Douglas Haig Biography and Timeline

Birth of Douglas Haig

Birth of Douglas Haig

Major

Appointed Major

Inspector

Appointed Inspector General of Cavalry, serves in India

Major General

Appointed Major General

Chief of General Staff India

Serves as chief of the General Staff in India.

Role range: 1909-1912

Indian Army Staff Leadership

Directs staff planning and training within the Indian Army.

Role range: 1909-1912

Lieutenant General

Appointed Lieutenant General

Aldershot Command Appointment

Takes command of the army formation based at Aldershot.

Role range: 1912-1914

British Army Field Training

Directs large-scale training before the First World War.

Role range: 1912-1914

Battle of Ypres, 1st

Haig commands I Corps in the Ypres salient.

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1918

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

Commander of First Army

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

First Army

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

General

Appointed General

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1915

Commander of First Army

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1915

First Army

Appointed Commander of the First Army as part of the BEF sent to France

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1915

General

Appointed General

Role range: 1914-1918 – 1914-1916

Neuve Chapelle Breakthrough Exploitation Ordered

Haig orders reserves forward after British troops penetrate the first German defensive positions.

Role range: 1914-1918

Neuve Chapelle Offensive Directed by First Army

Haig's First Army opens the Neuve Chapelle offensive after a concentrated artillery bombardment.

Role range: 1914-1918

Neuve Chapelle Offensive Halted

Haig ends the offensive after communications failures, resistance and ammunition shortages prevent further progress.

Role range: 1914-1918

Aubers Ridge Offensive Launched

Haig's First Army attacks Aubers Ridge but strong German defences inflict severe British losses.

Role range: 1914-1918

Aubers Ridge Failure Reviewed

Haig reviews the failed attack after British troops gain little ground against intact German positions.

Role range: 1914-1918

Festubert Offensive Opened

Haig's First Army begins a night offensive intended to exploit limited artillery preparation around Festubert.

Role range: 1914-1918

Festubert Operations Extended

Haig continues attacks as British troops make slow gains through strongly defended trench systems.

Role range: 1914-1918

Festubert Offensive Closed

Haig ends the Festubert operation after limited advances and heavy casualties.

Role range: 1914-1918

Loos Assault Opened

Haig's First Army attacks at Loos and initially penetrates parts of the German defensive system.

Role range: 1914-1918

Loos Reserves Requested Forward

Haig presses for reserve divisions to exploit the initial breakthrough before German defences recover.

Role range: 1914-1918

Loos Second-Day Attacks Continued

Haig continues offensive operations as German reinforcements strengthen the threatened sector.

Role range: 1914-1918

First Army Gas Preparations for Loos Approved

Haig supports preparations to use chlorine gas during the planned autumn offensive at Loos.

Role range: 1914-1918

Loos Offensive Plan Confirmed

Haig confirms First Army plans for a major attack supporting the wider Allied autumn offensive.

Role range: 1914-1918

Loos Offensive Casualties Reviewed

Haig reviews severe First Army losses after the offensive fails to achieve a strategic breakthrough.

Role range: 1914-1918

First Army Winter Reorganisation Begun

Haig reorganises First Army formations and staff arrangements after the Loos fighting.

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Role range: 1914-1918

BEF Command Appointment Confirmed

Haig replaces Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force.

Role range: 1914-1918

General Headquarters Command Assumed

Haig assumes control of BEF General Headquarters and begins reviewing the army's organisation.

Role range: 1914-1918

Allied Strategy Consultation with Joffre Renewed

Haig begins coordinating future British operations with Joffre as the new BEF commander.

Role range: 1914-1918

BEF Command Succession Discussed

Haig emerges as the leading candidate to replace Sir John French as commander of the BEF.

Role range: 1914-1918

British Western Front Responsibilities Reviewed

Haig reviews the expanding British sector and the requirements for larger operations in 1916.

Role range: 1914-1918