Headquarters and Staff

Abstract

Although awareness of the need for effective, professional and qualified staff officers and commanders increased during the inter-war period, staff work remained an undervalued, under-practised and under-managed function of the British Army. To disseminate knowledge of staff functions and headquarter responsibilities, the Army used the mixed approach of vague training manuals, overly strategic Staff College courses and the practical experience of UK training and imperial postings. This lack of uniform training led to supposedly equal headquarters varying in organization, working environment and productivity as well as the quality and quantity of personnel. Phoney War staff training was equally flawed as the British Expeditionary Force proved resistant to external assistance, whilst internal measures were met with disinterest among participants and providers. Inadequate Staff College capacity allowed only 50 officers per annum to be trained for inter-war imperial duties; the legacy of this policy was insufficient Camberley graduates for even a full strength volunteer army. The belated introduction of a shortened Staff College course in January 1940 allowed 180 officers to graduate every 17 weeks and produced 4000 graduates before the end of the war; too late for the immediate and urgent needs of the BEF.