Douglas Haig was a British Army officer during World War I, known for his role as the commander of the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to 1918. He is often associated with the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Passchendaele, which were significant but controversial battles due to their high casualty rates. Haig was born on June 19, 1861, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He attended Oxford University and joined the army in 1885. His leadership style and strategies have been debated by historians, with some viewing him as a determined leader and others criticizing his tactics as costly and ineffective.