The Somme

[jmm99]

The measure of Brigadier General Francis Aylmer Maxwell VC, CSI, DSO & Bar (7 September 1871 – KIA, sniper, at Ypres, 21 September 1917) (Wiki), goes well beyond that brief bio, his memorial in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh



and even his Decorations and Citations (partial). Those do give us something of a framework to work with.

One begins to appreciate the person from his letters: first to his family when he was single; and later to his wife Charlotte (an Aussie). Charlotte Maxwell, Frank Maxwell Brig. General, V.C., C.S.I., D.S.O. A Memoir and Some Letters (London: John Murray, 1921)

Once an Eagle presents us with a somewhat overdrawn fictional choice between Sam Damon and Courtney Massengale. Bob Scales (in looking back on Once an Eagle), among others, has commented that the military needs good combat leaders and good staff officers. Frank Maxwell was both; making the fictional choice between Damon and Massengale a false one.

He established his "Damon" credentials with the Indian Army on the Frontier and during the early stages of the Boer War. He established his "Massengale" credentials as "The Brat", ADC to Kitchener in South Africa and India; and later Military Secretary to the Viceroy of India. Toss in polo, pig sticking and tiger hunting for balance. He returned to the "Damon" role as a Bn and Bde commander in 1916-1917 - see snips in attached PDF file and judge for yourself.

IMO: Maxwell is a person to be emulated, whether or not one is a soldier.

Regards

Mike