been training 48th Division in this mould since he took command in 1915; the Italian theatre was the first opportunity to put this approach fully into practice. The 48th Division was attacked on 15 June 1918 by the Austrians at the Battle of the Piave River; in keeping with the plan, leading elements fell back and a counter-attack was organised, recapturing the lost ground and stalling the offensive entirely. Whilst a success, this result was greeted with dismay by the corps commander, the Earl of Cavan; he was a believer in a more traditional strongly held static line of defence and felt that Fanshawe did not need to have given up any ground at all. Fanshawe was quickly relieved of his command and ordered home, leaving Italy four days after the end of the battle, on 20 June. Francis Mackay wrote that it was the dismissal of a general who had a sound defensive plan applied by officers and men of high morale and confidence. The Italians, senior partners at Asiago, frequently sacked senior officers who had suffered setbacks in battle. Lord Cavan, who succeeded Herbert Plumer as GOC of the British Forces in Italy, may have played a political and unpleasant hand in dismissing Fanshawe. Cavan thought that after his briefing of 14 June, Fanshawe should have reinforced the front line in the face of an expected Austrian attack. Cavan had also failed to spot the weaknesses and did not change the battle disposition when he visited Fanshawe at his battle headquarters. As a commander, Fanshawe allowed his troops to suffer unnecessary casualties, which, in 1918, was a cause for dismissal. Despite preparations for a British attack, there was no British artillery support to stem the Austrian advance. MacKay also reports that the Official History records that Fanshawe may have lost his grip on the battle on the morning of 15 June 1918. Fanshawe was respected throughout the 48th Division. He trained his commanders to use their initiative in the Battle of the Woods and Clouds, where lines of sight and communications were very limited. Yet his Battle Narrative is inadequate, inaccurate and trite, but it sheds no light on his sacking. He left, uncomplainingly, gentlemanly to the end and did not see further active service. Many officers in the 48th Division complained for years about his dishonourable treatment. He was appointed to command the 69th (2nd East Anglian)