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Shan Hackett: The Pursuit Of Exactitude
'Shan' Hackett is remembered by his own and succeeding generations for a variety of achievements and attributes. A superb fighting soldier, he served with the Trans-Jordan Force, had fought through North Africa and was involved in the formation of the Long Range Desert Group, the SAS and Popski's Private Army. He went on to raise 4th Parachute Brigade which he commanded with flair at Arnhem where he was wounded and captured. He escaped and got back to British lines. He rose to high rank filling key command and staff appointments in the British Army and NATO.
Always an intellectual, yet highly practical man, he retired to become Principal of King's College London where he was revered by staff and students. He wrote many acclaimed works including The Third World War and its sequel The Third World War - The Untold Story. He was constantly in demand in Britain for his television programs and radio commentary up to his death in 1997
Always an intellectual, yet highly practical man, he retired to become Principal of King's College London where he was revered by staff and students. He wrote many acclaimed works including The Third World War and its sequel The Third World War - The Untold Story. He was constantly in demand in Britain for his television programs and radio commentary up to his death in 1997
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
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November 17, 2020
A very readable biography of one of the greatest British soldier scholars of the 20th century, General Sir John (or Shan) Hackett.
I enjoyed this book, particularly the chapters regarding his sheltering by a Dutch family after he was wounded seriously at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The family involved, with whom Hackett stayed friends for the rest of his life, took considerable risks in helping him convalesce and his escape back to British lines in early 1945. Hackett later wrote of his experiences in his book “I was a Stranger” to much public acclaim.
Rather like General Sir Anthony Farrer-Hockley of Korea fame, Hackett never got the top job in the British Army. He was perceived as having a character flaw, a propensity to be unforgiving of those that couldn’t keep up with his Oxford educated brain. As his biographer points out, that was an unfair assessment - Hackett was an academic, but also a humane man and deeply committed Christian.
After leaving the Army in the late 1960s, Hackett was appointed principal of Kings College London. His appointment was at a time of deep student unrest at the Vietnam War and the economic woes Britain was facing at that time. Hackett used his personality and leadership skills to bring round the students who were deeply sceptical of the ex soldier as their principal. He even joined them on a march in London protesting at the cuts to University funding proposed by the then Minister of Education, Margaret Thatcher. He was holding a placard reading “More pay for Principals”!
A very readable biography of a great soldier scholar.
I enjoyed this book, particularly the chapters regarding his sheltering by a Dutch family after he was wounded seriously at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The family involved, with whom Hackett stayed friends for the rest of his life, took considerable risks in helping him convalesce and his escape back to British lines in early 1945. Hackett later wrote of his experiences in his book “I was a Stranger” to much public acclaim.
Rather like General Sir Anthony Farrer-Hockley of Korea fame, Hackett never got the top job in the British Army. He was perceived as having a character flaw, a propensity to be unforgiving of those that couldn’t keep up with his Oxford educated brain. As his biographer points out, that was an unfair assessment - Hackett was an academic, but also a humane man and deeply committed Christian.
After leaving the Army in the late 1960s, Hackett was appointed principal of Kings College London. His appointment was at a time of deep student unrest at the Vietnam War and the economic woes Britain was facing at that time. Hackett used his personality and leadership skills to bring round the students who were deeply sceptical of the ex soldier as their principal. He even joined them on a march in London protesting at the cuts to University funding proposed by the then Minister of Education, Margaret Thatcher. He was holding a placard reading “More pay for Principals”!
A very readable biography of a great soldier scholar.
Displaying 1 of 1 review