Lions led by donkeys

This article is about the popular First World War phrase. For the British political campaign organisation, see Led By Donkeys.
Alan Clark, who popularised the phrase

"Lions led by donkeys" is a phrase used to imply a capable group of individuals are incompetently led. Coined in classical antiquity, the phrase was commonly used after World War I to contrast senior commanders who had led armies, most prominently those of the British Armed Forces, with the men they commanded. The historiography of the United Kingdom during the 20th century frequently described the infantry of the British Army as brave soldiers (lions) being sent to their deaths by incompetent and indifferent commanders (donkeys).[1]

The phrase was implied by English military historian Alan Clark in the title of his 1961 study of the Western Front of World War I, The Donkeys.[2] Clark's work typified the mainstream historiographical view of World War I during the mid-20th century, being vetted by fellow historian B. H. Liddell Hart and helping to form mainstream perceptions of the conflict in the English-speaking world.[3] His study, which characterised British general officers of the period as incompetent has been the subject of intense criticism by other historians such as John Terraine.[4]

The phrase has also been used in a variety of other contexts, all with the intent of praising a group of individuals while criticising their leaders. In 2018, a British political campaign organisation named Led By Donkeys was established to oppose Brexit.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rees_2007_11_15 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference thedonkeys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Ion Trewin, Alan Clark: The Biography, Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2009, p. 160.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bond was invoked but never defined (see the help page).