Andrew Harrison

A serial Labrador owner, one time Commercial Diver and instructor, and semi-professional curmudgeon.

He has always had an interest in military history, specifically the Second World War and the French Indochina War. Recently he had the chance to take a Masters by Research at the University of Huddersfield on the Normandy Campaign, specifically Montgomery’s part in the planning and leadership of that campaign.

After years of studying the battle it became clear to him that much that had been written on the subject had become tainted by a dislike of Montgomery the person, which has in turn affected the legacy of not just his campaign but those who served under him. During the course of his research, the extent to which repeated claims had become a part of the accepted narrative demonstrated the need to look again at the subject. Part of the issue was, and continues to be, Monty’s undeniably difficult personality combined with fundamental misunderstandings of his plan as presented during the pre-invasion Thunderclap presentations. When combined with the perceived failures of operations such as Epsom and Goodwood, much of what has become lore can be demonstrated as being based on misinterpretations. The intention of his book is not to act as a campaign history in the traditional sense, rather it is intended to challenge key aspects of the historical narrative in the hope that it will contribute to a wider understanding, leading to a re-examination of that campaign.

His work will expand on his Masters, allowing for a wider exploration and appreciation of topics such as Allied tactics and the role and limitations of air power which led to Operation Cobra, the spectacular American breakout which heralded the end of German resistance in Normandy. It will also show how expectations came to be affected by the use of language which, despite most of the key Allies speaking the same language, was a key factor which increasingly came to divide them.