The 35th Annual Wellington Lecture took place on Tuesday 29 October at Turner Sims on Highfield Campus. We were honoured to present Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Southampton, Adrian Smith, who spoke on 'Wellington and two world wars'.
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About this talk
Both world wars saw significant anniversaries of Waterloo, but ironically in each conflict the British enjoyed only brief access to the battlefield. Despite this, the ‘Iron Duke’ was an ever-present, memorialised in the names of ships, aircraft and regiments. Even in an age of industrial warfare Wellington remained an inspirational figure, his tactical legacy most evident in theatres of operation outside Europe. While Nelson loomed large in naval command, Wellington fulfilled a subtler role within the British Army. Soldiers like Montgomery did invite comparison with their illustrious predecessor; but it was less high-profile commanders, notably Allenby and Slim, who best embodied the Duke’s enduring qualities. From ‘Old Hooky’ to ‘Uncle Bill’, from the Peninsula to Burma, successive campaigns across successive centuries saw generals of rare talent and esteem fashion total victory out of near absolute defeat.
About Professor Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith is Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Southampton. His books include a two-volume biography of Admiral Lord Mountbatten, the lives of aviation pioneer and industrialist Sir Richard Fairey and of socialist air ace ‘Mick’ Mannock, a history of the early New Statesman and a collection of essays on twentieth-century Coventry. Away from political and military history he writes extensively about music and sport.
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