The legacies of Britain's military past: Social class, masculinity and the Falklands War

The legacies of Britain's military past: Social class, masculinity and the Falklands War: MA War, Culture and Society Public Lecture with Professor Helen Parr.

How does Britain create its soldiers? Focusing on the experiences of the elite Parachute Regiment in the 1982 Falklands War, this lecture examines the social backgrounds of men who joined its ranks in the late 1970s, looks at how they were trained to become soldiers and how they experienced battle and its aftermath.

The lives of these men open a window to the relationships between society and the military, between masculinity, regimental identity and armed violence, and between Britain's military past and its present.

Professor Helen Parr (Keele University) is a leading historian of contemporary Britain. She has always been drawn to stories that don't quite fit in, and has always been interested in how Britain's place in the world affects people's lives.

She is the author of Britain's Policy Towards the European Community, 1964-1967: Harold Wilson and Britain's World Role (2006), The Wilson Governments 1964-1970 Reconsidered (2006; with Glen O'Hara), and Our Boys: The Parachute Regiment, the Falklands War and 1980s Britain (2018).

In this public lecture, Professor Parr explores the relationship between the modern military and British society, telling the story of the Parachute Regiment in the Falklands War of 1982. Professor Parr’s talk will be followed by a drinks reception.

The event is free, however please register your attendance via Eventbrite.