General Sir Barney White-Spunner Nations in Arms: Five Armies That Made Europe

About

Wars are shaped by whole societies, not just the people in uniform. In this lively and thought-provoking talk, Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner asks a deceptively simple question: what makes an army truly work and what happens when it doesn't?

Drawing on his acclaimed new book, he examines five remarkable case studies the Roman legions of Constantine, the Ottoman Janissaries of Mehmet II, Cromwell's New Model Army, 19th-century Prussia, and the U.S. Army of the Second World War to reveal how each force was forged by its society and, in turn, transformed it. From discipline and leadership to logistics, innovation and morale, these armies show how loyalty, organisation and purpose determine victory far more than technology alone.

White-Spunner also turns these lessons toward today: how can modern democracies rebuild resilience, strengthen reserves, and adapt to new threats from drones to cyber warfare? What role should the public play in national defence?

Expect a fast, good-humoured and deeply informed session that turns big history into clear takeaways about the choices Britain faces now.

Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner commanded soldiers from troop to division on operations in Europe, Iraq and Afghanistan. He later helped reshape the Army for Afghanistan and finished his service as Commander of the Field Army. He is now a bestselling historian and author known for vivid, accessible writing.

A Q&A Session will follow.