Transcriber's Note:
In the original book, the odd numbered pages have a uniqueheader, represented here as sidenotes.
A number of obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this text.
For a complete list, please see the bottom of this document.
FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN D.P. FRENCH, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G.
From a portrait by his son, J.R.L. French.
SIR JOHN FRENCH
AN AUTHENTIC BIOGRAPHY
BY
CECIL CHISHOLM, M.A.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
SIR EVELYN WOOD, V.C.
AND A PORTRAIT BY J.R.L. FRENCH
HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED
ARUNDEL PLACE HAYMARKET
LONDON S.W. MCMXV
That every man in arms should wish to be."
WYMAN & SONS LTD., PRINTERS, READING AND LONDON.
INTRODUCTION
BY FIELD-MARSHAL SIR EVELYN WOOD, V.C.
I regard John Denton French as the man who for the last twelve yearshas been the driving force of tactical instruction in the BritishArmy. He made use of all the best ideas of the Generals who precededhim in the Aldershot Command, and he was, I think, instrumental incausing the appointment of Horace Smith-Dorrien and Douglas Haig tosucceed in turn to that nursery of soldiers.
How sound his judgment has proved to be may be discovered from thedispatches—carefully worded—in which he describes how Smith-Dorrienconducted the most successful retreat since that of Sir John Moore toCorunna, 1808-9, and how Douglas Haig carried his Army across theAisne river in the face of the enemy's fire opposition.
From 1884-5, when as a Squadron Officer he showed marked determinationin the abortive expedition for the relief of Gordon, until 1899-1902in South Africa, he has been the foremost man to inculcate the"Cavalry Spirit," and unlike many advocates of that [Pg iv]spirit, he hasnever become a slave to the idea. He has been at pains to teach theCavalry soldier that when he can no longer fight to the best advantagein the saddle, he is to get off his horse and fight on foot. This is amarked feature of his military genius.
He is intensely practical; and he is possessed of great moral andphysical courage which never fail to assert themselves in the face ofthe most difficult situations. They were conspicuously shown duringthe Boer War when, with an extraordinary determination, he formed uphis men on their tired and exhausted horses and advanced in extendedorder, galloping through the Boers in position, and reaching Kimberleyas t