Richard Doherty


James Richard Doherty, known as Richard Doherty, is a British military historian and author from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Educated at St. Columb's College, he has written more than twenty books about British and Irish military history ranging from the Williamite wars through to the Second World War.
Doherty's father, J.J. Doherty, a native of County Tyrone and a British AA artillery gunner, served during the Second World War, as did four of Richard's uncles. J.J. Doherty died of cancer, a result of complications from wounds suffered during the war. His mother Anna Coyle, who also died of cancer, came from a nationalist background. His parents married at St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry. Richard Doherty was a Royal Ulster Constabulary reservist from 1972 to 1974 and also served in the Territorial Army. He resides in Prehen, County Londonderry.
He was chosen High Sheriff of Londonderry City for 2020-21.
Doherty's most recent book, British Armoured Divisions and their Commanders, 1939-1945, is published by Pen and Sword Books.

Selected works (in alphabetical order)

  1. A Noble Crusade: The History of Eighth Army, 1941 to 1945
  2. Clear the Way!: A History of the 38th - paperback
  3. Irish Generals in the British Army in the Second World War
  4. Irish Men and Women in the Second World War
  5. Irish Volunteers in the Second World War
  6. Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross by Doherty & David Truesdale
  7. None Bolder: The History of the 51st Division in the Second World War
  8. Only the Enemy in Front : The Recce Corps at War, 1940-1946
  9. The Sound of History: El Alamein - 1942
  10. The British Reconnaissance Corps in World War II
  11. The North Irish Horse: A Hundred Years of Service
  12. The Thin Green Line: A History Of The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC 1922-2001
  13. The Siege of Derry: A Military History
  14. The Williamite War in Ireland 1688-1691
  15. Wall of Steel. The History of the 9th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery