Chapter 51, Downing Street, 19 June 1940
Ironside knew that he had been staving off the inevitable. With Gort emerging from the chaos of the French campaign in a positive light it was obvious who the scapegoat would be. The lack of grip on the campaign, the poor direction between the services and, most damming, the failure of CIGS and Prime Minister to establish a good working relationship all signalled the end for Ironside. The abrupt summons to Downing Street had therefore come as no surprise, and it was a world weary Ironside who arrived at Downing Street. He entered Halifax’s study to find Hankey and Butler present.
“General,” Halifax began. “May I first of all state that I am gweatly indebted to you for your loyal and steadfast service in this twialling time.
“Uh-huh,” Ironside growled.
“And that the three of us value your input into the direction of our military.”
“Yes, My Lord.” Halifax squirmed in his chair. Hankey was looking at the clock with a feigned interest whilst Butler was content with a nod of his flabby head.
So I chase this fox myself, Halifax thought.
“It is become appawent to us that we need a change in the military management of this country. With peace assured and the task of rebuilding the armed forces upon us I think a change is required.” Ironside, proud and tall, offered a slight smile.
“I see. For what it is worth, Sir, I agree with what you have said and offer my resignation as CIGS.” Hankey looked sad, knowing the impossibility of Ironside’s position. Butler looked shocked.
“You do?” Halifax spoke carefully, trying to avoid what he thought was a trap.
“Indeed, Prime Minister.” This was, simply, a remarkably brave gesture. Ironside, a courageous officer mentioned in dispatches and bearing a row of medals on his chest was offering himself up as the sacrificial scapegoat. Duty done, Halifax relaxed.
“Well, General, there is much work for you to do. The Secretary of State for War is looking to restructure the Army. We have decided to appoint you head of the Royal Commission for Army Reform.”
“My staff?”
“Viscount Gort will be your Deputy, remaining in command of the BEF until such time as it is again ready for opewations. You will also gain,” here Halifax looked at the list of recommended officers, “Major Generals Hobart, Montgomery and Percival.” Ironside looked suspicious. He knew that Montgomery and Percival had powerful sponsors, whilst Hobart was widely regarded as being a troublemaker, having only recently been retired by General Wavell. Still, it was a powerful position, shaping the BEF of the future, and Ironside was actually relieved that he still could make a difference. He left a happy man.
“Well, that’s that,” Butler concluded. Halifax looked thoughtful.
“He took that blow like a gentleman. I am gwateful for your recommendations, gentlemen.” Hankey and Butler smiled. “Now, whom do we propose to place in the CIGS role?”
Hankey sat up. “The choices are Generals Brooke, Dill, Wavell.”
Halifax had clearly already thought about it. “Dill, I’d like it to be Dill. He strikes me as a thoughtful, discweet man.”
Hankey wordlessly wrote down the decision. “In that case I’d suggest moving Brooke to the Middle East command.”
Halifax, not really interested in the Middle East, nodded. “Who is in command in Delhi?”
“Ah, I pwopo…” Hankey sighed “propose to move Wavell out as Commander in Chief India. He’s already requested Lieutenant General Franklyn for GOC Hong Kong.” Butler, feeling left out, nodded. From he had read of Franklyn he had performed well in France.
“Excellent. Tea?” With that the three took tea and relaxed.
[Game Effect] – Halifax juggles the senior Army positions around and begins to address the failings of the British Army. A Royal Commission is a smooth way of shifting the job to someone else – in this case Ironside, and had precedent, most notably Admiral Fisher’s commission to look into the initial disasters in the Boer War. Ironside’s number was up after Dunkirk and Churchill replaced him as CIGS, initially with Dill and then later (and famously) Brooke. I think that Halifax and Dill would get on well. Both were cautious men (Dill’s style has often been compared to the French in 1940 – cautious, thinking, slightly presidential etc) and that is exactly what Halifax would have been looking for. Brooke would have been too direct, Wavell too aloof (though Hankey at this point seems to hold him in regard – the two would have met during his tenure on the dozens of committees) and Auchinleck probably not well enough known to him (he’s still a Corps commander at this time). The choice of subordinates for Ironside’s Royal Commission is based on what I think Halifax would have done: ask around for recommendation. One of Brooke’s endorsements would have been Monty, Dill sponsored Percival throughout his career, and the forced retirement of Hobart caused concern among a number of officers: Hankey was probably the man who recalled him. Gort remains as GOC BEF – I think Halifax would have gone along with a Hankey recommendation for this to avoid upsetting an already deeply unhappy General – remember Halifax dislikes confrontation, and because he would view consistency as important at this stage. Wavell for India is a a bit of a ‘buy-off’, a consolation prize for not being CIGS. Brooke in 1940 was one of the War Office’s choices for an available (and challenging) command (historically, of course, he got the aborted second BEF, suffering the ignominy of being evacuated from France twice). By trying to avoid controversy Halifax has, I think, stumbled upon a decent set-up for a peacetime army. Its big test will be when war comes. Which, I promise, it will.
Enewald: No I didn’t, though it might have saved me a lot of editing! Africa proves to rumble on for a while in this AAR.
Morsky: This is indeed a dangerous game that Halifax is playing, trying to give the South Africans compensation may be like “rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic”.
El Pip: Whilst I agree with your assessment, to a point, Hertzog will not have it easy either. At least Smuts got something, which can be a (limited I grant) rallying cry for his supporters.
Trekaddict: Oh dear
Kurt_Steiner: This will, obviously, completely destabilise Africa as colonies are exchanged like the bargaining chips they arguably are.
Faeelin:
Hawkeye1489: The problem any rebellion will face is this: who the hell do you put in power in his stead? The Treaty of Milan is now drawing reasonably supportive noises, as the alternative (which we know, of course, was successful) terrifying for most of the British people.
El Pip: Stranger things have happened. But yes, for 1940 at least I wouldn’t expect a miracle.
Arilou: I genuinely think something as random as this would have been offered by the Foreign Office (with Halifax’s endorsement). Halifax has undoubtedly made some utterly stupid decisions, but as we have seen in this post some are fairly satisfactory when he is given the right guidance.
Trekaddict: :rofl:
BritishImperial: See Trekaddict’s comments.
Arilou: '45 is very different in this AAR!
Trekaddict: [Saves me from explaining]
Atlantic Friend: We’ll be looking at the services in detail very soon. Militarily Milan can be used positively (gives the services time to learn the lessons and build up etc) but Halifax’s team is a mixed bag, with differing opinions as to the priorities.
Phargle: His Lordship is indeed trying. Smuts is in an impossible position, and the position that South Africa faces itself in is simply horrendous. Smuts is going to have to go home and canvass his supporters to a horrible list of options. But, fear not, he’ll have a plan.
Nathan Madien: Indeed. It’s all too easy for Butler who has limited understanding of the situation. Given his focus on Europe he will struggle in dealing with worldwide issues.