Description

---

All maps and photographs in the 2nd Edition are in Black & White.

To the Reader ..... this book was not supposed to be
I only sought out Major-General Sir David Watson's War Diaries to find all references to my grandfather, who was his Aide-de-Camp during World War I. In the process, I became engrossed in the diaries and read them in their entirety. Simultaneously, I sought out references to Watson in the history books. Here I discovered that the man described in the books was not the man revealed in the diaries.

Historians have characterized Watson as a political insider who used his wealth and connections during the war to obtain High Command. He has likewise been judged as one of the worst Canadian generals of World War I. Comments from friends, however, and the diaries and letters, reveal him otherwise as a modest man who cared deeply about his men, deliberately shared their privations, and worked tirelessly on their behalf.

Watson was born in Quebec City to humble circumstances. And yet, he was renowned there as a star athlete, and rose to become one of its wealthiest citizens. His was one of Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches tales, except that in his case, it was all true. Then, at the age of 45, he went overseas and rose from Colonel to Major-General in the Canadian Corps. He led the 4th Canadian Division from 1916 until War's end, and knighted for his service. He then died suddenly of a stroke in 1922.

And so my original intention, which was to learn more about my grandfather, subsequently morphed into a desire to set the record straight on Sir David Watson's character and war record. Watson's War Diaries have been transcribed in full, and inter-woven with letters he wrote and received at the time, as well as newspaper articles from journalists who visited him at the Front. The letters reveal his views on American neutrality, generalship, his conversations with German prisoners, and his views on the War in general. When necessary, editorial comments have been inserted for clarity or to better inform the reader. Watson wrote to his family, the Canadian General Staff, and friends such as Max Aitken (Lord Beaverbrook).

Viewed collectively, his diaries and letters put an entirely different slant on the man. And, for diehard fans of Great War history it all makes for interesting reading. Volume I covers Watson's early life (1869-1914) and the first three years of the Great War (1914-1916), supplemented by some 70 photographs and maps, most of which have never been seen before. Volume II is now available as well

Here is a response received thus far on Volume 1.
Dear Sir, I recently purchased and received the first volume of the letters and diaries of Sir David Watson you edited and published. I would like to congratulate you for your great work As a military historian, your book will be very useful to me. I had the chance to see the original diaries a few years ago in Calgary.Have you published the second volume yet? If so is there a way to purchase it? If not is there a release date for it?
Sincerely yours, Professor Michel L'Italien.