From the 18th to the 20th century famous British commanders received from a grateful nation for exceptional services rendered additional rewards above their normal pay and promotions– that is, until 1945 as will be shown. Looking at these rewards briefly across nearly 2 ½ centuries says something about the advance of democracy in Great Britain. Four generals were outstanding over this period:-
- The Duke of Marlborough;
- The Duke of Wellington;
- Field Marshal Haig;
- Field Marshal Brooke.
The rewards are shown below*1.
*1 Where money figures are given they have been adjusted to 2021 values in todays depreciated currency as ( ) by use of the Bank of England calculator (Ref. 1).
The Duke of Marlborough
When he returned to England in December 1704 after defeating the French army at Blenheim in August at great personal risk, Marlborough was immediately showered with gifts. In each case his Sovereign Queen Anne proposed them and Parliament voted their confirmation.
- He received the Royal estate of Woodstock of 15,000 acres worth £6,000 (£1.5M) a year (Ref. 2);
- He was given the means to have built on the estate a grand house. The funding was rather complicated, as shown in Ref.3, but this author thinks that the inscription over the East gate of Blenheim Palace should be taken as correct. It reads:
“Under the auspices of a munificent sovereign this house was built for John Duke of Marlborough, and his Duchess Sarah, by Sir J. Vanbrugh between the years 1705 and 1722. And the Royal Manor of Woodstock, together with a grant of £240,000 towards the building of Blenheim, was given by Her Majesty Queen Anne and confirmed by act of parliament…”.
(£60M).
With the usual building delays and a 3 years exile because of a politically hostile government Marlborough and Sarah only lived for a short time in part of the Palace before his death in 1722.
Marlborough *2
Wellington *3
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*2 Marlborough is depicted as scribbling (on a drumhead held probably by his chaplain Francis Hare) the hasty note to Sarah which announced the victory of Blenheim (see the facsimile in Contribution No. 15).
*3 The artist was more concerned with showing Wellington’s war charger Copenhagen after the victory of Salamanca which later carried him for 17 hours at the battle of Waterloo. This animal lived to 28 years old and was buried by the Duke at Stratfield Saye.
The Duke of Wellington
Ref. 4 records that Wellington (who also won his battles at great personal risk, particularly at Waterloo) received the following gifts:-
- For winning the Peninsula War £500,000 (£47M);
- As a share of “Prize money” paid 2 years after winning Waterloo in 1815: £61,000 (£5 ½ M);
- Voted by Parliament for the same:- £200,000 (£18M).
In addition, he was given the 5,000 acre Stratfield Saye estate and £600,000 (£55M) to build a “Waterloo Palace”, although this was actually used to improve the existing house (Ref. 5)
Field Marshal Haig
Haig was C-in-C of the British and Empire troops on the Western Front from December 1915 until the end of the Great War. As an Army Group commander no-one expected him to risk his life and he did not. Parliament voted on 6 August 1919 on a message from HM George V that £585,000 (£32M) should be granted to his Majesty for rewards to a given list of the higher ranks of His services. This was agreed (Ref. 6). F/M Haig’s share was £100,000 (£5 ½ m)
Haig also benefitted later when a public subscription was got up to buy the Haig family 1,360 acre estate and home of Bemersyde for him. A distant relative in possession agreed to sell it for £53,700 (£3M) (D/Tel. 6 December 1919, 100 year reprint).
Field Marshal Brooke
Brooke was Chief of the Imperial General Staff ,i.e. professional head of the army, from November 1941 and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee from March 1942 (the other members being the First Sea Lord and the Chief of the Air Staff) until the end of WW2 As a frequent air traveller at a time when members of his staff died in accidents, and enemy interception might happen, he took personal risks. These were also increased from June 1944 during the 24 hour V1 attacks – the nearest was a hit on the Guards Chapel only 600 yards from the War Office. From September a V2 strike could also happen with no warning at all.
At the end of the war Brooke was appointed a Viscount. This cost the State nothing but cost him the necessary robes. He received no monetary reward. His retirement gratuity lump sum was £311 (£14,000) (Ref.7). In order to buy a house he had to sell his greatly-prized 45 volumes of bird illustrations (he was a keen ornithologist) (Ref. 7). Later, despite an income from publication of his diaries edited by Bryant he had to move from his house into the former gardener’s cottage for the rest of his life.
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Haig (centre left)*4
Brooke (seated 2nd left)*5
*4 Haig on 12 September 1916 is explaining to Lloyd George (then Secretary for War) how his cavalry will exploit the break-through which the next attack on the Somme will create. Joffre (behind), French C-in-C is also convinced.
*5 Churchill with the Chiefs of Staff committee on 7 May 1945. Portal on left, Cunningham on right. Ismay (behind right) with his deputy Holliis, were WSC’s liaison with the CoS.
Conclusion
Despite a steady increase in responsibility, to a huge level in WW2, over the 250 years reviewed the “bonus” rewards for victorious service decreased sharply and even became negative in Brooke’s case. From a Palace in 15,000 acres to a large house in 5,000 and a small house in 1,360 the winner’s accommodation dwindled to an ex-gardener’s cottage. A steady advance of democracy!
References
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator
- Marlborough; His Life and Times Vol. 11..W.S. Churchill Harrap 1934.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blenheim_Palace#Funding_the_construction
- The Waterloo Companion M. Adkin Aurum 2001.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratfield_Saye_House
- SUPPLY. (Hansard, 6 August 1919) (parliament.uk)
- Triumph in the West A. Bryant Reprint society 1960.