THE CHIEFS: Story of the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff

Two senior British Army officers look at the past, present and future of the Chiefs of Staff. They trace the development of the system, which has provided the model for many other countries, from its origins and through both World Wars to the Falklands conflict - a campaign that moulded together political, strategic and tactical considerations. The authors aim for a balance between an appreciation of the individual Chiefs, with regard both to their own personalities and to their status as professional Heads of Services, and a review of their collective contribution to war and crisis management. The book also presents an overview of the change of emphasis from 1923, when the Chiefs of Staff gained their corporate responsibility, to the 1984 reorganization, and in its conclusions looks towards possible future developments.