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Published on: 11/10/2001
Last Visited: 11/26/2002
My Army – Sir John Keegan
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My Army - Sir John Keegan
Feature - Shock to the system
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MY ARMY: SIR JOHN KEEGAN
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But don't be fooled by this calm exterior, because Sir John Keegan possesses one of the keenest minds in the field of British military history.
As well as lecturing many of the British Army's senior officers and tacticians, his views have been sought by the Prime Minister and a former US President.
Despite this expertise, Sir John Keegan never served in the Army."I was inside the Army, but not in it," he told Soldier.
The story begins at the outbreak of the Second World War when the Keegan family was evacuated to the West Country and the young John's interest in the military was first stimulated.
"By chance we were put down right in the heart of the American concentration area for D-Day," he recalled.
"From the beginning of 1943 until half way through 1944 we lived in an increasingly Americanised Somerset with hundreds of thousands of Servicemen.It was fascinating for a small boy.
"Although I wasn't aware of it at the time it was this early contact with the armed forces that kindled my interest in military matters.I had witnessed a great military expedition in the making and that has always stayed with me."
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But all was not well with John.At the age of 13 he contracted orthopaedic TB and spent several years in hospital.The illness left him lame and meant military service was out of the question.
Eventually he went to Oxford and was surrounded by students who had completed National Service.Despite his lack of forces experience, he chose military history as a special study subject, concentrating on the Napoleonic Wars.
After Oxford he applied to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for a position as a lecturer and started on Leap Year's Day, 1960.
"I started not knowing anything about the Army or how long I would be there.But I stayed and stayed – for 26 years.
"There is nothing like it in England except the other Service colleges.It is a good way of life.Beautiful surroundings and nice company."
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FOR a chance to win a signed copy of Sir John Keegan's The First World War, one of his most acclaimed books, answer the following question:
Which US President did John Keegan advise about the D-Day anniversary?
a) Ronald Reaganb) Bill Clintonc) George W Bush
Send your answer on a postcard to Keegan Competition, Soldier, Ordnance Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 2DU.Or email msimonini@soldiermagazine.co.uk
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