ABSTRACT
The history of the British army, then, is of recurrent need rending aside the anti-military illusions of the nation. In the foreseeable future the British Army has two main strategic roles: the support of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation by providing forces in being on the mainland of Europe, and the maintenance of a strategic reserve in the United Kingdom to meet the unexpected calls. All other commitments are related to these two main roles. The development of the wider range of knowledge required must be carried out within a service environment, and largely directed by the military officers. Apart from the fact that civilian academic institutions are chary of doing such work ‘on hire’ for the military, as was done in the United States until recently, the way to salvation for the British armed forces does not lie in the pursuit of the ‘outside expert’.
