The Templer Medal was established by The Society for Army Historical Research in 1981 to commemorate the life and achievements of Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer KG (1898-1979) (pictured) and to mark his Presidency of the Society between 1965 and 1979.
The medal is awarded annually to the author of the book published during that year that has made the most significant contribution to the history of the British Army, as defined in the Templer competition rules, set out here. The presentation of the award takes place at the Society's Annual General Meeting, usually in April of the year following publication.
The results of the 2020 Templer Prize were announced on the 21st April 2021 and we are delighted to note that four of the eight winners and runners-up are BCMH Members including all those in the New Book category. Congratulations to all!
Templer Medal
WINNER Britain’s War: A New World 1942-1947 by Prof Daniel Todman (Penguin)
1st RUNNER UP Blood, Metal and Dust: How Victory turned into Defeat in Afghanistan and Iraq by Brig Ben Barry (Osprey)
2nd RUNNER UP Sicily ’43: The First Assault on Fortress Europe by James Holland (Bantam)
3rd RUNNER UP The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1639-51 by Col Nick Lipscombe (Osprey)
Best First Book
WINNER Major-General Oliver Nugent: The Irishman who led the Ulster Division in the Great War by Nicholas Perry (Ulster Historical Foundation) (reviewed in Mars & Clio Feb 2021)
1st RUNNER UP Charles E Callwell and the British Way in Warfare by Dr Daniel Whittingham (Cambridge University Press)
2nd RUNNER UP Civilian Specialists at War: Britain’s Transport Experts and the First World War by Dr Christopher Phillips (Institute for Historical Research, University of London)
3rd RUNNER UP Phillip Skippon and the British Civil Wars: The “Christian Centurion” by Dr Ismini Pells (Routledge)
