Military history has always been in John Livesey's life. On leaving school John cycled from Cherbourg to Calais visiting and sketching many of the D-Day monuments before they became monuments. A career in the Army was cut short by a medical discharge, but John continued his researches and finally achieved his life ambition of working at the Imperial War Museum. A book on Armoured Fighting Vehicles was very well received and awakened an interest in the development of the armoured car and the men behind it.