Ken Wharton

Ken Wharton (born 21 June 1950) is an English writer and former British soldier who has written a series of non-fictional books on the conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. The books are based on first-hand accounts by soldiers of all ranks who served in the Operation Banner campaign as well as Wharton's own personal experiences from his two tours of Northern Ireland.

Early life and military career Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, Wharton, having left school at 15, joined the British Army in 1967 aged 17. He later served in the Royal Green Jackets regiment. He left the army in 1973. Upon leaving the military, he enrolled at the University of Warwick where he studied politics.

Writing career Wharton's first book A Long Long War: Voices From the British Army in Northern Ireland, 1969–1998 was published in April 2008. Receiving favourable reviews from critics and described as "compelling", Wharton conducted interviews with veterans to recount the personal stories which are told from the British soldier's perspective of the military campaign which was the longest the British Army ever waged,

Wharton's decision to write the collection of books stems in part from his anger at what he perceives to be the poor treatment meted out to his former comrades as a "forgotten army" and an overwhelming desire to tell their stories.