Craig Lawrence

Craig Lawrence, who also writes as Major General (Retired) J C Lawrence, spent 33 years as a Gurkha officer in the British Army, serving overseas for much of his career and commanding his Gurkha battalion on operations in the Balkans and in Africa. He also deployed to Afghanistan for a year to support the Presidential elections before leaving the Army in 2016. He is now the course director at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), the UK's leading provider of postgraduate education in the fields of strategy and strategic leadership. He has written 5 books, two of which, both Gurkha histories, have been Amazon bestsellers.

Reviews of some of Craig Lawrence’s books.

'The Legacy', the first of the Harry Parker action adventure thrillers:

‘Think dogs of war and Bourne Series.’ Michael Jecks, author and book critic

‘Craig Lawrence, a modern Major General, draws on his army career and bursts onto the literary scene with a novel that begins with skulduggery in the city and ends in the snows of Devon...Inspired by Lee Child, Craig turns out a fast-paced adventure.…’ Devon Life

‘...a hard-to-put-down adventure that contains just the right mix of mystery, romance and intrigue. Verdict: This absorbing yarn should appeal to all tastes.’ Soldier Magazine

‘Craig Lawrence will grip you from the moment you open this book and read the first page...the story that unfolds will keep you mesmerised to the very end.’ Bookehost

‘...a high altitude, high octane fiction novel, The Legacy, which involves an ex-Gurkha Army Officer, a story that promises to captivate from the first page.’ The Army and Navy Club News

 

Praise for the most recent commemorative Gurkha history ('Gurkha: 25 Years of The Royal Gurkha Rifles'):

‘As I reflect upon the Regiment's first quarter century, it is sometimes difficult to remember exactly just how much has been achieved. This is why this book is invaluable…it will perhaps help the reader to understand my deep personal pride in being Colonel-in-Chief.’ His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

‘A pictorial celebration of 25 years of The Royal Gurkha Rifles, this book is crammed with more than 500 images of the brave soldiers past and present… Gurkha includes sections on kukri fighting, snipers and tracking, all of which go into shaping this elite unit.’ Daily Mail

‘[A] fine study...Maj-Gen Lawrence, the third of the (so far) four honorary colonels, tells the story of the new regiment’s first 25 years and packs it with illustrations.’ Country Life

‘What he has skilfully produced is a magnificent record of the famous and fearless fighting men from Nepal…This is neither a, so-called, coffee table book nor is it a detailed regimental history but provides a lively narrative which simply sets the outstanding illustrations into context. Gurkha is compelling reading and sure to become an essential reference work.’ Military Historical Society

Review of Craig's first commemorative Gurkha history ('The Gurkhas: 200 Years of Service to the Crown'):

‘It's gorgeously photographed, it's illustrated massively, it's not just a great heaving history book and it's a riveting read, beautifully written and prepared...it is absolutely fantastic.’ Joanna Lumley, The Lady

‘No wonder enemies just turn and run! Felling four foes with one bullet. Slicing off heads with a swing of a knife. As they mark 200 years as our most awesome warriors, a new book reveals why you should NEVER cross a Gurkha.’ Daily Mail

‘This large, picture-filled book gives a fascinating insight into the history of the Gurkhas....This book is a fitting tribute to those who made and continue to make the grade.’ The Field

‘This sort of stuff is meat and drink to this fantastic book by Craig Lawrence....This is one of those paving slab size books you cannot ignore. So don’t!’ War History Online

‘The history contained within captures the ethos and distinctive identity of the Gurkha soldier…The narrative is interesting and engaging but this is above all a visual history and in that respect it is superb.’ Dispatches, the Journal of the Guild of Battlefield Guides