Lord Gort and Sir Edmund Ironside studying map 1939

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Lord Gort and Sir Edmund Ironside studying map 1939

Commander-in-chief of British field forces, Lord Gort, and Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir Edmund Ironside, studying a map. A short biography of the careers of the two men accompanies the image on the Sphere front cover, 23 September 1939. Date: September 1939

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Media ID 23268482

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Chief Edmund Forces Gort Ironside Jul19 Sphere Staff

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EDITORS COMMENTS
September 1939: A Moment of Strategic Pondering before the Onset of World War II This evocative image, captured on the cover of Sphere magazine on September 23, 1939, depicts two of the most prominent British military figures of the time, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), Lord Gort (1886-1940), and Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir Edmund Ironside (1880-1959), deeply engrossed in a map as they prepare for the imminent onslaught of World War II. Lord Gort, a veteran of the Boer War and the First World War, had taken command of the BEF just a few months earlier, in May 1939. A man of great integrity and determination, he was known for his unwavering commitment to his troops and his belief in the importance of maintaining morale in the face of adversity. Sir Edmund Ironside, on the other hand, had a long and distinguished military career, having served in the Boer War, World War I, and the interwar period. As Chief of the Imperial General Staff, he was responsible for the overall strategic direction of the British Army. His experience and wisdom were invaluable in the early stages of the war, as the Allied forces sought to defend against the German onslaught. The two men are shown here in the midst of intense consultation, their expressions focused and determined as they plan their next moves. The map before them represents the complex and ever-changing battlefield of the war, a testament to the strategic thinking and military prowess of these two great British military leaders. As the world watched with bated breath, the events of September 1939 marked the beginning of a long and arduous conflict that would test the mettle of nations and the resolve of individuals. Lord Gort and Sir Edmund Ironside, with their unwavering commitment to their country and their troops, stood at the forefront of the British military effort, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

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