A century ago in 1922, British historian and strategist Sir Julian Corbett died. Sir Julian’s contribution as a historian places him amongst the great scholars and thinkers of military history and strategic studies, alongside the likes of theorist Carl Von Clauzwitz.
This episode features Professor Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies, on his new book 'The British Way of War, Julian Corbett and the Battle for a National Strategy'.
He talks to guest presenter Dr James W E Smith, a researcher in the Department of War Studies, about why Corbett ranks amongst the greats of military strategic studies, and how he coined the concept of a ‘British way of war’. Lambert discusses how Corbett's ideas were catastrophically ignored in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War, but went on to help shape Britain’s naval successes in the Second World War.
Professor Lambert also shares the importance Sir Julian placed on history, as a tool in the intellectual armour of militaries, and his mastery in garnering useful insight from studying Britain’s military past to create a national strategy for Britain.
Although Corbett would eventually fall from recognition, a century on, Lambert argues, Corbett’s importance as a historian and strategist is finally being recognised more and made accessible to the public.
You can find out more about his publication on the Yale University Press website: https://yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?k=9780300250732
