Major General Ashley Truluck CB CBE BA

Former soldier and past chairman of the Society for Army Historical Research

Ashley has enjoyed a particularly varied career, changing tack at least five times. He puts this down to a low threshold of boredom; his ‘friends’ say he just kept  getting sacked!

Sailor: Starting out as a deckhand aboard sailing vessels, he eventually became an Ocean Skipper and Master Mariner. Carrying this over into his army career, he led many ‘Adventurous Training’ sailing expeditions; set a record for the fastest Trans-Atlantic crossing under sail; and circumnavigated the World including sailing in Antarctica and rounding Cape Horn. 

Soldier: In his mainstream Army career, he served worldwide and commanded at every operational level from Gurkha platoon, to armoured troop, airmobile squadron, regiment, brigade, as Commander Far East Garrisons, and as NATO Assistant Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

Strategist: Retiring as a major general, he became a Strategic Advisor for UK MOD and Defence Industry; and led modernisation programmes for the London Law Courts and the national Fire & Rescue Services. 

Sheriff: His extra-mural voluntary appointments have included Honorary Colonel of his regiment, Admiral of an ocean sailing club, Chair of a number of national and regional charities, and acting as HM High Sheriff of Wiltshire.

Scholar: He is now indulging his life-long passion for military history as Chairman / Vice President of the Society for Army Historical Research and is actively involved with the British Battlefield Trust. He helped set up The Cultural Experience and these days enjoys organising and leading scheduled & bespoke tours to locations as varied as Waterloo, Spain, Portugal, France, Malta and Vietnam. His specialisations are Wellington, command & control, and the Light Division.