Judging Dannatt

With Labour insiders threatening to “go after” General Sir Richard Dannatt once he retires from his post as Army Chief and takes on the chairmanship of RUSI, it seems only fair to give an early, but balanced, assessment of his tenure.

Like most people who reach the top of the army, General Dannatt’s career is the stuff of legend. Though he only meant to be in the army for three years, he distinguished himself while serving in Northern Ireland, earning the Military Cross and setting-off on a career that in would see him serve in Cyprus, Germany, Bosnia, and Kosovo. A tour in the MoD was followed by command of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

Yet when he replaced the gruff and outwardly popular Mike Jackson, few people knew what to expect of Dannatt. The Mail even reported that some thought that he “would be a managerial, John Majorish figure”. Perhaps more like Michael Boyce than Charles Guthrie.