battle. He also argued that the attacker would have the advantage over the defender, even if numerically inferior, and deprecated the idea that modern weapons had made defence superior to attack. The book was reprinted during the first part of the war, at least. The book was considered "first class" and in Gordon Corrigan's view "even today ... has a freshness about it and an insight into human characteristics that would not be out of place in a modern military work". Western Front: brigade and division commander Haking was given command of the 5th Infantry Brigade in September 1911, and took it to the Western Front on the outbreak of war in August 1914, as part of Douglas Haig's I Corps. On 23 August 1914—the day of the Battle of Mons—in accordance with a request by Smith-Dorrien, GOC II Corps, Haig sent Haking with three battalions to make contact with II Corps on Haig's left, but Haking reported back that he had made no contact with the enemy. He helped force the Petit Morin during the Battle of the Marne. During the advance after the Marne, Haking's brigade was at the forefront at the Battle of the Aisne, and on 14 September his was one of the few units to fight its way onto the Chemin des Dames after the crossing of the River Aisne. Haig recorded that Haking's 5th Brigade made good progress on the eastern slopes of the Beaulne ridges, reaching the ridge of Tilleul de Courtacon, before having to pull back on meeting opposition. However, on that day he received a head wound that required three months' recuperation. He returned to the front in November. On 21 December 1914 he was promoted to command the 1st Division from 21 December 1914, with the rank of major-general. His division took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge (also known as the first Battle of Fromelles) in May 1915, where the three attacking divisions suffered a total of 11,600 casualties and where he argued for further attacks despite the clear failure of the first assault. His attacking brigades lost over 50% of their fighting strength in little over an hour. He was not blamed for what Simpson describes as the "flawed artillery plan and lack of artillery support" at Aubers Ridge. With the BEF expanding massively in size, Haking was one of the divisional commanders (he was fourth in