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A thread of selected quotes from this awesome book on Uncle Bill, the father of the modern British Army.
It took me over 10 years to get round to reading it and a couple days to devour it!
It took me over 10 years to get round to reading it and a couple days to devour it!
“The most important thing about a commander is his effect on morale... It was the leader’s job to stamp his personality on his men”
“To be cheered by the gaunt remnants of those whom you have only led in defeat, withdrawals and disaster, is infinitely moving - and humbling”
Slim’s set of rules to fight the Japanese:
“The bitter experience of the retreat confirmed to [Slim] the key importance well integrated air power played in land operations: indeed he cane to believe there was no such thing as an exclusively ‘land’ campaign.”
3 enduring principles of action
“Spiritual (the cause) first, because only spiritual foundations can stand real strain. Next intellectual, because men are swayed by reason. Material last because the very highest kinds of morale are often met when material conditions are lowest”
“Spiritual (the cause) first, because only spiritual foundations can stand real strain. Next intellectual, because men are swayed by reason. Material last because the very highest kinds of morale are often met when material conditions are lowest”
Information and honesty were key ingredients of Slim’s approach to the problems of the 14th Army... he talked frankly to troops... information rooms were set up in units to keep the men informed.
Slim had himself been allowed to learn from his mistakes, and subsequently he deliberately adopted a policy of allowing commanders to do likewise as long as they proved that they were able to learn from them.
It (Op CUDGEL) was also a battle which fully vindicated Slim’s approach to war. Hard and realistic training has created a soldier able to cope with the demands of the jungle battlefield, and against a tenacious enemy.
“I was like other Generals before me, to be saved from the consequences of my mistakes by the resourcefulness of my subordinate commanders and the stubborn valour of my troops”
“Commanders’ conferences were not unlike post-graduate university seminars, with Slim as Chairman, guiding but not dominating discussions”
“Slim was wonderful to serve under; having discussed the thing with you he would make some suggestions. He would then leave it to you. Just give you encouragement.” GOC IV Corps Messervy
“He had the head of a General and the heart of a private soldier.” LCpl George Macdonald-Fraser (of @GeneralFlashman fame!)
“Field Marshal Tarauchi’s sword is in Mountbatten’s hands; General Kimura’s is now on my mantelpiece, where I always intended that one day it should be.” Uncle Bill; the Boss of the Forgotten Army
