Terry Brighton
Encyclopedia
Terry Brighton is a British military historian and author.
and first developed an interest in military history. After leaving the church he worked on the curatorial staff of the Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum, for which he remains a consultant.
He is best known for his research on the Charge of the Light Brigade
, published in Hell Riders: the Truth about the Charge of the Light Brigade. He used survivors’ accounts, many of them never before published, to give the soldiers' viewpoint of this famous cavalry action. He argued that the Charge was not the military disaster it appeared, and controversially claimed that it could be considered “an astounding success”. In October 2004, on the 150th anniversary of the Charge, he broadcast an account of this action from the Crimea
to the U.S. live on NPR
.
Although best known for his research on the Crimean War
, according to Publishers Weekly it was his later work on the Second World War generals Patton, Montgomery and Rommel that moved him “into the top rank of general audience military writers”. The book uses the personal writings of the generals to argue that the explosive relationship between the allies Patton and Montgomery had a greater effect on the conduct and course of the war than the respectful relationship between the enemies Patton and Rommel.
He is currently working on his first novel, The Necessity of Killing. According to the author’s website this makes good a promise made to Richard Madely on the British TV chat show Richard & Judy
that he would “write the novel” of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
In October 2010 he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal. He lives in Tenerife
in the Canary Islands
where he writes on military history and, with his wife Linda, on love and sexuality.
Biography
Terry Brighton studied philosophy at Lancaster University and theology at Birmingham University before being ordained an Anglican priest. His parishes included St Martin’s in Hereford, where he stood in as chaplain to the SASSpecial Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
and first developed an interest in military history. After leaving the church he worked on the curatorial staff of the Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum, for which he remains a consultant.
He is best known for his research on the Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
, published in Hell Riders: the Truth about the Charge of the Light Brigade. He used survivors’ accounts, many of them never before published, to give the soldiers' viewpoint of this famous cavalry action. He argued that the Charge was not the military disaster it appeared, and controversially claimed that it could be considered “an astounding success”. In October 2004, on the 150th anniversary of the Charge, he broadcast an account of this action from the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
to the U.S. live on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
.
Although best known for his research on the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, according to Publishers Weekly it was his later work on the Second World War generals Patton, Montgomery and Rommel that moved him “into the top rank of general audience military writers”. The book uses the personal writings of the generals to argue that the explosive relationship between the allies Patton and Montgomery had a greater effect on the conduct and course of the war than the respectful relationship between the enemies Patton and Rommel.
He is currently working on his first novel, The Necessity of Killing. According to the author’s website this makes good a promise made to Richard Madely on the British TV chat show Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
that he would “write the novel” of the Charge of the Light Brigade.
In October 2010 he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal. He lives in Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
where he writes on military history and, with his wife Linda, on love and sexuality.
Books
- The Last Charge: the 21st Lancers and the Battle of Omdurman (Marlborough: Crowood, 1998)
- Hell Riders: the Truth about the Charge of the Light Brigade (London: Penguin, 2004) Published in the U.S. as Hell Riders: the True Story of the Charge of the Light Brigade (New York: Henry Holt, 2004)
- Masters of Battle: Monty, Patton and Rommel at War (London: Penguin, 2008) Published in the U.S. as Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War (New York: Random House, 2009)