The large dining hall in the chateau, which General Douglas Haig had taken over as his personal quarters, had become something of a morning meeting room to his staff. Officers from the various war departments would gather there before their commander took his breakfast and pass on any urgent news they had received throughout the night, along with any rumours and titbits they had uncovered. It was not only the common soldiers who suffered from gossip.
Once they were all caught up, Haig would pass on any new orders or questions he had, and the men would head back to their departments to get on with their day. All would then reconvene at GHQ for their afternoon orders and strategy sessions.
This day the dining room was bursting with officers, not only from the British army but several of th
