for another wonderful adventure you have taken your audience along! 😀
Harry, I’m glad you enjoyed it. He made a fair few enemies during the First World War (and not just the Germans!)
I served in 16/5L '83-'94, a Regiment that was formed out of the amalgamation of 16L & 5L in 1922. Back in 1987 we had a young trooper in A Sqn who was identified by his Tp Ldr & Sqn Ldr to have leadership talents. He went on to become a Maj Gen and is a friend of many of us 16/5L Officers. He joined a Scots infantry Regt! There can't be many Regts in the British Army that have spawned Privates/Troopers to General outside conscription and Total War!
What a fascinating story of a wonderful member of the British Army, thank you very much.
Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
@@TheHistoryChap Hi Chris. Great documentary about Sir William Robertson DSO. I have a little bit of historical information in relation to him. Winston Churchill wanted him to command the British army in Ireland during the turbulent period 1919-1921 but due to Robertson's clashes with Lloyd George the latter chose General Neville McCready due to his experience of commanding both police and army.
My kids went to Sir William Robertson High School in Welbourne. He's a legend!
You are the first to say that. Thank you for sharing.
Really well put together -- thanks a lot. According to Wikipedia(!), Robertson was responsible for the rise of another great British Field Marshal -- Bernanrd Montgomery: In 1919, as a captain fresh from service in the army of occupation on the Rhine, Monty, " Had not at first been selected for the Staff College in Camberley, Surrey (his only hope of ever achieving high command). But at a tennis party in Cologne, he was able to persuade the Commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the British Army of Occupation, Field Marshal Sir William Robertson, to add his name to the list."
Stephen, I read that too. It's a classic case og "Paying It Forward" and one wonders what might have happened had he not been so generous.
He probably saw something in Monty that he saw in himself.
Like recognizes like. Whatever else might say about Monty. his high intelligence cannot be gainsaid.
An absolutely fascinating story. Thank you History Chap. I am an ex-pat Englishman . I have lived in New Zealand since 2005. In that time, I have found out much about New Zealand servicemen, in particular, Charles Upham VC and bar, and Major General Sir Howard Charles Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO and bar, ED. Not to mention Willie Apiata VC.
You tell a good story, and I'd love to hear you tell one of these.
Thank you Sir.
Russ, thank you for the ideas. I've added them to my ever-growing list. Watch this space!
General Field-Marshal Robertson was evidently extremely able , surmounting all the obstacles and snobbery of a British Officer's mess and overcoming substantial economic hardship to make it to the top from such humble beginnings. He is an icon. Absolutely brilliant!
Thank you for both watching and taking the time to comment.
@@TheHistoryChap ❤❤
Fantastic.. Thank you. This is the history we all need to know.
So thank you, for educating even more on our military history. Ex-serviceman.
Field Marshall Sir Edwin Brammal also rose from Rifleman (Private) to the very top. I met him. Impressive Officer.
I don’t think so! Educated at Eton and commissioned in WW2.
@dchassocks still started as a Rifleman
Chris,
An excellent picture of a worthy subject. Well done!
One aspect of "Wully" Robertson's career which - perforce - you could only skim over, was his time as QMG BEF, which included the Retreat from Mons. During that long and arduous march in the dog days of August and with the Germans snapping at the BEF's heels, there was not enough time to arrange for conventional re-supply of the British troops (especially when it came to rations). At Robertson's behest, small dumps of food - cart-loads of bread, tins of bully beef, sides of bacon, tins of water, etc. - were established at periodic intervals along the lines of march of I and II Corps, from which the soldiers of the BEF could grab what they wanted (and could carry) almost without breaking step (and without having to submit the requisite Army Forms or provide receipts). It was and remains a remarkable example of improvised logistics (not fully matched by the Germans) and made a major contribution to the survival of the BEF until it could play its critical part at the Battles of the Marne and Aisne. As Napoleon said: "An army marches on its stomach".
Adam Johnson
Adam, thanks for adding that important aspect of his career. Aiming to do the whole Battle / Retreat from Mons later this year.
@@TheHistoryChap I shall certainly look forward to that!
A life of duty well lived
I served in the USMC under Commandant General Grey.
A man who like Sir William Robertson enlisted and rose from Private to Senior Officer in the Marines.
Thanks for sharing. Another great example.
Thank you to my ancestor
A better family tree than mine!
Thank you Chris, that was outstanding! No, I'd never heard of Sir William Robertson let alone Field Marshal William Robertson. So thank you for telling us his fascinating story!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Thanks so much for telling the story of this remarkable soldier, and bringing his achievements to a wider audience.
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
He's got a nice smile. If I'd gone from private to field marshall, I'd smile like that.
Good point.
I really do like the way you do these films.
Like everyone here, I am a history nut. Particularly military history. You, Chris are the history professor I never had at school. Many, many thanks for your videos.
Thank you for your kind words.
I've been waiting for this one with bated breath. 😊
I hope you enjoy it.
@@TheHistoryChap I did, thanks, Chris.
He was a man that knew what he wanted to improve his life ,to show others that he was willing to move up in the army by his service to the country,
Great words. Thank you.
Superb
An Intelligence Officer during the Boer War........That surely would have been interesting work.
Think it must have been.
Fabulous presentation.
Amazing story, thanks!
it's my pleasure. Thanks for watching.
A remarkable soldier from humble beginnings. An excellent example of duty.🇬🇧
Indeed
My grandfather's name was William Robertson and he fought at the Dardanelles (Gallipoli). As a consequence he had a very low opinion of Winston Churchill whose idea that fiasco was. I believe Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty at that time.
David, the whole east v west debate is still very much alive and kicking...as you can see from some of the other comments.
It was a good idea. More then poorly executed. The hills surrounding Gallipoli were empty on the day of invasion but the decision was made to go back to the beach,as an example. In WWII the allies were still attempting to attack the soft underbelly of Europe. When your stalled in one location then you attempt to flank.
My grandad, an ANZAC, mentioned that he was one of those who returned to the beach. They were being cut off by the Turks while the British troops were waiting on the beach for their officers to disembark.
Fabulous thank you!
My pleasure.
Thoroughly enjoyed this one(again),had me glued to the screen within 2 seconds. Thanks!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Very interesting video about someone I'd never heard of before. Will be watching more of your videos now and in the future. Thank you.
That's great, James.
Love your stuff, especially these personal portraits 👍
That's good to hear. I will do more of them.
Wonderful video. Thank you so much. There was a Canadian general in WW1 who's name escapes me? But what little I've learned of him was also very interesting. I believe he was the highest Canadian general. Love your channel.
Many thanks for your kind words and support.
@@TheHistoryChap 😊
Arthur Currie?
@@WNH3 That's the guy! Thank You ☺️😎
Monash the Australian legend needs his story told
What an awesome fascinating achievement story of Robertson. It’s sad that even today Donkey Politicians get in the way of experienced Lion Military operations. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
He did endorse the Battle of the Somme and Ypres (Passchendaele) which were also the largest single day losses of British servicemen on record. Not really pointed out in this commentary. A great man indeed but some balancing facts needed at times!
Another fantastic video! I love your content. Have you read C S Forester's, 'The General?
Sol, thanks & I'm glad you enjoyed.
No I haven't read that book but I will now put it on my reading list.
@@TheHistoryChap have you read any of Dudley Pope’s books Either Fiction or nonfiction? I am a rabid fan of his Lord Nicolas Ramage novels and I picked up ‘ The Black Ship ‘ about the H.M.S Hermione mutiny by accident ,thinking it was another sea story ( the bookstore staff made the same mistake and put it in fiction.)
Thanks Chris, another cracking video, Cheers
My pleasure, Andrew. Plenty more to come...
His Field marshal uniform is on display at the national army museum chelsea
Thank you for sharing.
@@TheHistoryChap the skeleton of the horse Napoleon rode at Waterloo is there,also the written order that launched the charge of the light brigade
It's great to see your number of subscribers steadily climbing. Eagerly await each video.
Thank you. Really pleased with the growth and all the generous comments that viewers are sending.
another great vid, cheers!
many thanks, Tom.
Sad it is so short
Sorry about that. The whole intrigues with both Lloyd George and Sir Henry Wilson (who succeeded him as CIGS) could end up being a mini-series!
What an amazing man
Thank you for sharing this with us
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for another story. I remain inspired anew!
Thanks for watching.
Sir I fully agree with your assessment of the man. He truly deserves to be remembered as Great Britain's leading figure. Once again Sir kudos! I await the next video .
Glad you enjoyed. it's always good to hear stories of people who break the mould.
Nice presentation Chris...I learned something today after watching this video. This rise in the ranks is indeed, a most unusual event. I would've said almost impossible considering the Officer Class system that existed at that time and indeed..well into the mid 20th century. I heard that Enoch Powell (former MP) entered military service as a Private and rose to the rank of Brigadier (perhaps you could check this out) but nothing compares to Robertsons meteoric rise in the ranks.
Another informative and well presented video. Keep it up.
Correct about Enoch Powell, though he was not from such a lower class background as Robertson (perhaps lower middle class?), and indeed had just been Professor of Greek at Sydney University before he enlisted. He was very quickly singled out for a commission and spent most of the war as a staff officer on intelligence work (I don't think he saw combat). However, he did claim to have enjoyed his short time as a private soldier with men of much lower intellect than himself.
There is a very long (3 hour) recording on RUclips of an interview (audio only) with Powell about his wartime service (National Army Museum or IWM - I will try and find the link).
Sorry for the delay - had to take the doggy for a walk before it gets too hot! The link to the Powell interview is: ruclips.net/video/U_Se_QDKeC8/видео.html. Note that, although the whole thing is about 3 hours long, it was recorded as a series of interviews - every now and then you hear the interviewer announce a new tape.
Although Powell was very proud of his (short) time in the Warwickshire Regt, in the still photos of him as an officer he seems to be wearing the General Service Corps insignia (an 'oddbins' corps for officers not assigned to a regular regiment or corps).
@@kennethgarland4712
Your video says that Robertson also had command of the Warwickshire regiment.....would this be the same Warwickshire regiment whose soldiers after surrendering were involved in an SS massacre at Wormault in the barn during the evacuation of British troops in 1940 ?
@@oldgitsknowstuff Sorry - I'm not sure what you mean. "Your video" - do you mean the interview with Powell that that I posted or to the video about Robertson? Neither Robertson nor Powell commanded the Warwickshires (Powell never rose above the rank of corporal during his short time in the regiment before he was selected for officer training). PoWs from the 2nd Battalion were indeed among those murdered by the SS in the massacre to which you refer.
@@kennethgarland4712.
Yes, its a very hot and Sizzling day. Phew ! I wouldn't take a dog out on a day like this.
I'm viewing your presentations on my TV whilst typing my observations. Regarding the Boer War.. I was told by a Royal Artillery veteran....That a certain regiment of Artillery were traditionally...NOT issued with a 'Jack knife'.
Apparently this bit of kit was standard issue with the Royal Horse Artillery even in the 1940s. The RHA were fully motorised at that time yet its troops were still issued with the Jack Knife as standard kit.
The exception being 1 Artillery regiment who..as a matter of disgrace...were never issued the Jack Knife because in a previous battle, this regiment, to ensure their safe escape....CUT THE TRACES of the horses towing the guns, thereby escaping and allowing the guns to be captured by the enemy.....
Thats what I was told. Perhaps you might have information to clarify this ?
I was absolutely fascinated with sir Roberts what a career my God from private to field Marshall that is very very impressive and the guy had quite the career is just amazing I really enjoyed this story closer Roberts looking forward to the next one thank you very much your friend Southern Nevada Nicholas
Hi all the way over there in Nevada.
So glad you enjoyed and thank you for your support.
Lots more videos on the way!
informative and compelling , as allways ... thank you and greetings from Flanders.
Tim, thank you. Hope weather is good over there. It is baking in the north west of England.
@@TheHistoryChap let's just say we won't be ice skating for a while
What a story!!! Thanks for sharing Chris great choice to cover in a video.
George, many thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
That was an interesting story of an impressive military career.
Thank you.
Really enjoying these videos, keep up the good work!
Many thansk. Plenty more coming your way.
Thanks for the lecture! Robertson was right about the western strategy.I wish there would have been a voice like his in WWII.
Glad you enjoyed.
I have to admit this story was right up my alley.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
A very interesting history. Thank you. I love your channel. Big request for a history of Francis Younghusband's expedition into Tibet in 1904.
Robert, I have that on my hit-list. Just haven't got a date yet. Please subscribe to my channel so you don't miss it.
@@TheHistoryChap You might like the book, "White Mountain: A Cultural Adventure through the Himalayas," by author Robert Twigger. He has a couple of chapters discussing Lord Curzon's 1904 Yak War into Tibet that you can use for research. He also covers Aleister Crowley's fascinating attempt to summit K2. AC actually had his Balti servants lug his book collection up the Baltoro Glacier, crazy guy!
Very well done! Thank you!
Thanks for watching.
Once again a great story about a remarkable man. Thank you
My pleasure. Thanks fro watching.
Another entertaining & informative presentation.
Many thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant ! Your videos are the same... keep up the good work !! Thank you.
Love doing them.
What an amazing and inspirational man - thank you for giving us this life story (Against the Odds) which I’ve enjoyed along with your other videos
Thank you for watching. I'm glad that you enjoyed it.
A remarkable man and soldier. Thanks for telling his story.
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
Thank you sir, what a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting presentation.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
What a fantastic story and what a man who had the best career a private could ever of had thanks for your video today 😀
Cameron, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Great Chris. This is excellent. Hopefully we can look forward to some bio”s on Wolsley, Roberts and Horace Smith Dorian.
Paul, yes I have those bios planned. Kitchener as well!
Fascinating story! Obviously he was quite a clever and able man.
Glad you enjoyed.
had to Wikipedia him to see if he was lucky in his family life. Sadly things were not very rosy, but it seems he had a love match, which I'm very pleased for him. glad to watch a very interesting video about a man I never heard of before. great video thanks
Ron, not quite as rosy as you say but compared to some others, it wasn't a disaster. Thanks for watching and I'm pleased that it got you researching.
Beautifully presented with customary enthusiasm. Excellent.
Thanks for your support.
Very good video! 👍 Personally, I've always admired this man, who proved the superiority of achievement and experience over social position. Something our own time still has much to learn from!
Thanks for watching.
Good morning, wow whot an interesting story 😀. Whot a great man he was .... thanks for your hard work .. cheers Simon from York
Glad you enjoyed and thank you for your ongoing support.
As always excellent.
Glad you enjoyed.
Amazing to story that shows that the British military has always been leaders in social mobility
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Wow! Thank you for this informative study. I really enjoyed this episode. Please keep up the good work.
Walt, thanks for your support. Chris
Heya history chap,
I'm hoping we get to see your take on Sir Thomas Cochrane and Sir Sidney Smith, also HMS Bellerphon. Many thanks
Jesse, I will add to my ever-growing list.
I recall being told by a teacher 70 British Generals died on active service in world war 1 and there were some like Major General Luke O'Connor who'd rose through the ranks to high positions (As a Major General, O'Connor, according to legend, apparently punched out another General when he stated that 'it is the lower classes job to die to preserve the way of life of the upper classes.' and pointed out to the prostrate officer "I am one of the working classes."- he was fiercely proud of being working class and Irish and since O'Connor was the first ever recipient of the Victoria cross, it made him 'flameproof'.)
That would be Luke O' Connor who won his VC at the Battle of Alma.
Thank you so much for sharing yor knowledge. i hope others take note.
It was 78 British Generals who died on active service. Believe it or not actually a higher fatality rate than the Infantry. Sounds ridiculous I know but there are far fewer Generals than there are infantry, so that 78 deaths during the war actually comes to a higher proportional loss for Generals than for the infantry soldier.
Your infantry private had a 1 in 10 chance of dying during the war. Yes, 90% of infantrymen who served on the Western Front survived. The really bad casualties were among the NCO's and the Field Officers. Young Lieutenants had a 20% chance of not surviving the war, double that of the infantry.
Those young officers by the way were mostly upper class, at least at the start of the war, and were virtually ALL volunteers. Those upper classes paid a price in blood themselves, a price that is often overlooked. While generally the phrase 'Lost Generation' when applied to the British losses of WWI is hyperbole, in the case of the upper class families it actually comes close to being true. A shocking number of them lost all or most of their sons on those bloody fields, a fact that is ignored by many, but should NOT be in my opinion.
Not saying the upper class were right, I am merely pointing out that they did in fact pay a blood price themselves during both wars, and many of those families died out when their sons died in the mud of the Western Front.
@@alganhar1 Yup, thanks for that - knew it was a figure in the 70's.
I agree that the wars wiped out all tiers of society - General H.R.Abadie lost all four of his sons in military service (two of disease in Africa & two in WW1).
Another great documentary. 👍
many thanks. Glad you enjoyed.
"out of tutch tuff" so funny! ofen seen!! Jolly good show !!!
Glad you enjoyed, even if the YT auto cue has something to be desired!
thank you
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much for yet another great video ❤
My pleasure. Thanks for your support.
Another great ripping yarn,THC.
Well done Sir!
My pleasure. Thanks fro watching.
Excellent thanks 👏👏
Thanks for your support.
Really interesting, as always!
Thanks, Nigel. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Very interesting thank you
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it.
Well said !!!
Many thanks.
When you comment on Robertson and his opinion on the Germans the picture of Robertson is very similar to the "Your country needs you "picture or is it Haig in the picture.Btw my Grandfather fought in Salonika as a member of the Seaforth Highlanders he survived to live a good life till his death in 1978 he never talked about his experience fighting in ww1 he liked a drink he was a hard worker and adored Glasgow Rangers his favourite football team he took me as a small boy to see Rangers play and i was hooked on the Queens 11 i still love them as do all the family in Glasgow 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Thank you for sharing your family story. Salonika a very much forgotten aspect of Great Britain's WW1 story.
Utterly amazing
James, I hope that you mean that in a good way (ha ha). Thanks for watching. Chris
Once again my thanks Chris for presenting a very compelling look into the life of a remarkable man. His story should serve as an inspiration to young soldiers for generations to come.
Nice words, thank you.
good one
An interesting man
Great content, as we've become custom to on this channel. A very interesting career indeed.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for your kind words.
Such an underrated channel
Thanks for your kind comment.
Fascinating
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
A very remarkable man and soldier,respect👌
Glad you enjoyed.
Recent subscriber but I would like to learn more on the history of the beef eaters.
Thanks for becoming a subscriber. You are the first person to request that particular subject so i will add it to my list. Thanks.
A very interesting subject. As per usual.
Jason, thanks for your support.
Chris another fascinating story. What is the reference or source for the painting of the brown officers charger with the dismounted Officer resting under a tree hanging on to the reins? Warmest regards Gerard
Thanks Gerard. Would need to go back to my notes regarding the picture.
Field Marshal Douglas Haig was a Scotsman 🏴 but a great leader❤
Just listening to this makes me want to start a damn revolution. A man of prodigious talent, hemmed in by financial factors. Wooley must have been a popular lad, for his officers to cough up what was quite a lot of money, and enable him to take the commission. Just goes to show; sometimes Jack IS a better man than his master.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. What was interesting is that officers wanted to help him on the way up.
@@TheHistoryChap true that!
The Labour Party, the “revolutionaries” are the ones who kneecapped the grammar schools, which probably elevated more talent from the working and lower middle class than any other institution in the 20th centuries. Ironically it gave the Public Schools a monopoly of seats at Oxbridge. after 1980. give us the likes of Cameron and johnson.
@@TheHistoryChap Which puts paid to the common idea that all officers were indolent, selfish prigs.
The only one to rise from private soldier to field marshall in the British army.
An achievement not so rare in the French revolutionary army when Bonaparte said that every soldier had in his backpack the baton of a marshall. As several of his marshalls did.
That's the difference between a social and economic class based army, like the Roman and Middle Age armies were, and a merit based army, like some current armies are or should, following the example of the French 1st Republic and the 1st Empire.
And no, I'm not French.
Thanks for taking the time to present your thoughts.
The ranks of French revolutionary army produced field marshals and even Kings. Jean Baptiste Bernadotte rose from private to King of Sweden and Norway. His dynasty still rules Sweden.
The British Army was traditionally a small Professional Force entirely made up of volunteers. This was mostly as true of Wellingtons Army as it is of todays. It has only grown large enough to actually REQUIRE a Field Marshal an entire two times in its long history. During the two world wars. Even at its height, before World War One the British Army numbered only some 250,000 Regulars, with 250,000 Territorials (who could only be deployed outside the UK under very specific circumstances).
In other words the British Army traditionally followed a very different model to the French Continental style conscript Army. It was never really meant for full on drag out fights with Continental style armies. The REAL power in Britain's fist was never its army, it was always its Navy.
The Royal Navy was Merit based long before the French Navy, even before the Revolution killed off the majority of its best officers. And that showed in the dominance of the Royal Navy at sea during the period. Again, the Royal Navy unlike the French Navy was mostly volunteer. There were some pressed men but the vast majority of RN Sailors were volunteers. The French Navy? Their sailors were almost entirely conscripts...
It is something of a fallacy to directly compare the British Army of the Napoleonic era with the French, as the Armies were built to entirely different purposes, as well as entirely different scales. The British Army even at the height of the Napoleonic Wars was actually never very large.
@@alganhar1 all what you say is true, but nobody compared both armies and nobody talked about any navy.
I just said that Robertson was the only one who went from private to field marshall because of the classist policy in the 19th century British army where rich young and inexperienced men could buy a comission as officers.
By the way, was the 19th century British army really made up of volunteers if a judge condemned you to several years in jail or even being sent to the (then) wild Australia but offered you to serve in the army or the navy? Think about so many Irish rebels and British poor people pushed to steal food just to survive one more day.
Also, every navy in Europe abducted civil sailors in own and foreign ports. Because why to _serve_ in senseless wars between kings for a miserable wage and risking to be killed by foes or by the sea when you can get some profit as a fisher or as a merchant?
Well done.
Thank you.
There may well have been officers of that era who lived up to the stereotypes we still read about today. BUT..in all these stories of achievement by those not "of the manor born" we hear of numerous officers who seek out or notice talent, and then support it to the hilt.
Great video, thank you! All those books behind you got me wondering, which is your most favourite book?
Possibly "Khartoum" by Michael Asher. I've visited Sudan and his descriptions bring it all back.
That was really cool
Thank you.