Over the summer, Engelsberg Ideas asked me to write something on the history of the British Army, linked to what is going on today. I decided to write something about Britain’s Reserve Forces. This is based on my longstanding academic interest in the Territorials (as they used to be called), and also on my experience of being a member of the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations’ External Scrutiny Team. This is a body, mandated by parliament, that produces an annual report on the UK’s Reserve Forces (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force). As you will read, I provide some deep historical context. I welcome the government’s steps in the right direction but think there is much more to be done.
Anyway, I will be interested to read your views. In general I am steering away from domestic politics on this website, but this is an issue of national importance that transcends party allegiances. This is a modest and I hope helpful contribution to the debate on the UK’s defence policy in an increasingly uncertain international environment.
Congratulations on the new website Gary! I ll enjoyed your (very timely) article on the UK’s citizen soldiers and Iook forward to reading more like it as your website grows.
Gary, an excellent and well thought out piece – and a good read too. My great, great uncle (Sir John Barnsley) raised the first three battalions of what would become the “Birmingham Pals” and I am now the Hon Col of 7 SCOTS, so I too confess an interest. I am in full agreement of all that you say.
The trick will be to ensure a “generalist” force is raised rather than add to the surfeit of “special forces” currently in being – not to be confused with “specialists” where reserves will add greatly. That “generalist” punch may not be wholly popular with today’s hierarchy of generals largely nurtured in the cradles of Iraq and Afghanistan, themselves highly specialised brawls. We need to re-grow and re-empower our proper fighting line battalions – and that from a cavalryman. As any doctor will tell you, when an uncertain virus emerges, you do not want a shelf of narrow-banded “special” antibiotics, you need lots of generalist antibiotics which give you the time to adapt (fast) when the true threat evolves.