but neither was it just a rumour among the troops - it was part of the recruitment campaign
No it was not.

only response you can make to nowadays is to deny what you have written
I never have.

to scurry behind a carefully edited selection of quotes from a carefully selected bunch of 'historians'
Not selected at all.
There are none I have rejected.
You have found none because there are none.

Gary Sheffield, who is an advisor to the programmes which have cut the legs from under all your arguments to date
Not just Sheffield.
The programmes are "made in conjunction with The Open University" AND THEY ENDORSE MY VIEWS! (1 and 2. 3 not addressed yet.)