Annual Booklist 2024 : Contributors
The SAHR has once again gathered book recommendations from leading historians, including Templer prize-winning authors, to provide members with holiday gift and reading ideas. Each historian lists five favourite books on the history of the British army and related forces, in addition to a volume that doesn’t yet exist but should.
Dr Richard Farrimond
Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Dr Richard Farrimond had two working careers. He served with the Royal Signals in Germany, England, Northern Ireland and Canada. Between commanding an independent squadron in Londonderry and a regiment in Germany, he trained as a back-up NASA Payload Specialist to launch a Skynet 4 military communications satellite from the Space Shuttle – cancelled following the 1986 Challenger disaster. This led him to work in the British space industry where he spent much time in Australia. Following final retirement, he undertook a Master’s degree in World History and Cultures and then a History PhD, both part-time at King’s College London. He translated the PhD into his recent book, Birdie: More than “Soul of Anzac” – Field Marshal Lord Birdwood of Anzac & Totnes which was awarded the Chapple Prize for 2023.
Dr John Laband
Dr John Laband is a Professor Emeritus of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, and a Research Fellow in the Department of History, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has published extensively on warfare and military culture in colonial Africa with particular reference to southern Africa where the British army was involved in many operations. Among his books are Zulu Warriors: The Battle for the South African Frontier (Yale University Press, 2014), The Battle of Majuba Hill: The Transvaal Campaign, 1880–1881 (Helion, 2017), The Land Wars: The Dispossession of the Khoisan and AmaXhosa in the Cape Colony (Penguin Book, 2020), and The Boer Invasion of the Zulu Kingdom 1837–1840 (Jonanthan Ball, 2023). The Shadow of Isandlwana: The Life and Times of General Lord Chelmsford and his Disaster in Zululand (Greenhill Books, 2023) was Second Runner-Up for the Templer Medal in 2024.
Dr Adam Marks
Dr Adam Marks won the Templer Medal for his recent book England and the Thirty Years War (Brill). The study is particularly significant in showing the importance of continental military experience prior to 1642 as a basis for soldiering in the British Civil Wars. Dr Marks was awarded his PhD by the University of St Andrews and is now a Policy Executive for the Law Society of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Dr Glenn W. Price
Dr Glenn W. Price is a professional researcher and analyst with a lifelong passion for history, particularly military and political history, wargaming, and writing. Entering academia as a mature student he managed to navigate himself through a BA and an MRes and has subsequently been awarded a doctorate in history for his research on the military logistics and supply systems of the British Civil Wars. His first book, Soldiers and Civilians, Transport and Provisions: Early modern military logistics and supply systems during the British Civil Wars, 1638-1653 was published by Helion in October 2023 and was awarded 2nd place for the 2023 Chapple First Book prize by the Society of Army Historical Research.
Dr Tim Cook
Dr. Tim Cook is Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum. He has curated permanent, temporary, travelling, and digital exhibitions. He is the author or editor of 19 books, many of which have won history and literary-non fiction awards. Vimy: The Battle and the Legend (2017) was a finalist for the Templar Medal. His latest book is The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Fought Together to Defeat Fascism During the Second World War (2024).