| Since 1904, the governance of the British Army was the responsibility of the Army Council. This was a board of six advisers to the Secretary of State for War: four military, each the head of a great department, and the financial and civil members, who were civilians. The Army Council had replaced the former office of Commander-in-Chief. The Army Council was in turn advised on military matters by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff. In turn, once the politicians had made their decisions, it was the duty of the CIGS to turn them into military orders and communicate them to the commander in chief of the army in the field.
On 6th August 1914, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum was appointed Secretary of State for War. Normally the position of an elected politician, the Secretary of State was responsible to Parliament. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force received his orders from the Secretary of State, via the Army Council.
The supreme direction of war strategy was the business of the Committee of Imperial Defence, which had also been formed in 1904. This body reported directly to the Prime Minister. It had no executive or administrative functions, was purely advisory, and was composed of members of the Cabinet with a small selection of military experts.
Until 25 November 1914, the Cabinet retained full direct control over strategy. On that date, however, it was decided to form a War Council, which was a smaller body than the CID, but with a similar mix of politicians and military advisers, and restricted to an advisory capacity.
In 1914, British war strategy as far as the Army was concerned was dominated by the views of France, the principal ally whose strength on the Western Front dwarfed that of the BEF. |
| 1915 |
| The War Council changed its title between 7 June and 30 October 1915, to the Dardanelles Committee for no better reason than the campaign in Gallipoli was attracting most of its attention. In October it was renamed the War Committee of the Cabinet, and its constituency was slightly reduced in size.
On 25 May 1915, the Liberal Government under Asquith had fallen, being replaced by a Coalition. On 7 July 1915, the first Inter-Allied Military Conference took place at Chantilly.
On 17 November 1915, the British and French Prime Ministers met in Paris, and adopted the principle of a mixed permanent committee designed to co-ordinate the action of the Allies. A second Inter-Allied Military Conference took place at Chantilly on 2 December 1915, including military represantatives from Russia, Italy and Serbia. Such meetings became regular.
British strategic direction for the Western Front remained hugely influenced by that of France, throughout 1915. |
| 1916 |
| On 27 January 1916, the responsibilities of the CIGS were strengthened; he was made "responsible for issuing the orders of the Government in regard to military operations".
Lord Kitchener died as a result of drowning, having been on board HMS Hampshire when it was sunk in May 1916. He was replaced as Secretary of State for War by David Lloyd George.
On 9 December 1916, after Lloyd George had been appointed Prime Minister of the Coalition, the War Council was renamed the War Cabinet, and was still further reduced in numbers. The War Cabinet continued in being until the Armistice. Lord Derby is appointed Secretary of State for War. |
| 1917 |
| The War Cabinet formed two sub-Committees: the Imperial War Committee, which gave the overseas dominions representation; and the War Policy Committee.
On 17 March 1917 was the first meeting of the Imperial War Conference.
The Supreme War Council, a body with representatives from the main Allies, was inaugurated 1 December 1917. |
| 1918 |
| On 3 February 1918 the British Government announced the enlargement of powers of the Supreme War Council at Versailles. CIGS Sir William Robertson resigned on February 18, and was replaced by Sir Henry Wilson.
General Foch was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in France, on 14 April 1918.
Lord Milner was appointed Secretary of State for War, on 20 April 1918. |
| Now understand the war strategy of Great Britain and her Allies. |