Britains Greatest Battle Poll - National Army Museum (1 Viewer)

[The Military Workshop]

The National Army Museum is running an exhibition and poll, Britain's Greatest Battles.

Which was Britain's greatest battle? You decide!

Exploring 400 years of British Army history, from the English Civil War to the current conflict in Afghanistan, this exhibition gives you the key facts, describes the impact and looks at the legacy of 20 of Britain’s greatest battles.

The selection criteria included:
political, historical and cultural impact
challenges faced by the Army
innovative use of strategy and tactics
global spread of British Army deployments
recognition of the vital contributions of Commonwealth troops

Until 20 March 2013
We are asking you to decide which of these 20 engagements is worthy of the title 'Britain’s Greatest Battle'. You can have your say by voting online or in our White Space gallery.

Follow the links to find essential facts and figures about our shortlisted battles. Then use the buttons (marked with a red cross) on the battle pages to cast your vote.

So for fun I have listed same battles to see how we go compared to their Poll.

Aliwal
Balaklava
Blenheim
Culloden
D Day/Normandy
El Alamein
Gallipoli
Goose Green
Imjin River
Imphal / Kohima
Lexington/Concord
Megiddo
Musa Qala
Naseby
Plassey
Quebec
Rorkes Drift
Salamanca
Somme
Waterloo

I had to look up one :
The Battle of Musa Qala was fought in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during summer 2006. British soldiers, based in an isolated enclave, became a prime target for Taleban insurgents. In the bitter siege that followed, it was only the sheer professionalism and skill-at-arms of these troops that ensured a successful defence.

The web page http://www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/britains-greatest-battles
is well worth a visit as each battle is covered in the following aspects : context, armies, battle, impact and legacy.

The current top 5 in UK polling are :
Waterloo
D Day/Normandy
Imphal/Kohima
Musa Quala
Rorkes Drift

You will have to read link to find out from which battle this saying comes from;

‘When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow,
We Gave Our Today’

Some medieval fans may be wondering about Agincourt, Crecy, Poitiers but period covered is from English Civil War.

Have they missed any ?

Brett

 

[Mitch]

In terms of pivotal in nature and course changing I think the Battle of Britain. The first time the German war machine was defeated and, kept the Islands free to thwart German dominance in Europe. In terms of backs against the wall this was the battle of most importance and, meets all the criteria they ask.

However, as these battles have been subjectively created I would say in their list Alamein also hits the criterion they have imposed. They like their polls as much as some on here!!!!
Mitch

 

[The Military Workshop]

Mitch,
Good point on the Battle of Britain. Trafalgar would be another obvious one.
Being the National Army Museum I guess they mean Army battles.
Brett

 

[Scott]

Lexington/Concord. Thanks for convincing the English colonists that they were now Americans.

Except for being on the right side in History in the WW II, the other battles were civil wars, colonizing someone else, or some tiff between kings.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Lexington/Concord. Thanks for convincing the English colonists that they were now Americans.

Except for being on the right side in History in the WW II, the other battles were civil wars, colonizing someone else, or some tiff between kings.

I look forward to your list of Americas 20 Greatest Battles.

America was also on right side of history in WW2 and no doubt most of your great battles will be ACW and invading other much smaller countries or tiffs between Presidents. See, as well as the language the British and Americans have a lot in common.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I would agree with Mitch that the Battle of Britain was, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, Britain's "Finest Hour". I would characterize this Battle as far and away Britain's greatest for several reasons. First of all, it was a battle of survival. Had the Nazis prevailed, Britain would have ceased to exist as an independent nation. Second, Britain (with the help of a few volunteers from nations a far flung as Poland and the United States) stood alone, carrying the water for the entire free world. Third, it was not just a battle that tested the mettle of the warriors involved - the heroes of the RAF - but also the nation as a whole, from the workers at Supermarine and Hawker whose production kept the RAF in the air, to the incredibly courageous civlians in London who woke up each morning in bomb shelters, cleared the rubble, and went to work as if nothing had happened, to the Royal Navy and the merchant marine, who braved the wolf packs to make sure the RAF had sufficient fuel to fly. Heck, even the Boy Scouts (referred to by the general public as the "Blitz Scouts") did their part, 9 and 10 year old boys leading firemen and rescue workers to where they were most needed. Every time I think about the Battle of Britain, I feel a swell of pride because this battle is not just Britain's finest hour, but a beacon all humanity can hope to emulate.

 

[The Military Workshop]

I would agree with Mitch that the Battle of Britain was, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, Britain's "Finest Hour". I would characterize this Battle as far and away Britain's greatest for several reasons. First of all, it was a battle of survival. Had the Nazis prevailed, Britain would have ceased to exist as an independent nation. Second, Britain (with the help of a few volunteers from nations a far flung as Poland and the United States) stood alone, carrying the water for the entire free world. Third, it was not just a battle that tested the mettle of the warriors involved - the heroes of the RAF - but also the nation as a whole, from the workers at Supermarine and Hawker whose production kept the RAF in the air, to the incredibly courageous civlians in London who woke up each morning in bomb shelters, cleared the rubble, and went to work as if nothing had happened, to the Royal Navy and the merchant marine, who braved the wolf packs to make sure the RAF had sufficient fuel to fly. Heck, even the Boy Scouts (referred to by the general public as the "Blitz Scouts") did their part, 9 and 10 year old boys leading firemen and rescue workers to where they were most needed. Every time I think about the Battle of Britain, I feel a swell of pride because this battle is not just Britain's finest hour, but a beacon all humanity can hope to emulate.

Louis,
Agree but I think you have to pick an Army battle{sm4}
Brett

 

[lancer]

Taking the term 'greatest' to encompass many things, not just victory, I voted for the Somme. Hard to find a more 'all in' battle in British history. In terms of overall effort, it is huge. Britain had to build a large army, arm, supply, and train them to fight, all from scratch, under time pressure, while conducting a world war at sea and on other fronts. The Somme required an unequaled effort to field an army of unequaled size and complexity, on a battlefield in a war of unequaled size. The enormity of the national effort and sacrifice to prosecute the Somme is hard to fathom and to this day the Somme still brings forth strong emotions and memories. Finally, the Somme is Britain's greatest battle in terms of length of time and, most tragically and importantly, the cost in human lives. -- Al

 

[Scott]

I look forward to your list of Americas 20 Greatest Battles.

America was also on right side of history in WW2 and no doubt most of your great battles will be ACW and invading other much smaller countries or tiffs between Presidents. See, as well as the language the British and Americans have a lot in common.

Right you are! But some of The United State's "greatest battles" were victories against the British.

 

[glossman]

It is interesting to see the Battles of Kohima and Imphal in the top 5 of the NAM List as of now.

The Epitaph on the Memorial at the Kohima War Cemetery:

"When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow,
We gave Our Today."

Raymond

 

[jazzeum]

Lexington/Concord. Thanks for convincing the English colonists that they were now Americans.

Except for being on the right side in History in the WW II, the other battles were civil wars, colonizing someone else, or some tiff between kings.

Send the blighters back. We'll kick their butts ^&cool

 

[The Military Workshop]

Right you are! But some of The United State's "greatest battles" were victories against the British.

Another good point. As I said I look forward to seeing a list of USA's greatest Battles. Care to compile one ?

However I think USA can rightly claim that the majority of their greatest battles and greatest losses were between fellow Americans. Naseby just does not compete in this regard.

 

[Scott]

Another good point. As I said I look forward to seeing a list of USA's greatest Battles. Care to compile one ?

However I think USA can rightly claim that the majority of their greatest battles and greatest losses were between fellow Americans. Naseby just does not compete in this regard.

I'm using this definition of Great.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great

"9: markedly superior in character or quality; especially : noble <great of soul> "




The ACW battles could be called great as they advanced a "...government of the people, by the people, for the people..." I'm serious on that one.

A number of battles the USA fought during the 1800s were pretty squalid colonial fights where the US forces happened to perform better than the European or indigenous enemy. New Orleans was one that the British managed to lose. These battles were interesting and worthy of study and recreating in miniature as are the UK's battles but "nothing to write home about" in regard to advancing human freedom. We have to get to WW II for that.

 

[Poppo]

In terms of pivotal in nature and course changing I think the Battle of Britain. The first time the German war machine was defeated and, kept the Islands free to thwart German dominance in Europe. In terms of backs against the wall this was the battle of most importance and, meets all the criteria they ask.

However, as these battles have been subjectively created I would say in their list Alamein also hits the criterion they have imposed. They like their polls as much as some on here!!!!
Mitch

I agree with you, "the battle of England" by far!( missing in the choice!) If that one had been lost by England and the germans would have landed in Great Britain....

 

[Rob]

Would have thought the Battle of Britain would have been a given?? European freedom and the outcome of WW2 rested on the first defeat handed to Hitler.

Fully agree with Al too, in terms of scale and loss the Somme stands alone for Britain (with Passchendaele not far behind of course).

Rob

 

[johnnybach]

Mitch,
Good point on the Battle of Britain. Trafalgar would be another obvious one.
Being the National Army Museum I guess they mean Army battles.
Brett

Good point Brett. One shouldn't have to guess what the question means. If the question stated is, " What was Britain's greatest battle" - they should surely leave it at that - and then see what they get, if they really want to know. As it stands, they have included only the ones that THEY have chosen. I would think that Trafalgar and the air Battle of Britain would almost certainly attain a higher standing than some of the more obscure battles that they have listed.

Poor question - and therefore listing, in my opinion. Johnnybach

 

[Fort-Stamford]

Should of added Agincourt (1415) to your list. The British were outnumbered 5 to 1, and sustained a victory for the ages.

 

[Gazza]

Good point Brett. One shouldn't have to guess what the question means. If the question stated is, " What was Britain's greatest battle" - they should surely leave it at that - and then see what they get, if they really want to know. As it stands, they have included only the ones that THEY have chosen. I would think that Trafalgar and the air Battle of Britain would almost certainly attain a higher standing than some of the more obscure battles that they have listed.

Poor question - and therefore listing, in my opinion. Johnnybach

The National Army Museum runs a series of Tageted Talks.

The purpose of the Talks are to:- "Hear leading figures debate the British Army’s diverse and exciting past, present and future in these lively, in-depth discussions."

The poll is part of that programme - the National Army Museum discussing the British Army (not other services and not battles before the establishment of the Modern British Army)

The poll will short-list 5 Battles - which will form the basis for the Targeted Talk. The Talk helps generate badly needed funds.

The poll is similar to the others I posted on the forum about Britain's Greatest Military Commander / Britain's Greatest Foe; whereby the focus was on the British Army - so they are being consistent.

Hope that explains the context somewhat

Gazza

 

[Phantom Warrior]

To answer the question of what is the greatest battle, I have to ask what would have happened if the battle had gone the other way. If Germany had gained air superiority over the Channel, could Hitler have successfully invaided England? I very much doubt it. Look at the invasion of Normandy by the Allies with much more material and preperation time against just part of the German army and how near a thing it was. If the French had won at Trafalger would that have changed anything - probably not. The British navy was still in a position to defend England against invasion and while the French would have won a naval battle, they would not have gained naval supremacy.

Winning a war has never been done by air or naval power - it takes boots on the ground. That's why I chose Waterloo. If Napoleon had won at Waterloo, Europe would have looked far different than after the Wellington/Blucher victory which didn't just win one battle but destroyed the French army.

Terry

 

[Scott]

.......

That's why I chose Waterloo. If Napoleon had won at Waterloo, Europe would have looked far different than after the Wellington/Blucher victory which didn't just win one battle but destroyed the French army.

Terry

The allied victory could also be seen as a step back to monarchy. While Napoleon did make himself emperor, his system did encourage material progress and meritocracy. The allies Congress of Vienna worked "great" until one afternoon in 1848.