Major-General John Strawson served with the 4th Queen’s Own Hussars – Winston Churchill’s Regiment – during the Second World War in the Middle East and Italy, and afterwards in Germany and Malaya. Following the amalgamation of the 4th and 8th Hussars as The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars, he commanded the Regiment in Malaysia and Germany. For his leadership during the Borneo campaign he was awarded the OBE. Later he commanded infantry brigade and was chief of Staff, United Kingdom Land Forces. For this latter service he was award a CBE. He had also been awarded the US Bronze Star for his leadership during the Italian campaign of 1944–45.

He wrote about a dozen books of military history and biography, including studies of the British Army. He collaborated with General Sir John Hackett and others in writing the two volumes of The Third World War. More recent books include The Duke and the Emperor; Wellington and Napoleon (1994) and Churchill and Hitler: In Victory and Defeat (1997). General Strawson died in February 2014.