{"product_id":"uncivil-war-the-british-army-and-the-troubles-1966-1975-paperback-softback-9781316501832","title":"Uncivil War; The British Army and the Troubles, 1966–1975 (Paperback \/ softback) 9781316501832","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eUncivil War\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe British Army and the Troubles, 1966–1975\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReveals the full story of the British army's role in the most violent phase of the Troubles.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eHuw Bennett (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781316501832, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 15 January 2026\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e558 pages\u003cbr\u003e27 x 18 x 3.4 cm, 0.573 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e'[A] fascinating, provocative, humane and objective study which rewrites the history of the British Army in Northern Ireland in these pivotal years and more broadly suggests the way that military history can and should be written.' Tony Craig, English Historical Review\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eWhen Operation Banner was launched in 1969 civil war threatened to break out in Northern Ireland and spread over the Irish Sea.  Uncivil War reveals the full story of how the British army acted to save Great Britain from disaster during the most violent phase of the Troubles but, in so doing, condemned the people of Northern Ireland to protracted, grinding conflict. Huw Bennett shows how the army's ambivalent response to loyalist violence undermined the prospects for peace and heightened Catholic distrust in the state. British strategy consistently underestimated community defence as a reason for people joining or supporting the IRA whilst senior commanders allowed the army to turn in on itself, hardening soldiers to the suffering of ordinary people. By 1975 military strategists considered the conflict unresolvable: the army could not convince Catholics or Protestants that it was there to protect them and settled instead for an unending war.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e 1. Baggage\u003cbr\u003e 2. The army's short-lived Ulster honeymoon\u003cbr\u003e 3. Escalation and the erosion of impartiality\u003cbr\u003e 4. Edward Heath's bid for victory\u003cbr\u003e 5. The road to Bloody Sunday\u003cbr\u003e 6. The most deadly year\u003cbr\u003e 7. Strategy in the shadow of loyalist power\u003cbr\u003e 8. We cannot envisage peace\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion\u003cbr\u003e A note on sources.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Military history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Military history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Military%20history%20%5BHBW%5D%22\"\u003eHBW\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52453398348056,"sku":"9781316501832","price":13.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781316501832i.jpg?v=1785283913","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/uncivil-war-the-british-army-and-the-troubles-1966-1975-paperback-softback-9781316501832","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}