[SkyDancer]

As my grandad said: lions led by donkeys; the generals stayed way back behind the lines and hadn’t a clue as to what was happening.

[SaveFerris]

(the generals stayed way back)

In the rear, with the gear

[Phoenix8]

Was it Kitchener that someone finally talked into going to the front line. Trenches right after a battle for the first time, a year or two after it started. Of course post ordering 100s of thousands to their death.’’ They say he almost got sick and said something like “I had no idea it was this bad”.

War pigs….

[Thommas]

The offensive was the first to be fought by a largely citizen army made up of British civilian volunteers rather
than professional soldiers. As a result, casualties were high..

IIRC, the British citizenry, even at that time, were forbidden from using firearms, unless under strict management.

As a result, despite their bravery, they had meager, if any experience with long rifles. Nice going, Britannia..

[dfwgator]

Forward he cried from the rear
And the front rank died
And the general sat
And the lines on the map
Moved from side to side