ABSTRACT
Henry Wilson was one of the most flamboyant and controversial officers of his era, and certainly one of the most remarkable Commandants in the history of the Staff College. He was admirably qualified to be head of the Staff College. The position gave him prestige in the Army, and with it the power to influence opinion and to create a 'School of Thought' among the ablest of the younger officers who would henceforth look to him for help and guidance as he himself looked to Lord Roberts. There were two reasons why the Staff College was of crucial importance that the high standard achieved by Rawlinson should be maintained by his successor. Firstly, the years after 1906 were to witness the establishment of the General Staff. Secondly, it was in these years that British military planning swung powerfully towards intervention in a future continental war on the side of France against Germany.
