Society for Army Historical Research
The Society for Army Historical Research (SAHR) is a learned society, founded in 1921 to foster "interest in the history and traditions of British and Commonwealth armies, and to encourage research in these fields."[1] It is one of the oldest societies of its kind. Past members include notable British Field Marshals Wavell, Auchinleck and Templer. The current president is Field Marshal Sir John Chapple and Major-General Sir Sebastian Roberts is Chairman of its Council.
The Society's interests embrace both army and regimental history, military antiquities and pictures, uniforms, badges and medals, arms and equipment and the history of land warfare in general. The study of campaigns, commanders and the political aspects of war are covered from the sixteenth century to the 1970s.
Activities
The Society's main activity is the publication of a peer-reviewed quarterly Journal reflecting its members' interests. Typically, each issue will contain 4–5 articles as well as a review section of relevant literature. Not all articles are dryly academic however; there are often interesting or amusing anecdotal forays into historical nooks, or revealing examinations of unjustly forgotten soldiers. In addition, over the years, the Society has produced a number of special issues: monographs on dress distinctions and bibliographical or regimental research aids, as well as previously unpublished soldiers' letters or diaries.[2]
Since 1982, the Society has awarded the Templer Medal to the author of the most impressive or significant book relating to the British, Commonwealth or Dominion armies published in the preceding year. This prize was founded to commemorate the life and achievements of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954. He was President of the SAHR from 1965 to 1979. In 2010 the Medal was awarded to William Philpott for his book Bloody Victory: Sacrifice on the Somme and the Making of the Twentieth Century.[3]
The Society also awards research grants to graduate students and maintains an essay prize for undergraduates and sixth-form pupils. Other activities include the organization of lectures, discussion events and tours.
During its existence the Society has been based at various times at the Royal United Services Institute and the National Army Museum. SAHR’s Council meetings, and both its AGM and Templer Medal presentations, currently take place at the Cavalry and Guards Club, London.
Past presidents
- 1921–1932 Harold Dillon, 17th Viscount Dillon
- 1932–1947 Colonel Thomas Fremantle, 3rd Baron Cottesloe
- 1947–1950 Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
- 1950–1961 George Cambridge, 2nd Marquess of Cambridge
- 1961–1965 Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck
- 1965–1979 Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer
- 1980–1993 General Sir David Fraser
Footnotes
- ↑ Minutes of the meeting leading to establishment of the Society published in: Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, 1.1 (Sept. 1921), pp. 3–5.
- ↑ For instance: John Marshall Deane, A Journal of Marlborough's campaigns during the War of the Spanish Succession, 1704–1711 / edited and introduced by David G. Chandler, SAHR Special Publication 12, (London, 1984) and The Victorians at War : New Perspectives, edited by Ian F.W. Beckett, SAHR Special Publication 16, (London, 2007). The special publications also include a full index to the journal from its foundation up to 2006.
- ↑ King's College, London (Accessed on April 15, 2011)
References
- Society for Army Historical Research
- The Society entry at the Register of Charities, including some of the recent annual reports.
