This title offers the first comprehensive biography of General Sir Edward Bulfin, a Catholic Irish officer who advanced to senior command despite the political and social constraints of his background. Rising through the ranks without Sandhurst or Staff College training, Bulfin distinguished himself in the Boer War and at First Ypres, where Haig credited him with stabilising the British line. He later commanded the 60th (London) Division in multiple theatres and earned Allenby’s confidence as a corps commander in the Middle East, contributing decisively to the campaigns at Gaza, Jerusalem, and Megiddo. Though he suppressed post-war unrest in Egypt, he rejected Churchill’s directive to lead security forces in Ireland, reflecting the enduring tension between his professional duties and personal convictions. Despite the scarcity of personal papers, Powell reconstructs a nuanced portrait of a capable and often overlooked commander.
