ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book is based upon my PhD thesis, ‘The British Expeditionary Force and the Battle of Loos’, which was completed at the University of Birmingham in July 2005. During the four years that I spent as a postgraduate student at Birmingham my supervisor, Dr John Bourne, became a personal friend. I will always be grateful to him for his constant help, support and wisdom. A special salute should be paid to Professor Peter Simkins who read through most of the drafts and provided penetrating insight, advice and much-needed encouragement. My external examiner, Professor Gary Sheffield, also deserves credit for helping to iron out a number of inconsistencies within the text. All have been a pleasure to work with.

I have learnt much from all those who have given me the benefit of their expertise during the course of this project. I am indebted to Dr Correlli Barnett, Dr Sanders Marble, Dr William Philpott and Andrew Rawson. My sincere thanks also go to Jonathan Reeve, Sophie Bradshaw and all at Tempus for agreeing to publish the manuscript and for always being supportive and helpful. Needless to say, any errors contained within this book, either of interpretation, diction or research, are mine alone.

Financial support for this project was provided by the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham, which paid my tuition fees in the third year of my PhD, and the Western Front Association, which kindly awarded me a research grant.

I wish to acknowledge the generous help and assistance that I have received from the staff of the following institutions: the Bodleian Library; the Brotherton Library; the Imperial War Museum; the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives at King’s College London; The National Archives; the National Army Museum; the Imperial War Museum; and the University of Birmingham’s Main Library.

For various acts of kindness and assistance I would like to thank the following: Matt Brosnan; Harry Buglass for the maps; Susan Campbell; Peter Cluderay; Jean Luc Gloriant; Major A.G.D. Gordon of Cape Town; the late Albert ‘Smiler’ Marshall; Nick Sedlmayr; Dr John Sneddon; Gareth Weedall; Steven Weselby; and Kate Conlin, Antje Pieper and Delia Bettaney for translating various French and German sources.

There are those without whom this book could not have been started, let alone completed. Heartfelt thanks to Tim and Tez, not only for allowing me to sleep on their sofa during my periodic visits to London, but also for watering and feeding me after long days spent in the archives. Another heartfelt dedication goes out to Louise Campbell who has been a wonderful and inspiring companion. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, John and Sue, and my late grandparents, Gladys and George, for their tireless devotion to my education and wellbeing.

Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire
February 2006