Sir John French's Despatches; Official Records of the Great Battles of Mons, the Marne, and the Aisne... [Vol 2] Ypres, Armentieres, ...

London: The Graphic, 1914. Two volumes 47 pages illustrations (maps) obl. 12mo. Very good(+) to near fine(-). Paperback.

The Graphic Special; No. 1 [series]. ¶ "John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres (1852-1925), was a senior British Army officer who served as the first Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during World War I. French's military career began in the Royal Navy, but he soon transferred to the British Army. He served in the Sudan Expedition and the Second Boer War, demonstrating a knack for cavalry tactics. His leadership during these conflicts led to his appointment as Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1912. When World War I broke out, French took command of the BEF, leading British forces during the Battle of Mons and the First Battle of Ypres. However, his leadership was criticized for strategic missteps and poor relations with his French allies and political leaders. He was replaced as Commander-in-Chief by Sir Douglas Haig in 1915. After leaving the Western Front, French served as Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces, until 1918. He was created Viscount French in 1916 and Earl of Ypres in 1922. Despite the controversies of his military career, French played a significant role in the early years of World War I and left a lasting impact on the British military."