Picture of author.

E. D. Swinton (1868–1951)

Author of The Defence of Duffer's Drift

19+ Works 225 Members 3 Reviews

About the Author

Image credit: Image from Tanks, 1914-1918; the log-book of a pioneer (1919) by Sir Albert Gerald Stern

Works by E. D. Swinton

Associated Works

Great English Short Stories (1930) — Contributor — 20 copies

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Legal name
Swinton, Ernest Dunlop
Other names
Forethought, Lieutenant Backsight (pseudonym)
O'le Luk-Oie [Olaf shut-eye] (pseudonym)
Birthdate
1868-10-21
Date of death
1951-01-15
Gender
male
Nationality
UK
Occupations
soldier
author
professor
Organizations
British Army
Royal Tank Corps
Short biography
Major General Sir Earnest D. Swinton, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., was a noted English soldier, author and professor. Considered by Field Marshal Earl Wavell as one of the most far-sighted officers the British Army has produced, he wrote before World War I on the effects of air warfare, mining and of psychological warfare. In 1914, Sir Swinton completely revolutionized warfare by his invention of the tank; he, more than anyone else, was responsible for its introduction and development.

He served as Professor of Military Histoy at Oxford from 1925 to 1939, and later as Commandant of the Royal Tank Corps from 1934 to 1938 - earning the rank of Major General.

As a Captain, shortly after sevice in the Boer War, he wrote "The Defence of Duffer's Drift," using the pseudonym, Lieutenant Backsight Forethought, or BF. Duffer's Drift has become a military classic on minor tactics in this century. In addition to Duffer's Drift, and contributing to many journals, he authored The Green Curve in 1909 and The Great Tab Dope in 1915, under the pseudonym O'le Luk-Oie (Olaf shut-eye). His other works include The Study Of War in 1926 and his final publication, An Eastern Odyssey written in 1935.

(http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resourc...)

Members

Reviews

This book was surprisingly entertaining. Although written to educate young officers on battlefield tactics it reads like Groundhog Day, with young Lieutenant Backsight Forethought has to fight the same battle over and over again until he gets it right.
 
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Unkletom | 2 other reviews | Aug 15, 2014 |
An unusual and interesting book, very entertaining and recommended for even the more casual military reader. Swinton's book is a classic for good reasons. Rather than instructing cadets with a dry textbook approach, the dreams of the main character demonstrate the different ways a young officer attempts to defend a river crossing, making the lessons more interesting and informative. And certainly more interesting to read than a textbook!
 
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jztemple | 2 other reviews | Dec 1, 2010 |
A classic in small unit tactics in the British and US Armies, this book is recommended, without qualification for the modern professional soldier. The trials and tribulations of young Lieutenant Backsight Forethought in South Africa fighting aginst the wily Boer.
 
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Highlander99 | 2 other reviews | Jul 16, 2006 |

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Statistics

Works
19
Also by
1
Members
225
Popularity
#99,815
Rating
3.9
Reviews
3
ISBNs
35
Languages
1

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