Page "Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby" Paragraph 11

During the First World War he initially served on the Western Front.

At the outbreak of war a British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) was sent to France, consisting of four infantry divisions and one cavalry division, the latter commanded by Allenby, who distinguished himself when his unit covered the retreat after the Battle of Mons.

As the BEF was expanded in size to two Armies, he was rewarded by being made commander of the Cavalry Corps.

In 1915 he commanded V Corps during the Second Battle of Ypres and in October he took charge of the British Third Army.

However at the Battle of Arras in the spring of 1917, his forces failed to exploit a breakthrough and he was replaced by Julian Byng on 9 June.

A significant reason for his removal from command and transfer was his continuing feud with Field Marshal Haig over tactical matters.

Shortly after his arrival in Egypt, he learned that his son, Michael, had been killed on the Western Front by German artillery.