The assembly of this corps, which was to be commanded by John Churchill, highlighted many of the problems besetting the English army in 1689. Low motivation, poor leadership, desertion, and lack of equipment resulted in a raft of problems.
The Dutch were scathing about the condition and discipline of the English troops. Poorly clothed, deeply suspicious of the papist environs and people of the Spanish Netherlands, and woefully poor in fieldcraft, the corps was perceived as a liability on arrival.
The Low Countries were seen by both sides as a secondary theatre in 1689. King Louis’ attention was focused on key towns in the Rhineland where he faced imperialist
