Preußische Heeresbibliothek
(Preußische Armee Library)
Grapeshot
By Robert Hamper
with Dr. David Chandler
Most of you have heard the name of Chandler before and doubtless the majority of you readers have read at least one of his works. Dr. David Chandler is a prolific author of military history, in particular, of the Napoleonic era and is no stranger to controversey or serious debate. You may also be aware that Dr. Chandler suffered a stroke back in 1994.
I had been thinking of Chandler as an interview subject for some time, but I hadn't a clue as to how to get in touch with him. I reached out to another author contact, Mr. Peter Hofschröer, himself an interview subject for Grapeshot . Peter gladly volunteered his services and suggested I send him the questions, which he would then forward on to Chandler. Peter would also review the questions to ensure I didn't get carried away. Additionally, he gave me some detail on Dr. Chandler's state of health.
Not wanting to be a burden on the prestigious historian, I limited my questions in number and in scope. I touched on some more unusual topics than is typically seen in Grapeshot . I figured I had one chance at an interview like this so why not make it a little more creative. Besides, there is a mountain of information on the man in various magazines and newsletters.
While I expected to have to make do with a shorter column, what I got was an extraordinary surprise. Dr. Chandler responded with passion and enthusiasm and I couldn't help but smile in interest as I read his replies to my questions. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Dr. Chandler, what is your proudest moment as an historian?
I am pretty certain that must have been at Oxford in December, 1991 where I was made a D. Litt., ( i.e. Doctorate of Letters) I could hardly have believed it I had never received a Ph. D - for although I have written well over 20 books - and goodness knows how many professional lectures or articles around the world - at the R.M.A. Sandhurst from 1960 when I was appointed, yet I missed this opportunity for a doctorate (rather too busy, perhaps). One day in about 1989 at dinner at General Sir Tony Farrar-Hockley's home where he challenged me teasingly to have a go. 'Blow it all...', I said privately, 'I SHALL have a go after all.' But it worked. The Professor of War at Oxford told me that there were quite a few Honorary D. Litts. of military historians, field-marshals, or famous professors abroad, etc., but that he believed from his records that I was only [one] of four Oxford ' worked ' D. Litts. since 1900 - namely Sir John Fortescue, Sir Charles Oman, and Sir Michael Howard - an interesting group, (less myself, of course).
If I may add in passing two other points, I was also very surprised last January. I was delighted when my eldest son, Paul, was appointed to ' Who's Who - 2000 '; but suddenly, knock-me-down, I was also listed. Now there are five Chandlers in the great volume that only runs to some 4,000 pages. It was a complete fluke - and there was no attempt of collusion. I am a retired military historian and Paul (as a historian from Oxford too) is a very busy man as Secretary-General of the ' SPCK ' which has lasted for 300 years. Anyway, this has been a case of ' Ancient and Modern '! But that is enough about family pride... However, I have also been very proud to have been appointed for six years (1989 - 95) as a trustee of the Royal Armouries of HM Tower of London and Leeds. But my D. Litt. from Oxford is my most proud moment.
[Interviewer's Note: SPCK stands for the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, a worldwide organization founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray and friends for the promotion of social ideals through education and through Christian Literature]
What do you think is the greatest achievement in your career?
That is a difficu1t question. Perhaps I can answer by quoting from the excellent new magazine, the 'Battlefields Review' (No. 5, February 2000), The Editor, Kelvin van Hasselt, says so far that I have ...brought History alive not just to generations of cadets of Sandhurst, but to a worldwide audience through his books, videos and television programmes. The huge public interest in military history today owes much to [D.G.C.] ... This issue is concerned with Napoleonic history... [whose] ... two books ' The Campaigns of Napoleon ' and ' Napoleon's Marshals ' are key starting points for serious research. ' Battlefields Review ' salutes David Chandler... long overdue public recognition of [D.G.C.'s] contribution to our national life'.
That was a very generous comment, but I am rather embarrassed by such kind comments. [However,] I agree that I have always been consciously aware that I have loved History from my earliest years, and I have so enjoyed the subject that I wish other people, old or young, to enjoy it to the full. I have deliberately tried to encourage new writers, painters, photographers, wargamers and military re-enactors. At the end of WW2 military history was relatively unpopular - and for good reason. We and our Allies had won a major war, but we were absolutely exhausted after five years of total struggle. I was only a child - but the older survivors wanted to drop about everything to do with warfare. Well, things have changed on this point of view: see the huge number of books, wargamers or re-enactors. Amazing! If I have helped in this process I am well pleased and satisfied - or at least so far!
[http://www.yorkshire-web.co.uk/battlefields-review/]
I understand that you are a wargamer. Do you think that the wargaming enthusiasts worldwide have helped to push the envelope of historical research and discovery?
I certainly enjoyed wargames for about twenty years from 1962. But I am an ancient warrior - mainly using 30mm Tradition soldiers, throwing dice, marking measurements and so on. These types of games must be considered mediaeval for many modern players - and I have never been good at mathematics - never mind with computers (Amstrads are about my level, Our modern concepts are frankly beyond me - especially since my stroke (sysphasian) in 1994. My military history books have been helpful for many others - at least I hope so. Yes, the games are now for more international concepts, and also more realistic. Chess is far more ancient, of course, and that must have been the start - the ancient Chinese, the Mediaeval challenges of games, and then we come to the 1900s of H. G. Wells with simple rules. And simple they were too, with H.G.W. and his friends crawling over the floor or on the lawn although it was not very practicable for getting the soldiers to stand up properly - using books for houses or fortresses, and with insisting on firing wooden or metal projectiles from the cannon, turn by turn. Simple, indeed, but great fun! I have two pre-WW2 Britains Ltd., naval 1899 Boer War cannons, (Patent 34218/30, Made in England). Life and history move on - Britains are now all made in Communist China (!), but I will be accused of wandering off the point. No, H.G.W. (who wrote over 100 books), Mr. Scruby (USA) and now we have Don Featherstone and Brigadier Charles S. Grant (and his late father too) - these are amongst the giants of wargaming in my mind, anyway. But we must remember that this is only A GAME! [Truer words were never spoken - Rob]
What is your favourite area of study?
I find the Marlburian period is the most satisfactory challenge as a writer of military history. Of course I have written more on the Napoleonic era - and I love it very dearly - but there is something very special about 'Milord Duke'. It is a difficult period to work because there is a shortage of documents, but makes it more of a challenge. In that respect I was most pleased to have discovered most of the documents of Private Sentinel John Marshall Deane of the 1st Guards. ( S.A.H.R. , Special Publication No.12, 1984). [Society for Army Historical Research - Rob] That was exciting. I also felt one of the same type of John Wilson, 15th Foot, who calls himself an '...Old Flanderkin Serjeant' (soon to be published in the ' Military Miscellany II ' of the A.R.S. '). Indeed, there are many problem of this period - including a bad habit of certain previous writers regarding their reliability, originality or plagiarism. However, I love this era.
There are other reasons than far purely academic interests. Marlborough was the greatest British soldier of all time. The nation had only become a 'great power' in Europe - and then in the World. For 250 years, therefore - for better or for worse - he had created the greatest empire of the modern age. This clearly fascinates me, and I am an Englishman too! All being well, next year should see a new book of mine being published by Spellmount . I have been seriously ill for six years, which has effectively stopped my writing 'production'. Little by little I have slowly improved in my mental capabilities and my thanks go to many kind people have helped me recover. Christopher L. Scott has kindly helped me with the rubrics, spellings and syntax in my new volume, or rather a selection. It will be about the periods of King William III and John Churchill, Earl and then first Duke of Marlborough, mainly from 1697 to 1704 inclusive. It will be called: ' Blenheim Preparations '. However, I have not been wholly idle since 1995. I have been encouraging various publishers, and as a result I have persuaded them to re-publish no less than 14 of my earlier volumes. Naturally, I was not over-interested in re-prints, and only for truly 'new' work; but I was partially wrong. One friend has taught me the realities of [a] lasting book, 'Almost anyone can publish a sound book or two,' he told me; 'however, it is more important to be re-published !' He was right, too.
I understand that you are a big fan of Marlborough and of Napoleon. Could you use three adjectives for each man that would best summarize their character?
Marlborough: 'INNOVATIVE' - 'FLAMBOYANT' - 'HENPECKED', thus 'The Twin Captains' (including with Prince Savoy of Savoy); and 'Creator of the Second British Empire'.
Napoleon: 'BELOVED' - 'STARTLED' - 'INSPIRED', thus 'A great, bad man.' (as Lord Clarendon's description of Oliver Cromwell); and who ultimately failed (how brilliant his later propaganda).
What do you wish to be best remembered for?
Of my best books (all on special paper lest they crumble away!)
If you could be a general of any army, of any time, who would you like to be?
I could have been tempted to be - for the modern period anyway - General Giap, (but I don't really like Communists nor rice much); for the ancient times I could have liked to have been as Alexander the Great, 356 - 323 BC, (but died far too young); or (for the Mediaeval era) Genghis Khan, c. 1162 - 1227, (but too cruel, and I'd be bored on milk). However, and after everything else and for of all periods, I wou1d have liked best to have been the first Great Duke of Marlborough, 1650 - 1721 , (and who suffered from several of my unfortunate illnesses). And I have a very good wife, Gill, as 'Milord Marlborough' also had his famous Sarah.
And that concludes this issue's interview. I'd like to extend a very special thanks to Dr. Chandler for taking the time to answer my questions, and, on behalf of the Napoleonic Wargaming Club, wish him continued success in his recovery and in his writing. I would also like to thank Peter Hofschröer for his assistance in making this interview happen. I hope you all enjoyed this quarter's Grapeshot submission.
Oberst Rob Hamper
Prussian Army
Napoleonic Wargaming Club
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