abstract:The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, published in the United States as Defend the Realm, is an authorised history of the British Security Service (MI5), written by historian Christopher Andrew. Andrew was commissioned in December 2002 to write the history for MI5's 100th anniversary in 2009, and was given "virtually unrestricted access" to much of MI5's files, as well as "no restriction" on whatever conclusions he decided to draw from them.
"I believe that we have to keep in mind not only the sacrifice made by those who gave their lives in defenceoftherealm but the practical needs of those who have been bereaved in two world wars, in the Falklands and much more recently as a result ofthe conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, " he said.