RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter – 2024 / 2025 Edition 77 play. Commanders who underestimate or dismiss politics do so at their own peril. Auchinleck quickly encountered Churchill and his desire to influence the conduct of the military campaign. The author observed … “that no other prime minster had ever influenced military planning, tactics and appointments as Churchill.” Most importantly he observed that “it was in this sphere that he [Churchill] was most prone to error – despite his great military capacity and experience.” An assessment of Wavell’s personality highlights the need to ensure commanders study their enemy counterpart and know the enemy. The author assessed that a crucial mistake for Wavell was he had a fixed and mistaken conviction that the Italians and German were much of a muchness as battle fighters. He does not shy away from highlighting the ever lumining presence of “political masters” and their ruthlessness if they believe their guidance is not being achieved by the Commander. The war in North Africa is a shining example of these demands. Churchill removed both Wavell and Auchinleck without hesitation when he became frustrated with their “apparent” failures to meet his timelines for military success in defeating Rommel.” The author offers an insight into the personalities of key individuals and his views on them. He discusses Winston Churchill and how his personality lent itself to overly inserting himself into the conduct of the “on ground” war and subsequently onto the commanders. One may even describe Churchill as the ultimate “armchair general”. A major example of political interference into the conduct of the campaign was when Churchill gave Auchinleck a direct order to engage Rommel. Auchinleck found himself with his strategic appreciation conflicting with the demands of his political master. The book highlights the wide range of personality traits that leaders bring to their role. The key take away is that there is no “template” that makes a formidable and capable commander. As an example the author describes Wavell as … “a remarkable man and an unusual general. He certainly looked the part with his … air of invincibility. He was … utterly courageous and unflappable under all conditions. At the same time he was a scholar, lover of poetry and writer of considerable ability”. The author assessed that Rommel did not have Auchinleck’s strategic ability and brainpower, but what he and Churchill had one thing in common - they saw the immediate problem and focused on that alone. Despite Rommel admitting that it was Auchinleck who wrested the initiative from him and made this the beginning of the end for him in North Africa. The author observed that “it is a measure of Rommel that he could recognise with generosity the achievement of a worthy opponent and a flaw in Mongomery’s humanity that he could not allow the glow of his own achievement to be overshadowed by his predecessor’s success.” The author also addresses Dunkirk, Battle of Britian, Far East and Victorious Generals in the remainder of the book. The Last 100 Days: The Australian Road to Victory in the First World War By Will Davies Reviewed by Major DT (Terry) Brennan RAA Liaison Letter Editor ISBN 978 0 14378 496 8; P UBLISHED BY P ENGUIN R ANDOM H OUSE A USTRALIA ; P UBLISHED IN 2018; S OFTCOVER ; 340 PAGES ; M APS AND B LACK AND W HITE P HOTOGRAPHS This is a book I started ages ago and carried it around with me for what seemed an eternity, in fact for so long, over the Christmas break I decided to re-read it. I am very pleased I did, and if you have any interest Australia’s involvement in the WWI in 1918, especially the later stages, this is a very worthwhile read, In September 2019 I spent a week participating in a walking tour of the Australia battlefields in France and Belgium. The tour was with an Australia company