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 norma ...

and

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

from

County Londonderry County Londonderry ( Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulster. B ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

. Educated at

St. Columb's College St Columb's College ( ga, Coláiste Naomh Colum Cille) is a Roman Catholic boys' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland and, since 2008, a specialist school in mathematics. It is named after Saint Columba, the missionary monk from County ...

, 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, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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

County Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional Counties of Ireland, counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an admini ...

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 abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

, 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 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 It was not until th ...

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

. 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 Royal ...

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 The High Sheriff of Londonderry City, or High Sheriff of Derry, is the sovereign's judicial representative in the city of Derry. High Sheriff of Londonderry is a title and position which was created in 1900 under the Local Government (Ireland) Ac ...

(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 David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

() #''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 People from County Londonderry Royal Ulster Constabulary officers Catholic Unionists High Sheriffs of Londonderry City Male non-fiction writers from Northern Ireland {{UK-historian-stub