who commanded the british expeditionary force in world war one
British Expeditionary Force (World War I) The force was commanded by Field Marshal Sir John French until December 1915,[5] when he was replaced by General Sir Douglas Haig.[6] The BEF's Chief of Staff on mobilisation was General Archibald Murray.[7] He was replaced in January 1915 by General William Robertson.[8] Lieutenant-General Launcelot Kiggell then served as Chief of Staff from December 1915 to January 1917 when he was succeeded by Lieutenant-General Herbert Lawrence. The two initial Army Corps were commanded by Douglas Haig (I Corps) and Horace Smith-Dorrien (II Corps).[3]
Aviation in World War I Even so, air reconnaissance played a critical role in the "war of movement" of 1914, especially in helping the Allies halt the German invasion of France. On 22 August 1914, British Captain L.E.O. Charlton and Lieutenant V.H.N. Wadham reported German General Alexander von Kluck's army was preparing to surround the BEF, contradicting all other intelligence. The British High Command took note of the report and started to withdraw toward Mons, saving the lives of 100,000 soldiers. Later, during the First Battle of the Marne, observation aircraft discovered weak points and exposed flanks in the German lines, allowing the allies to take advantage of them.[4]