ˌɔn fˈaɪv ˈɔːɡəst nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹtiːn hiː wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd dʒˌiːˌoʊsˈiː fˈɜːst ˈɑːɹmi, pˈɑːɹt ʌv hˈoʊm fˈoːɹsᵻz, ɐ pəzˈɪʃən hiː hˈɛld ʌntˈɪl hiː tˈʊk kəmˈænd ʌv ɹˌoʊmən nˈaɪn kˈɔːɹ.
On 5 August 1914 he was appointed GOC First Army, part of Home Forces, a position he held until he took command of IX Corps.