Politics of Command
Lieutenant-General a.G.L. McNaughton and the Canadian Army, 1939-1943
Published on 11. February 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-1-4875-4102-6 (ISBN)
Description
In December 1943, Lieutenant-General A.G.L. McNaughton resigned from command of the 1st Canadian Army amidst criticism of his poor generalship and of his abrasive personality. Despite McNaughton's importance to the Canadian Army during the first four years of the Second World War, little has been written about the man himself or the circumstances of his resignation.
In The Politics of Command, the first full-length study of the subject since 1969, John Nelson Rickard analyses McNaughton's performance during Exercise SPARTAN in March 1943 and assesses his relationships with key figures such as Sir Alan F. Brooke, Bernard Paget, and Harry Crerar. This detailed re-examination of McNaughton's command argues that the long-accepted reasons for his relief of duty require extensive modification.
Based on a wide range of sources, The Politics of Command will redefine how military historians and all Canadians look at not only "Andy" McNaughton but also the Canadian Army itself.
In The Politics of Command, the first full-length study of the subject since 1969, John Nelson Rickard analyses McNaughton's performance during Exercise SPARTAN in March 1943 and assesses his relationships with key figures such as Sir Alan F. Brooke, Bernard Paget, and Harry Crerar. This detailed re-examination of McNaughton's command argues that the long-accepted reasons for his relief of duty require extensive modification.
Based on a wide range of sources, The Politics of Command will redefine how military historians and all Canadians look at not only "Andy" McNaughton but also the Canadian Army itself.
Reviews / Votes
"Captain Rickard has provided a much-needed reassessment of Canada's top general during the formative years of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Giving weight to both the systemic challenges that came with the rapid expansion of the army and the personality conflicts - the 'flame warfare' - in which McNaughton became engaged, Rickard offers refreshing insight into 'Andy.'"- Christine E. Leppard, University of Calgary (Journal of Military and Strategic Studies) "Through his nuanced analysis, Rickard's argument provides a radically different historical interpretation of McNaughton as a senior national commander between 1939 and 1943. Moreover, Rickard convincingly demonstrates that judgements by McNaughton's peers were greatly coloured by the effects of his dominant personality and by his earlier relationships ... Rickard adds significant and relevant context to earlier historical interpretations of McNaughton's obstinacy with keeping the Canadian Army intact for employment in a European invasion."
- Daniel Gosselin, Commander of the Canadian Defence Academy (Canadian Military Journal)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
18 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
608 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-4102-6 (9781487541026)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
John Nelson Rickard is a Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces and has a PhD in military history from the University of New Brunswick.
Content
Maps
Tables and Figures
Foreword by Marc Milner
Preface by Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: The Making of Andy McNaughton
1. Early Life and the Crucible of the First World War
2. The Road to High Command
Part Two: The Problem of Deploying the Army
3. A Willingness to Fight, 1940-1941
4. From ROUNDUP to TORCH
5. Practical Operations of War
Part Three: McNaughton as Military Commander and Trainer
6. The Difficulty of Training in 1940
7. The Politics of Training
8. Enter Montgomery
9. Exercise SPARTAN
10. The Long Shadow of Spartan
Part Four: The End of an Idea
11. The Sicily Incident
12. Broken Dagger: A Corps in Italy
13. The Final Months of McNaughton's Command
Epilogue
Conclusion
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Tables and Figures
Foreword by Marc Milner
Preface by Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: The Making of Andy McNaughton
1. Early Life and the Crucible of the First World War
2. The Road to High Command
Part Two: The Problem of Deploying the Army
3. A Willingness to Fight, 1940-1941
4. From ROUNDUP to TORCH
5. Practical Operations of War
Part Three: McNaughton as Military Commander and Trainer
6. The Difficulty of Training in 1940
7. The Politics of Training
8. Enter Montgomery
9. Exercise SPARTAN
10. The Long Shadow of Spartan
Part Four: The End of an Idea
11. The Sicily Incident
12. Broken Dagger: A Corps in Italy
13. The Final Months of McNaughton's Command
Epilogue
Conclusion
Appendices
Notes
Bibliography
Index