Most of the Work, Most of the Blame, None of the Credit – Platoon Commanders in the Great War – Fraser Skirrow

History has not been kind to Great War subalterns, satirised then and now as enthusiastic and patriotic but naïve and ignorant public school boys. Originally expected to be gallant, lead from the front and look after their men but they had few tactical responsibilities and little autonomy. Later in the war, the platoon became the key tactical attacking unit, a flexible group of specialists with battlefield autonomy and decision-making. The most junior command role – the platoon commander – had to implement the change but little is written about them. So how did the Young Gentlemen of 1914/15 change into the pivotal battlefield managers of 1917/18?