Tim Bouverie

Speaker: Robert Lyman

Topic: Victory to Defeat: the Rise and Fall of the British Army, 1918-1940

Venue: Vinson Lecture Theatre

Time: 17:00-18:00, Friday 15 September

Talk Summary:

The British Army won a convincing series of victories between 1916 and 1918, but by 1939 it was a shadow of its former glory. The hard-won knowledge, experience and strategic vision that delivered victory had been lost. Robert Lyman offers a captivating history of the mismanagement of a victorious army, which also serves as a warning of what happens when we fail to understand the nature of our enemies and who they might be.

Robert Lyman is regarded as one of Britain’s most talented military historians, with over 20 bestselling works of history published and numerous television appearances. He spent over 20 years in the British Army and is an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His latest book, co-authored with Richard Dannatt, is Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-40 (Osprey).