Army Records Society: The Letters of Lt. Col. Charles a Court Repington Cmg Military Correspondent of the Times, 1903-18

Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Repington was expected to reach the highest military rank. But in January 1902, Repington was obliged to retire from the Army, it was alleged that he had broken the code of behaviour appropriate for an officer and a gentleman. To supplement his income he became a journalist and in a short time was established as Britain's leading military correspondent. Repington was an assiduous correspondent. This selection of letters that he wrote while he was Military Correspondent of "The Times" covers those political, military and strategic issues on which he campaigned. They are arranged chronologically and demonstrate a diversity of recipients as well as subjects. His contemporaries considered that his was an important and significant contribution to the shaping of Britain's military response to Germany in August 1914. Throughout World War I, until his resignation from Printing House Square in January 1918, Repington wrote, generally on the side of the General Staff, against what he saw as the follies of politicians. By publicizing the shortage of shells in May 1915, Repington played a not insignificant part in bringing down the last Liberal government.