David Horner
Encyclopedia
David Murray Horner AM
(born 12 March 1948) is an Australian military historian
and academic.
(CMF). He joined the Army after completing school in 1966 and attended Royal Military College Duntroon. Horner served in the Australian Army
for 25 years, including active service in South Vietnam
.
Horner was appointed to a position at the Australian National University's
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
in 1990 and is currently Professor of Australian Defence History at the ANU's Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
(RSPAS). In 1998 he was described as "one of Australia's most respected military historians". In 2004 Horner was appointed the Official Historian and general editor for the Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations
, of which five volumes are planned. A team led by Horner also won a tender to write the official history
of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
(ASIO) which Horner plans to cover in two volumes published in 2013 and 2015. Horner has written or edited 28 books and a further 75 journal articles, reports and chapters in books. For his "service to higher education in the area of Australian military history and heritage as a researcher, author and academic", Horner was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honours list of 2009.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 12 March 1948) is an Australian military historian
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
and academic.
Biography
Horner was raised in a military household; his father Murray Horner had served in New Guinea during World War II and later joined the Citizen Military ForcesAustralian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
(CMF). He joined the Army after completing school in 1966 and attended Royal Military College Duntroon. Horner served in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
for 25 years, including active service in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
Horner was appointed to a position at the Australian National University's
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
Strategic and Defence Studies Centre
The Strategic and Defence Studies Centre is a university centre that was situated in the former Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University. It is Australia's oldest-established centre for the study of strategic, defence and wider security issues and a...
in 1990 and is currently Professor of Australian Defence History at the ANU's Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies
The Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies was founded in 1946 as an institute of advanced study at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.-History:...
(RSPAS). In 1998 he was described as "one of Australia's most respected military historians". In 2004 Horner was appointed the Official Historian and general editor for the Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations
Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations
The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations is the official history of Australia's military and civilian involvement in peacekeeping since 1947 as well as military operations in the years after the end of the Cold War...
, of which five volumes are planned. A team led by Horner also won a tender to write the official history
Official history
An official history is a work of history which is sponsored, authorised, or endorsed by its subject. The term is most commonly used for histories which are produced at a government's behest....
of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
(ASIO) which Horner plans to cover in two volumes published in 2013 and 2015. Horner has written or edited 28 books and a further 75 journal articles, reports and chapters in books. For his "service to higher education in the area of Australian military history and heritage as a researcher, author and academic", Horner was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday honours list of 2009.
Books
Horner's books include:- High Command, Australia and Allied Strategy, 1939–1945, George Allen & Unwin, Sydney, in association with the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1982.
- Duty First: the Royal Australian Regiment in war and peace, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1990. A revised edition was released in 2008.
- The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1995.
- Inside the War Cabinet: Directing Australia's War Effort, 1939–1945, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1996.
- (with Desmond Ball) Breaking the Codes: Australia's KGB Network, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998.
- BlameyThomas BlameyField Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to date to attain the rank of field marshal....
: The Commander-in-Chief, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998. - Defence Supremo: Sir Frederick SheddenFrederick SheddenSir Frederick Geoffrey Shedden KCMG OBE was Secretary of Australia's Department of Defence from 1937 to 1956.He was the subject of a biography: by David Horner.-Honours:...
and the Making of Australian Defence Policy, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2000. - The Australian Centenary History of Defence, Volume 4, Making the Australian Defence Force, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2001.
- Strategic Command: General Sir John WiltonJohn Wilton (General)General Sir John Gordon Noel Wilton KBE, CB, DSO was the most senior military figure in Australia from May 1966 to November 1970.-Early career:...
and Australia's Asian Wars, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2005. - Australia and the New World Order : From Peacekeeping to Peace Enforcement: 1988–1991, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne, 2011