James Richard Doherty (born 19 May 1948), known as Richard Doherty, is a British

military historian Military history is the study of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, cultures and economies thereof, as well as the resulting changes to local and international relationships. Professional historians ...

and

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

from

County Londonderry County Londonderry (Ulster Scots dialects, Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry (), is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty-two Counties of Ireland, count ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

. Educated at St. Columb's College, he has written more than twenty books about British and Irish military history ranging from the Williamite wars through to the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Doherty's father, J.J. Doherty, a native of

County Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. Its county town is Omagh. Adjoined to the south-west shore of Lough Neagh, the cou ...

and a British AA artillery gunner, served during the Second World War, as did four of Richard's uncles. J.J. Doherty died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

, a result of complications from wounds suffered during the war. His mother Anna Coyle, who also died of cancer, came from a nationalist background. His parents married at

St Eugene's Cathedral St Eugene's Cathedral () is the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic cathedral located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the "Mother Church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry, as well as the parish Church of the parish of Templemore. History I ...

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest City status in the United Kingdom, city in Northern Ireland, and the fifth-largest on the island of Ireland. Located in County Londonderry, the city now covers both banks of the River Fo ...

. Richard Doherty was a

Royal Ulster Constabulary The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. It was founded on 1 June 1922 as a successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Richard Doherty, ''The Thin Green Line – The History of the ...

reservist from 1972 to 1974 and also served in the Territorial Army. He resides in Prehen, County Londonderry. Richard Doherty was appointed High Sheriff of Londonderry City (2020-21). Doherty's most recent book
''British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders, 1939-1945'', is published by Pen and Sword Books

Selected works (in alphabetical order)

#''A Noble Crusade: The History of Eighth Army, 1941 to 1945'' () #''Clear the Way!: A History of the 38th'' () - paperback #''Irish Generals in the British Army in the Second World War'' () #''Irish Men and Women in the Second World War'' () #''Irish Volunteers in the Second World War'' () #''Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross'' by Doherty & David Truesdale () #''None Bolder: The History of the 51st (Highland) Division in the Second World War'' () #''Only the Enemy in Front (Every Other Beggar Behind): The Recce Corps at War, 1940-1946'' () #''The Sound of History: El Alamein - 1942'' () #''The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II'' (/) #''The North Irish Horse: A Hundred Years of Service'' () #''The Thin Green Line: A History Of The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC 1922-2001'' () #''The Siege of Derry: A Military History'' () #''The Williamite War in Ireland 1688-1691'' () #''Wall of Steel. The History of the 9th (Londonderry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (SR)'' ()

References

1948 births Living people British military historians Police officers from County Londonderry Royal Ulster Constabulary officers Catholic Unionists High sheriffs of Londonderry City Male non-fiction writers from Northern Ireland People educated at St Columb's College {{UK-historian-stub