When I studied history at Oxford I was able to specialise in economic history and the history of science and technology. I was also made to study European history alongside what was called English or more accurately UK history. I was not expected to study American history or Chinese or Japanese history, yet these were then the arrived or coming powers. It was a lop sided syllabus with hints of European superiority and bias in its design.
I found European history deeply depressing. It was a continuing story of changing borders and countries endlessly fighting over their identities and for control of sufficient resources to feed and clothe themselves. There were too many great Kings, Emperors and thugs seeking dominion over larger areas of the continent. Economic progress was regularly damaged by marauding armies. Much blood and treasure was shed to achieve a European Empire that never materialised. In the sixteenth century there also came a wave of wars over religious reform with the continent split not just between Roman and Orthodox Christianity , but also between Roman and protestant Christianity.
The twentieth century was disfigured by two ruinous world wars as Germany fought to unite Europe under its control. The early nineteenth century had seen a destructive world war to establish a French European Empire, mimicking Spain’s failed attempt in the sixteenth century. The UK did Europe a great service by the big sacrifices to defeat Hitler.
It made me proud to be British as we had in the last 500 years dropped any claim to a European empire, had developed Parliamentary checks on monarchs’ powers and given the world the prosperity machines of the Industrial revolution. The pity was we had been drawn into too many land wars on the continent as we tried to help smaller states resist the barbaric invasions by Spanish, French, German and other forces. We had successfully started settlements in North America which led on to the creation of two great free nations, the USA and Canada. The American rebels were better heirs to English democratic thinking than was George III who lost to them.
The UK today should learn from its past. We succeed when we project naval and air power to protect our islands and keep open seas for trade. We do not by history or inclination wish to be a land power risking armies in a continental cauldron.The cause of a European empire was not worth all the dead who suffered for it.
December 16, 2025
Absolutely. They (the EU, NATO, Germany) are gearing up for a war in Europe. There’s no good reason to have one. But for those whose political, military or arms-dealing career will only flourish in an 1984-ish future of continuous conflict, it’s their preferred way forward.
German rearmament should frighten all of us. Whether they can do it, given their barmy green deindustrialisation tendencies, is in debate. As for the EU, it’s insatiable desire to centralise power and crush dissenting nations could trigger a future conflict. We need to stick well out of it.
Amongst other things that means restraining MI6, which is implicated in fostering unrest in Europe, the “-stans”, and the middle east. Britain needs to mind its own business, our days of empire are over.
December 16, 2025
Wanderer, Minding our own business is a good mantra for all UK politicians to follow. I note Sir John does not reference all the wars/campaigns the UK has participated in over the last 500 years and particularly the last 50 years. We stepped back from fighting for European territory (overlooking 2 world wars) and fought across the world instead. Was that really progress?
Reply I was unhappy about wars in the Middle East. The liberation of the Falklands was a necessary war.
December 16, 2025
Trump is encouraging four nations Hungary, Poland, Austria and Italy to consider leaving the EU. Germany is in economic decline and France has huge national debt.
So the EU is not well placed to go to war with Russia.
On the other hand, there is a school of thought when all else fails go to war.
December 16, 2025
‘ We do not by history or inclination wish to be a land power risking armies in a continental cauldron.’
With a quarter of the globe at one time coloured pink at one time, history suggests otherwise.
It’s just that there were easier pickings outside the European continent. As for Europe itself, the policy was to maintain a balance of power so that one nation did not dominate.
December 16, 2025
Good morning.
I can only follow the sentiment of that former WWII veteran who, in his minds eye, felt the loss of all his friends not to be worth it given the state of the nation today.
As the ‘Silent ones’ pass into history we are losing the last links to a past that has shaped the world we now live in and take for granted. They gave their lives to defend this nation, only to see subsequent generation degrade and desecrate both their achievements’ and self-sacrifice. Monuments are raised in their memory but, as we have seen, such monuments can be pulled down by those who do not recognise them.
For today we have people in power whose actions those of past years would see as naked treason. It is not the use of force that defines power, but the threat of it. And for that threat to be both real and creditable it must those that would be on the wrong end of it must take it seriously, and for that to be so all laws must be upheld.
Threats come in many forms and not via direct military power but the slow and continuous erosion and demoralisation of a people and its nation. As I have said before. The enemy is within the gates.
December 16, 2025
Today our military is bit a former shadow of its which probably former self. I was a nuclear submariner in the 60s and 70s. The fleet was in top top condition, I never remember cancelling any deployment because we broke down.
We lead the world in design and manufacture of aircraft tanks and ships. Now we waste billions on Ajax which probably will be scrapped.
It is only our nuclear deterrent which keeps us safe and that is in a parlous position.
Prioritising welfare and gimmigrants over defence and security is wrong but unlikely to change with this government.
December 16, 2025
Are, effectively open borders, as Labour, the Cameron/May/Boris/Sunak Con-Socialist and the Greens seem to want (with their new Breast Enlargement Whisperer leader) really compatible with a country whose occupants and new changing occupants are prepared to defend? If borders are open for whom are they defending it?
December 16, 2025
Our place is on the open ocean and in the Anglosphere. I hope yet to see wise governments here and in the US taking steps to remedy King George III’s colonial policy catastrophe.
December 16, 2025
How many people think a country led by dire deluded people like Sadiq Kahn, Two Tier Kier, anti growth Reeves, Lammy, Phillipson, Miliband is worth defending or even possible to defend given Miliband’s moronic energy agenda!
December 16, 2025
‘Splendid isolation ‘ had a lot to be said for it!
December 16, 2025
I see yesterday the generals were talking up war with Russia again and saying we’d all have to serve. I suppose this is the usual scaremongering to get more taxpayer’s money because Russia has neither the interest nor capability to invade UK or, in fact, any NATO country. The country which DOES have the capability is China but it seems Starmer and his mates don’t want to call them a threat at all and I believe he’ll be visiting them in January to kowtow.
December 16, 2025
“The American rebels were better heirs to English democratic thinking than was George III”
There’s a good reason for that. The rebels had a long English heritage; German George I became King in 1715 and George III was born only about 25 years later. Why would he be an heir to English democratic thinking – he was effectively German – and Hanover had no experience of democratic thinking.
The EU and Two-Tier-Keir, are deliberately talking up the prospect of war with Russia. It is the means by which the Globalists intend to achieve the next steps in enforced EU integration – an EU military.
Jean Monnet, Father of the EU, explained the process they would apply to create the latest version of a European Empire “Europe will be forged in crisis, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted for those crises.”
First create the crisis. Then offer the “solution.”
We should not get involved in yet another European war, or any outside Europe come to that. WW1 and WW2 destroyed this country. We cannot afford another one.