David Filsell Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 John will greatly missed for his expertise and generosity. He had much to do with keeping the WFA on an even keel and its sights in the right direction. Off parade he was witty wonderful company not merely on the Great War but on the BBC during an interesting period. Although frequently critical of of Henry Williamson, he once said that he would have have made a fascinating and highly indiscreet dinner guest. A foolish thought but perhaps he now has the chance to catch-up on that gossip. My thoughts to Kathy and his family. I shall raise a glass tonight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ste Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 An extremely sad loss. John Terraine has the signal honour of having compelled many of us question our early assumptions and perceptions about the Great War; a generation of historians and interested observers owe him a debt of gratitude. It is hard for those of my generation to realise just how hard it must have been in the 1960s for Mr Terraine - and a handful of others - to proclaim what the evidence told them, to argue the unpopular if it was true, and face the scorn others if necessary. To be a good historian is an achievement; to be a ground breaking historian is surely a blessing. RIP Ste Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted 30 December , 2003 Share Posted 30 December , 2003 My only knowledge of Mr Terraine is through his works. I've not read all his books, but of those I have read I got the impression of a man passionate about his subject and prepared to take an unpopular stance and argue his points with conviction. As author of many of the episodes of the BBC classic TV series, "The Great War", first broadcast in 1964, he made a major contribution to one of the definitive histories of the First World War. For that alone he deserves unending praise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooter Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 A sad loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 For those interested there are good and well rounded obits. today in both The Times and Daily Telegraph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 Daily Telegraph obituary and The Times obituary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 I wonder if the broadsheets will describe him in their obits as "revisionist" or "counter-revisionist"? Apparently neither, not as such. The TIMES says: ............. "instrumental in shifting the balance of historical opinion from facile condemnation of the British High Command to an understanding of the complex political and military dilemmas posed by the German occupation of Northern France after 1914". Thank you John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 Both the Times and the Telgraph obituaries are unsigned, at least in the web versions. Does anyone know who wrote them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 The Daily Telegraph obituary of John Terraine includes this statement. Terraine's 500-page study of the man, Douglas Haig: the Educated Soldier (1968), challenged the conventional portrait of Haig as fumbling, callous and intriguing, and showed the field marshal as the true victor of the war in France, a brilliant, humane and honest man, snared by the grimmest tragedy in history. Is this a fair assessment of Terraine’s view or does it go too far? If I understand correctly, John Terrain held that Haig did rather well in the context of the time and given the situation that he found himself in. But did he judge Haig to be brilliant and humane? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 My introduction to Terraine was "Mons". A great historian and outstanding writer. He will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 31 December , 2003 Share Posted 31 December , 2003 I cannot open these obits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Maier Posted 1 January , 2004 Share Posted 1 January , 2004 There is another obituary here. It is rather more measured, to my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 3 January , 2004 Share Posted 3 January , 2004 I believe Bill Barnett may have written the Times obit and suspect that John Keegan may at least have had a hand in the Telegraph's. Obits on key many figures are held by national papers, dusted off from time to time and completed when the death is announced. I though that with Brian Bond's Guardian piece John had completed a nice "trio" - he gained his very own Mons Star! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 6 January , 2004 Admin Share Posted 6 January , 2004 Johns funeral is to be held on Thursday 15th January, at Kensall Green Crematorium, Harrow Rd, London at 1pm. The crematorium seating capacity is 100, but Kathy tells me that there may be the facility to relay the service. There is also the possibility of a memorial service later in the year, if I hear anything, I'll let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 6 January , 2004 Share Posted 6 January , 2004 Mons is one of the best books on the Great War I've ever read.Whatever your views on the revisionist argument John Terraine wrote history as it should be written.As he believed it to be,with sound backing to his theories/research. My condolences go out to his family-men like him are sadly missed. Spike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 7 January , 2004 Share Posted 7 January , 2004 Kathy has left a message on the WFA forum expressing her appreciation for the messages of support she has received since John's death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 I thought that people might like to know that John was cremated today at Kensal Green. The music ranged from Benjamin Britten to Hoagy Carmichael. There were readings from Thucydides, T S Eliot, and Margaret Postgate Cole, a superb eulogy from Correlli Barnett, who has succeeded John as the WFA Patron, and a very touching Valediction from Kathy. The Chapel was packed, not just with fellow military historians and WFA members, but also with other longstanding friends. The party then moved to John's favourite watering hole for more than 30 years - the Uxbridge Arms, Notting Hill. It was a great gathering, with John's spirit there with us. I'm sure the party continues as I write. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 15 January , 2004 Share Posted 15 January , 2004 Thank you for that Charles. We will remember him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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