Max Arthur
OBE (25 February 1939 – 2 May 2019) was a military historian, author and actor who specialised in first-hand recollections of the twentieth century. In particular his works focussed on the First and Second World War.
Life
In the earlier years of his life, Arthur was an actor appearing in a number of minor roles on television, most notably as Zuko in the ''
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
'' episode ''
Planet of Fire''.
He also appeared in the film ''
Bloodbrothers'' and the television series ''
Grange Hill
''Grange Hill'' is a British Children's television series, children's television drama series, originally produced by the BBC and portraying life in a typical Comprehensive school (England and Wales), comprehensive school. The show began its ru ...
''.
Later in his life he changed direction and became a historian. As a historian his scholarship focussed in drawing together testimony from soldiers of their experiences during wartime.
His most noted works were ''Forgotten Voices of the Great War'' (2002) and ''Forgotten Voices of the Second World War'' (2004) both in association with the
Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum (IWM), currently branded "Imperial War Museums", is a British national museum. It is headquartered in London, with five branches in England. Founded as the Imperial War Museum in 1917, it was intended to record the civ ...
.
He also presented two television documentaries: ''The Brits Who Fought For Spain'' (2008–9), for The History Channel UK and ''Dambusters'' for Optimum Releasing.
Arthur was appointed
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
(OBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to military history.
On 2 May 2019, Arthur died of leukaemia aged 80.
Published works
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References
External links
Forgotten Voices website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arthur, Max
1939 births
2019 deaths
British non-fiction writers
British military writers
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
People from Bognor Regis
British male writers
Male non-fiction writers