Category: BMMHS Articles
Article: The ‘Hand of Fate’ in the Great War



Click above for the full article

The ‘Hand of Fate’ in the Great War
An article by Patricia Rothwell
Article: A COPP Officer in Malta



Click above for the full article

A COPP Officer in Malta
A brief history of COPP and their operations from Malta.
An article by Kurt Degabriele
Article: An Admirable Gun



Click above for the full article

An Admirable Gun
The 25-pounder Field Gun
An article by James Goulty
Article: A Costly War



Click above for the full article

A Costly Victory
The Sino-Vietnamese War 1979
An article by Nick Brazil
Article: The Shortest War in History



Click above for the full article

The Shortest War in History
The Anglo-Zanzibar War 1896
An article by Nick Brazil
Battlefield Experience from the Forgotten War – Korea 1950-53


Battle Experience from the 'Forgotten War'; Korea 1950-53
An article by James Goulty
Click on the image for the article
Body counts: Has Prince Harry illuminated a necessary evil?
Body counts: Has Prince Harry illuminated a necessary evil?
University of Birmingham op-ed
“…measuring the success of combat should not be based on the number of dead enemies. International Humanitarian Law limits conflict to only that which is strictly necessary to achieve the overall military objectives. Therefore, now, as has ever been the case, the destruction of one’s enemy is not the objective militaries should be seeking.”
- Dr Emma J Breeze, Assistant Professor in International Criminal Law, University of Birmingham

“My number is 25. It’s not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me.”
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has revealed in his new book Spare, that due to advances in military technology, he is able to say with certainty the number of people he killed during the time he served in the army in Afghanistan.
His public claim that his ‘body count’ is 25 has had a negative reaction, to say the least, and has opened a discussion about the role individual soldiers’ body counts should, or should not, play when discussing military action or operations.
The counting of deaths during armed conflict has had a difficult history. During the Vietnam war the US controversially measured their progress by the number of enemy deaths. Several decades later, during the Iraq war in 2003, US General Tommy Franks famously said “we don’t do body counts” reasoning that progress in achieving combat aims was contextual.
Over recent decades the increased datafication of life generally, and in the armed forces more specifically, has led to a heightened focus on the recording of casualties of conflict, whether civilian or combatant. However, this data is inherently limited due to the considerable ‘fog of war’ and finding accurate data is a herculean task.
Significantly though, measuring the success of combat should not be based on the number of dead enemies. International Humanitarian Law limits conflict to only that which is strictly necessary to achieve the overall military objectives. Therefore, now, as has ever been the case, the destruction of one’s enemy is not the objective militaries should be seeking.
That said, there are legitimate and valid reasons to record casualties of armed conflict. States are legally required to review their military operations to ensure that they meet the principles of International Humanitarian Law, particularly in relation to collateral damage. The law permits the loss of civilian life during armed conflict but limits this so that civilian casualties should not be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. This proportionality assessment must be carried out prior to an attack as well as assessed afterwards. Any excessive loss of civilian life could amount to a war crime and states are obliged to investigate any such incident. Thus, when the information on body counts remains linked to the context, and relates to more than an individual soldier’s recollection, it can be a valuable tool for assessment and accountability.
Another important reason for the existence of body counts is to account for the loss of life, preserve the memory of those who have died, and honour the victims and their families. Independent projects such as the Bosnian Book of the Dead, which lists the 95,940 names of those killed in the Balkans conflict, can facilitate the reconciliation efforts needed in post-conflict regions.
Body counts can be political tools used to further conversations about accountability, and when the contextual data is made available beyond militaries, it can be used by NGOs, researchers, journalists, and local organisations to develop strategies and to challenge governments.
Above all we should never forget that those numbers relate to people, all of whom have families, and all of whom should be respected.
Copyright © 2023 bmmhs.org – All Rights Reserved
New Article: Neither war nor Peace



Click above for the full article

Neither War nor Peace
Irish Neutrality 1939-1946
An article by Nick Brazil
BMMHS Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain

BMMHS Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain
2020 marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain which took place between July and October 1940.
The 15th September 1940 was officially named Battle of Britain Day as it was the day when RAF Fighter Command claimed what proved to be a decisive victory over the German Luftwaffe.
Battle of Britain Day was the turning point in the Second World War. Without control of the skies over southern England, the enemy knew they could never invade these shores. A victory against all the odds, it paved the way to Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945 – and the freedom we all enjoy today.
On the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, we give thanks to ‘The Many’ who made that incredible moment possible. The pilots, plotters, factory workers, radar operatives, engineers, firefighters, ambulance drivers, anti-aircraft gunners… and so many more.

