Military Tactics and the Rise of Modern Warfare, 1881-1935

This collection is drawn from the personal papers of Professor Henry Spensor Wilkinson (1853-1937) and traces the rise of modern warfare tactics through correspondence with some of Britain’s most decorated military figures. Wilkinson’s influential position as a military historian and journalist informed his correspondence with a range of military and political figures, including Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, Lord Kitchener, General Ian Hamilton, and Field Marshal William Robertson. As seen through the documents, Wilkinson discusses military strategy and events in the First World War, the Boer War in South Africa, as well as conflicts in the Balkans.

The focal point of this collection covers the ascendency of modern warfare tactics, as nations transitioned from regular armies engaging in set piece battles, to the total warfare of World War One. As such, the collection offers a vital insight into how military tactics changed to reflect growing manpower and new technologies during the early 20th century.

Either the volunteer force must at once be taken in hand by someone who better understands it than any officer or official now at the war office, or the nation will run the risk of an irretrievable disaster within the next twelve months

Spenser Wilkinson, Mar 1900, The War in South Africa and Current Defence Problems; img 69

Insights

The papers on recent military tactics were written by both English and German authors before World War One. Other notes cover Napoleon's Campaign of 1805, and summarise core 19th Century texts on tactics.

These papers cover both World War One and military tactics. The content on the Great War includes correspondence from Prime Minister Asquith, Lord Kitchener and Field Marshal Sir William Robertson.

Content within 'World War One and Naval Education' focusses on reforms to army structures before World War One, letters from officers about the war while it was taking place, and challenges facing the Royal Flying Corps.

The 'Correspondence from India and Africa' includes descriptions of India during a year when uprisings were taking place, 1893. Correspondence on Africa focusses on South Africa during the second Boer War.