Dr Matthew Spring, Head of the History Department at school, has received the Thomas Fleming Book Award, awarded by a historical association in Philadelphia, USA

His book “With Zeal and with Bayonets Only” won the award as "Outstanding Revolutionary War Book". The volume was an expanded, revised version of his university thesis on the performance of the British Army in the War of American Independence (1775-83).

The volume goes into paperback in July. “I am pleased the book has been well received by the American history-reading public,“ said Dr Spring.

He explained that his book aims to show how British forces intelligently adapted their methods to American conditions: “Britain ultimately lost the war, not because of tactical failures but because, like the Americans in Viet Nam, we failed to win over the 'hearts and minds' of the local population.”

May 2010