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Experiences of the Great War

Faith in the cavalry

Like many generals in 1914, Douglas Haig was a believer in the power of the cavalry. He is sometimes criticised for not realising earlier the limitations of horses in the new kind of warfare that was developing, with its trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, and powerful artillery.

However, in this diary entry for 18 September he is clearly aware of the limitations of horses:

'Horse ambulance wagons are reported of no use; light motors (like what the French have) most necessary. Shortage of stretchers. The situation is quite unlike what was anticipated by our regulations. Owing to the increased range of Artillery to collect wounded at dressing stations, only means that they will get shelled and a number of slightly wounded men will be killed along with the Doctors!'

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