Leading from the front? Officers and Officership in the British Army in two world wars

Published on 21 October 2020
Submitted by Prof Gary Sheffield

In 1914-18, this was an undoubted success, as large numbers of men from beyond the traditional sources of officers were commissioned and performed effectively. In 1939-45, the process was far more troubled.

In this lecture, The Western Front Association's president, Professor Gary Sheffield, looks at British army officers in the First and Second World Wars, makes comparisons between the two, and asks why the systems of recruiting were so different

Leading from the front? Officers and Officership in the British Army in two world wars
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