General Sir Richard Cyril Byrne Haking, (24 January 1862 – 9 June 1945), was a British general who commanded XI Corps in the First World War. Arguments over the late release of Haking's Corps on the first day of the Battle of Loos were instrumental in forcing the resignation of Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Haking is remembered chiefly for the high casualties suffered by his forces (including many Australian troops) at the second Battle of Fromelles, launched while the Battle of the Somme was underway 80 km to the south, although at least one British historian has sought to defend his reputation, regarding him as an "intelligent and capable man" unfairly maligned in the popular mythology of the war. Although blocked from further promotion, he continued to command XI Corps – including in Italy in the winter of 1917–1918 and in Flanders in April 1918 – until the end of the war. He was the League of Nations High Commissioner for the Free City of Danzig in the early 1920s. Early career Haking was probably born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, the son of a clergyman, Reverend Richard Haking. He attended Sandhurst, then was commissioned into the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot (which that year became part of the Hampshire Regiment) on 22 January 1881. Haking saw active service in Burma 1885–1887, and was promoted captain in 1889. He married Rachel Buford Hancock, daughter of Sir Henry James Burford-Hancock, on 28 September 1891; they had no children. Haking studied at Staff College 1896–1897. He was Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for Cork District 1898–1899. He was promoted major in 1899. He served on the staff in the Boer War, then returned to Staff College, first as a lecturer 1901–1904, then as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (DAAG) 1904–1906. Whilst on the faculty at Camberley he was promoted lieutenant-colonel in 1903 and colonel in 1905. Haking was GSO1 (chief of staff) to 3rd Division 1906–1908, then Brigadier-General General Staff (BGGS) Southern Command in 1908. He was honoured with the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1910. According to Andy Simpson, in the Edwardian period "he established a reputation as a sound tactical thinker". His book Company Training (1913) was partly inspired by Haig's 1909 Field Service Regulations. The book espoused the pre-war belief that morale and leadership were the most important factor in winning a