Field Marshal Lord Nicholson (1845-1918) a great brain: the making and impact of a Whitehall warrior

The subject of this thesis, Sir William Gustavus Nicholson (1845-1918), later Baron Nicholson of Roundhay, was a significant and often controversial figure in the British army during the later Victorian and Edwardian periods. He rose to become Chief of the General Staff in 1908 and was described as the most powerful personality in the army. This thesis will aim to understand Nicholson’s influence on the development of the War Office and the establishment of a General Staff. The period 1901-1914, which coincides almost exactly with Nicholson’s time at the War Office, was one of the most critical in the history of the development of the British army, and this thesis will examine Nicholson’s influence within the army at this crucial period.
This work is important because of the absence of any previous study of Nicholson’s career, and of any critical appraisal of his influence upon the War Office and the army. It will also explore reasons why historians have largely ignored Nicholson, who never distinguished himself in the field but proved himself to be an outstanding army administrator. Being regarded as the most powerful personality in the army, he earned the reputation of being a difficult man with whom to work, and yet he was a significant figure within the War Office. It will analyse how he helped to move the army towards being a more professional entity, and his contribution to what John Dunlop described as ‘incomparably the best trained, best organised, and best equipped British Army which ever went forth to war’. This thesis will analyse and challenge generally accepted views about Nicholson’s work and character. Haldane described him as ‘an acute big brain’ and, ‘not an easy man’, however, he also said that he was someone that he needed in the War Office during the period of the implementation of his reforms. It will examine how Nicholson’s reputation was acquired, and his influence in the War Office and within Whitehall. The thesis will show that even during his retirement Nicholson remained active and continued to be both influential and controversial.