Lieutenant General Sir John Kiszely gave an outstanding talk on his biography of General Hastings “Pug” Ismay: Soldier, Statesman, and Diplomat. Held at the New Club in Edinburgh, it traced Ismay’s early childhood in India and his subsequent military service there, in the UK, and in Somaliland.
His close working relationship with Churchill protected the latter from serious divisions with the service chiefs. After involvement with Project Overlord, Kiszely describes in great detail Ismay’s return to India to work with the then Viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, overseeing Partition. Believing he might retire, Ismay was instead appointed the first Secretary General of NATO, after which he helped create the new Ministry of Defence in the UK.
John Kiszely said that he had spent six years writing this book, gaining access to previously confidential sources of information. As Antony Beevor writes, “This is a major achievement and a truly important book. Kiszely has rightly returned Ismay to the front rank of key figures in the Second World War. His perception of character and of the dynamics and pitfalls of power is unsurpassed.” Also, “Ismay was at the heart of British and allied strategy for two decades, but he has been hiding in plain sight. Kiszely explores his role and explains his influence with fluency, scholarship, and empathy.” — Hew Strachan, Professor of International Relations, University of St Andrews.
The well-attended event generated great admiration and highly complimentary reactions from all those present.
