This book has had a far longer gestation period than I ever expected. There is, thus, a particular satisfaction, and feeling of trepidation, in being able to thank the many people who have helped me along the way. I would like to thank Will Sulkin, at Jonathan Cape, for first believing in the project and Dan Franklin for seeing it through to completion. It has been a real pleasure to work with Katherine Ailes who has shaped and refined the final text greatly. I also need to offer a very particular thanks to Veronique Baxter at David Higham who has shown levels of patience, understanding and support far beyond the ordinary. I can only hope that her levels of trust and belief have some small reward in the finished product. Laura West has also been very helpful and a model of efficiency.
I have been assisted greatly by many librarians and archivists without whom such a work would be impossible. The librarians of the Joint Services Command and Staff College have been unfailingly helpful and I would also like to thank Patricia Methven at the Liddell Hart Centre, Dwight Strandberg at the Eisenhower Library, and David Keogh at the US Military History Institute, and the archivists at the National Archives, Kew, the US National Archives and the Imperial War Museum. I would particularly like to thank Christopher Dunphie for granting me access to his father’s papers. Rebecca Maryan assisted me with some of the research for which I am very grateful.
I have also benefited greatly from research funding which enabled me to visit many of these archives. I would like to thank the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London, which supported much of the initial work, the British Academy, which awarded me a Small Research Grant at a critical stage in the research, and The US Army Heritage and Education Center for awarding me a General and Mrs Matthew B. Ridgway Military History Research Grant.
I have a particular debt of gratitude to pay to the commanders, General Richard Shirreff, General James Bucknall and General Tim Evans, and staff of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. General Richard Shirreff first invited me to support an ARRC staff ride to France in 2008, and, over the years, HQ ARRC Staff Rides have given me a priceless opportunity to visit many of the battlefields mentioned in this text, and to learn greatly from many highly experienced military officers.
I am also very grateful to Professor David French, Professor Keith Neilson, Professor Jeffrey Grey, Professor Andy Wiest and Professor Geoffrey Jensen for their help and advice. Their sustained interest has been of real encouragement and support over the years.
I consider myself fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with my colleagues in the Defence Studies Department at the Joint Services Command and Staff College. I would also like to thank all of my students for their interest and insight into a myriad of issues. The remarkable body which comprises the students and staff of the Higher Command and Staff Course have had a powerful influence on the nature of this work. Although it is invidious to single out individuals from such a group, I feel I must do so. Major General Andrew Sharpe, who also read the manuscript, Commodore Keith Winstanley, Commodore Toby Williamson, Brigadier Mitch Mitchell and Brigadier Charlie Herbert all deserve a particular vote of thanks for their interest, support and friendship. Colonel Tom Torrance offered me gracious and generous hospitality on my trips to Carlisle.
I would particularly like to thank Tim Benbow, Greg Kennedy, Christina Goulter, Patrick Porter and Chris Tripodi who all read and commented on all or parts of the manuscript. Their suggestions have improved the finished work considerably while all errors or omissions are, of course, my own.
I must also thank my friends for their unwavering support over what have turned out to be some difficult years. Keith Blackmore, Warren Chin, Huw Davies, Nicola Rodgers, Debs Sanders, Gary Sheffield, Victoria Syme-Taylor, Chris Tuck and Kate Utting have all helped me more than they realise and more than I can ever repay them. I must particularly thank Guy Finch, that remarkable font of technical and military knowledge, for offering me a safe haven in the middle of a storm and for remaining a firm and constant friend. There is always a concern when writing acknowledgements such as these that there may be some important omissions. I can only say that any omissions are not intended and that my gratitude for all of the many people, named and unnamed, that have helped with this project is very real indeed.
It is a matter of deep regret that I must dedicate this book to another mentor, colleague and friend who passed away when they still had so much left to give to the field of military history and beyond. I first met Richard when I was a young and callow lecturer at Sandhurst but I really got to know him on the many HCSC Staff Rides that he conjured into vivid life in his role as the senior historian and mentor of the course. To share a car with Richard on a nine-day staff ride across northern France was to enter a living and rich world of history, personal reminiscences, humour and fellowship unlike any other I have experienced. Richard was a truly remarkable gentleman whose enthusiasm and knowledge of military history was only matched by the warmth and generosity of his spirit. He gave unstintingly of his time and provided me with powerful support and guidance. I know that I was by far from the only member of the military history community to have benefited from his selfless enthusiasm and knowledge and I will always consider myself truly privileged to have witnessed a master at work. In however small a fashion, this book represents my tribute to him and it is with the warmest sense of gratitude that I dedicate this work to the memory of Richard Holmes.