General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien (1858 - 1930). On the outbreak of World War I, he was given command of the II Corps of the British Expeditionary Force. Praised for his leadership skills during the Battle of Mons, his troops became the British Second Army in December 1914. During the Second Battle of Ypres, Smith-Dorrien clashed with Sir John French over tactics as he felt repeated attacks on the front line was creating unnecessary loss of life.