The last half century has been as rich a period in the history of the British Army as any other. It saw great change, a mixture of peace and war in which society, technology, the character of conflict and the British Army itself have all been transformed. Along the way there have been many successes, but also some failures.
From a low point in the 1970s, the Army’s war fighting capability increased in the Cold War, despite the conflicting demands of the war in Northern Ireland. It was successful in the Falklands in 1982, in the 1991 Gulf War, through peacekeeping in Bosnia and Kosovo, and in Sierra Leone, as well as in Afghanistan in 2001 and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But these successes led to over-confidence and complacency in the Army, Ministry of Defence and British government.
In this talk, Ben Barry shows how this high plateau of military achievement was followed by two decades of decline. Poor leadership by British governments and mistakes made in Iraq and Afghanistan led to strategic defeats, and to increasing public opposition to unpopular wars. Cuts to defence funding and botched equipment procurements meant that in 2025 the British Army was only half the size it had been in 1975, but less ready for war and with much of its equipment obsolete.
Ben Barry served in the British Army from 1975 to 2010, often in key appointments, and has worked closely with the Army since he left the service. His study of the British Army draws on his personal experience and a very wide range of other sources to provide a new interpretation of this pivotal era.
Doors open at 17.45 for light refreshments, and the talk begins at 18.30. There is free parking at the Museum but it is limited, so we encourage you to take public transport if you’re able.
The talk will also be broadcast live on Zoom. If you’d like to buy a ticket to watch online, select ‘Zoom’ from the dropdown menu when buying your ticket. Members of the RGJ Association and serving Riflemen can watch live online for free by emailing comms@riflemansmuseum.co.uk.
Tickets available soon.