Nick Van Der Bijl: 9 books

The British faced two serious problems – the first, the Greek Cypriots’ desire for Enosis and second, the intense rivalry and antipathy between the Greek and Turkish communities. In 1955 the former resulted in a bitter EOKA terrorist campaign led by Colonel George Grivas. This resulted...

The announcement of the imminent withdrawal of the British Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Endurance in early 1982 prompted the Argentinian Junta in Buenos Aires to plan a military grab of the Falklands-a siege they assumed would succeed with little resistance. Such an adventure was attractive as...

The Hundred Days that saw the British response to General Galtiere of Argentina’s invasion of the Falklands are for many British people the most remarkable of their lives. It describes the dark days of early April, the feverish response and forming of the Task Force, the anxieties and uncertainties,...

For many people it was 3 Commando Brigade, commanded by Major General Julian Thompson, and made up of Royal Marines and Para's that recaptured the Falklands. Yet 5th Infantry Brigade played a key and until now little acknowledged role in this extraordinary saga. Cobbled together in haste (having been...

While written under the auspices of the Trustees of the Military Intelligence Museum, Sharing the Secret is not an academic regimental history. Rather it gives a privileged glimpse into a necessarily publicity-shy organization that has been deeply involved in military intelligence operations since...

The book examines the military history of Aden Colony from 1839 including the fractious turn of the century Border Commissions with Turkey and the defeat of British forces near Aden by the Turks in 1915. Great Britain successfully defended the base for the rest of The Great War and throughout the...

The book opens by setting the historic backdrop to The Troubles. In summer 1969 the annual Loyalist marching season sparked violence in Londonderry which spread rapidly. After three days of violence the British Government deployed troops in support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Initially...

Nine Battles to Stanley is a soldiers account of the ground fighting on South Georgia and the Falklands.

What makes this book unique is the fascinating and objective way the author describes the experiences, view points and comparative qualities of both sides to the conflict. Fresh light is shed...

Through a mix of objects, medals, photographs and documents held in the Military Intelligence Museum, the book tells the story of British military intelligence across the years, moving from its earliest object of the Waterloo medal awarded to the Duke of Wellington’s senior intelligence officer...