110 years ago or so:
On 8th December 1888 Mr Edward Stanhope, Secretary Of State for War, minuted Adjutant-General Viscount Wolseley with what became known as the Stanhope memorandum. This was in reply to the very reasonable question “what is the army for?” In summary, and in order of priority, it was to:
1. Support the civil power in Great Britain
2. Garrison India
3. Garrison all fortresses and coaling stations at war footing
4. Be able to mobilise three Army Corps for home defence
5. Be able to send abroad two complete Corps (but this was “improbable”).
As a civilian I would like to see a tri-service answer to
"What are the armed services for?" and then the enabling three service's contributions. These answers should come from "what is/are the threats for the next 30 years". Get that wrong and we can be buggered.