Field Marshal Lord Cavan (1865-1946) was one of the most distinguished commanders of the modern British army, but he divided opinion among his contemporaries. Some senior soldiers were disdainful. Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson described him as ‘ignorant, pompous and vain’ and Brigadier General Sir James Edward Edmonds commented that Cavan ‘was bone from the neck upwards’. Yet many of Cavan’s subordinates praised him, saying ‘I had never seen Lord Cavan before and I was filled with admiration by the calm and quiet self-confidence of his manner’ and ‘Our new General, Lord Cavan, is simply A1 and the whole show runs like a well-oiled machine.’ So what were the real qualities and achievements of this remarkable but hitherto neglected officer who in a long career served in the Boer War and the First World War and then presided over the post-war reduction of the British army? Michael Senior, in the first full biography of Cavan, assesses him as a leader, a corps commander and an administrator, and places him among the front rank of the soldiers of his generation. He also explores Cavan’s personal life, his personality and how his aristocratic background, his wealth and his love of fox hunting affected his conduct in both war and peace.

Contains hundreds of jokes, stories, and other tomfoolery from the Cavan Man.

This illustrated, well indexed book, was created exclusively to help you find your family in Counties Cavan and Leitrim in Ireland. Focusing specifically on families within these neighbouring counties, the book includes an introduction to research and sources in each county. The most numerous families from birth records are given, as well as rather rare Cavan and Leitrim families found in heraldic records. Included you will find a full page map of both counties from the Atlas of Ireland, along with a listing of modern parishes and old townlands, along with the address and location of records for more research. This work includes copies of actual records (some worn, torn and faded), it also includes rough sketches of family coats of arms and notes from centuries past - seldom found elsewhere. The resources provided here will help research any family in the county, including old Irish families, and settler families from England, Scotland, Wales and the continent. This book is a hands on guide for finding your family in Cavan and Leitrim - some family history is included - but it is not a gigantic collection of family histories. For that see 'The Book of Irish Families Great and Small'.