Officer's Mess, Camberley Staff College

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

37790

Title

Officer's Mess, Camberley Staff College

Description

One black and white photograph of British Army officers in mess uniform enjoying leisure time at the Staff College, Camberley, Surrey in 1897. Four men are seated playing whist, one of which is Earl Haig and twelve others are around the room, some are seated and some standing.

Date

1897

Type

Photograph

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

HH4303/540/81

Douglas Haig entered the staff college at Camberley in Surrey on the 15th of January, 1896. Haig spent two years at Camberley developing understanding of staff work. Emphasis of the teaching at Camberley was on military history and 'grand tactics'. Periods of special attention were the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War.

Douglas Haig entered the staff college at Camberley in Surrey on the 15th of January, 1896. Haig spent two years at Camberley developing understanding of staff work. Emphasis of the teaching at Camberley was on military history and 'grand tactics'. Periods of special attention were the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War.

For Haig as with other officers of the late 19th century, the advantages of attending Camberley were not simply academic but also personal- to make connections and relationships with people that they may be working with for years to come.

After leaving Camberley Douglas Haig served in both the war in the Sudan and South Africa before rising up the ranks to be posted as the head of the Aldershot Command prior to the First World War.

Douglas Haig went to war with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in August, 1914 in command of the I Corps. In December of 1915 following Sir John French's departure Haig took up the post as Commander-in-Chief of the BEF.

After the war Douglas Haig retired from the army in 1920, was created the 1st Earl Haig and spent the rest of his life seeing to the well-being of ex-servicemen.

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Clothing and dress > Garments > Uniforms

Military > Military facilities > Barracks

Military > Military facilities > Camps

People > Famous people > Field Marshal Earl Haig

People > Military activities > Soldiers