The Donkeys

The landmark exposé of incompetent leadership on the Western Front - why the British troops were lions led by donkeys

On 26 September 1915, twelve British battalions – a strength of almost 10,000 men – were ordered to attack German positions in France. In the three-and-a-half hours of the battle, they sustained 8,246 casualties. The Germans suffered no casualties at all.

Why did the British Army fail so spectacularly? What can be said of the leadership of generals? And most importantly, cou...