Allan Mallinson


Allan Lawrence Mallinson is an English author and retired British Army officer.
Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent colonial conflicts in India, North America and South Africa.

Early life

Mallinson was born on 6 February 1949 in Yorkshire, England, to Alfred and Edith Mallinson. From 1966, he trained for the Anglican priesthood at St Chad's College in Durham.

Military career

Mallinson took a break from his theological studies to join the Army in 1969, joining the King's Own Royal Border Regiment as a Second Lieutenant on probation, and served with the infantry in Cyprus, Malaysia, Northern Ireland and Germany. He was confirmed as a Second Lieutenant in 1970, promoted to Lieutenant on 11 February 1971, and promoted to Captain on 11 August 1975, and acting Major on 1 September 1979..
He transferred to the 13th/18th Royal Hussars on 28 October 1980, and was promoted to substantive Major on 30 September 1981. He served in Whitehall, Norway, Cyprus and again in Germany. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 31 December 1988, commanding his Regiment from 1988 to 1991. He was promoted to acting Colonel on 1 December 1992, and to substantive rank on 30 June 1993 and then to Brigadier on 1 September 1999.
His last Army appointment was as Military Attaché at the British Embassy, Rome. He retired from active service on 16 March 2004.

''Matthew Hervey'' series

Beginning as a Cornet at Waterloo, Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons, and son of the vicar of Horningsham finds himself in many of the colonial military actions thereafter, including Ireland, Canada, India, South Africa, Burma and the Balkans. His climb through the ranks is neither fast nor easy, as the son of a vicar does not have the private means to readily buy promotion. His romantic life is also more turbulent than might be expected of a vicar's son. Despite his personal trials he makes a very human effort to remain a man of honor, and the adversities he faces change him perceptively as a character throughout the series. As the impressionable cornet is tried and tested his touchstone remains his fellow dragoons, to several of whom he becomes very close.
The series is highly detailed with regard to the daily operations of a cavalry regiment, campaigning and at barracks. Matthew Hervey's social life also demonstrates for the reader many of the customs and proprieties of English society in the early to mid 1800s. Also of note, unlike many books of either fiction or non-fiction, equestrian details related to tack, training, riding and equestrian health are specific and frequent. Much like the Patrick O'Brian character Stephen Maturin's medical practice, the various troop veterinary surgeons of the 6th Light Dragoons are often consulted and they give the reader some interesting insight into the evolution of veterinary practice. Matthew Hervey's familiarity with the subject contributes greatly to the sensation of being transported to the life of a cavalryman.
Reviews
"Now at last a highly literate, deeply read cavalry officer of high rank shows one the nature of horse-borne warfare in those times: and Colonel Mallinson's A Close Run Thing is very much to be welcomed." -Patrick O'Brian
"I have never read a more enthralling account of a battle... This is the first in a series of Matthew Hervey adventures. The next can't come soon enough for me" -Daily Mail
"Captain Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons and ADC to the Duke of Wellington is back in the saddle...He is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck." -The Times
"Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen." -The Times
"As good on the details of the workings of a cavalry regiment in 1820 as ever Patrick O'Brian was on the workings of an 1820 warship." -Spectator

Works

Fiction

In UK hardback publication order, the Hervey novels are:
  1. A Close Run Thing : Cornet Hervey's adventures before and during the Battle of Waterloo.
  2. The Nizam's Daughters : Hervey in India, defending the fictional princely state of Chintal.
  3. A Regimental Affair : problems in the regiment in England and Canada.
  4. A Call to Arms : back in India, an independent excursion on the borders of Burma.
  5. The Sabre's Edge : set in the First Burmese War in 1824, and the siege of Bharatpur in 1826.
  6. Rumours of War : Hervey in Portugal in 1826, with flashbacks to the Peninsular War before the battle of Corunna in 1809.
  7. An Act of Courage : Hervey imprisoned at Badajoz at Christmas 1826, with further flashbacks to the Battle of Talavera in 1809 and the Siege of Badajoz in 1812.
  8. Company of Spears : Hervey in the Cape Colony in 1827 fighting the Zulus, immediately before the death of Shaka and the accession of Dingane.
  9. Man of War : in 1827, Matthew Hervey is in England; unusually seeing no action. Meanwhile, in a parallel story line, his old friend Peto takes part in the Battle of Navarino.
  10. Warrior : 1828 – Hervey is tasked with escorting an embassy to Shaka, King of the Zulus, whose motives are under suspicion.
  11. On His Majesty's Service : Hervey is sent as an observer to the Russian army during their war with the Ottoman Empire in 1829.
  12. Words of Command : 1830 and Hervey is in Belgium during a time of unrest.
  13. The Passage to India : 1831 - Both in England and India unrest is evident. Domestically the strife is over the impending Reform Bill; whilst in India the problems are between the various princely states.
  14. The Tigress of Mysore : 1834 - Hervey is thought right the man to muster and lead a force to crush the threat posed by the 'thuggee'.

    Non-fiction