Military institutions Books

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Book SynopsisRevealing how the men of Waterloo were left to languish after the battle, often homeless and penniless – history’s heroes forgotten are now remembered

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Book SynopsisExamines the Gurkhas and their experience of service life through war and peace in the 21st century. Uses interviews, unpublished diaries and correspondence.

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Book SynopsisHighly illustrated large-format history of the Irish Guards Regiment.

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Book SynopsisAbandoned as a baby, Andy McNab''s start in life was tough. Growing up in South London with foster parents, and surrounded by poverty, he attended seven schools in as many years, disillusioned and in remedial classes. It wasn't long before his life descended into petty crime. By the age of sixteen, he was in juvenile detention. Recruited into the Army from there, it soon became apparent that he had the reading age of an eleven year old. The next six months in the Army education system changed his course of his life forever. Today Everything Changes is the inspiring story of when life changed for Andy McNab.

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Book SynopsisOver 200 full-colour plates of cavalry and infantry uniforms detailed, together with lace patterns and buttons

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Book SynopsisThe scale and organisation of the Roman army was unprecedented in the ancient Western world. This book tells the story of everyday aspects of the army in the heyday of the Roman Empire from life in a tent to the food soldiers consumed and explains its hierarchy, roles, equipment and place in a vast multiethnic society divided between citizens and subjects. Everything the best history books can be: erudite, entertaining and eloquent.' Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories Splendidly direct, clear and jargon free You are unlikely to find a clearer or more comprehensive account' Classics for All The Roman army has been immortalised in heroic art and screen epics, but what was life really like for an ordinary soldier? This book explores everyday life in the army including the experiences of women and enslaved people through a range of rare objects and testimonies. These include letters from Apion and Terentianus, young Egyptian soldiers writing home to their families; the tomTable of ContentsForewords Timeline and map Introduction 1. Enlisting 2. A soldier’s remains 3. Ranks and roles 4. Aristocracy and the army 5. Dressing for battle 6. Camp and campaign 7. Fort life 8. Soldiers in society Glossary Rulers of the Roman Empire Notes Bibliography Lenders Picture credits Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisClear, informative text supported by 100 excellent colour photographs of replica weapons, armour and costume in use.

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Book SynopsisAlthough the Guards Armoured Division and its sister formation the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade shared a common origin, they went on to forge quite different operational records. One of the units would be tarnished by its failures while the other was applauded for its successes. A month after VE Day, the two Guards' armoured formations would be reunited one last time before being officially disbanded. During the intervening years, the Guards faced criticism, public ridicule, the threat of disbandment, and many other challenges. Nevertheless, these armoured Guardsmen would prevail on the battlefield. In response to the threat of a German invasion of the British Isles, the Guards Armoured Division formed in the spring of 1941\. But why convert battalions of Foot Guards, considered by many to be first-class infantry, into an armoured formation? Certainly, many people were sceptical that 'spit-and-polish' Guardsmen could ever adapt to a new armoured role. As the threat of invasion receded, the Guards Armoured Division and 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade embarked on years of training while the war raged elsewhere. This book examines the decision to form the Guards Armoured Division and then keep it at home for an extended period. Once deployed to Normandy, the fighting quickly revealed shortcomings in the Division's training, equipment, and operational procedures. In contrast, when the Churchill tanks of the 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade went into action south of Caumont it was to prove an affirmation of everything they had learnt in training. Over the next ten months, the Guards' armoured formations would celebrate victories and lament failures while fighting their way across northwest Europe. This book examines how the decision to raise a Guards Armoured Division came about, and why the idea met with such strong opposition. It also takes an in-depth look at the training, equipment, and culture of the Brigade of Guards, and how that influenced the two formations' preparedness for war. Once deployed overseas, the book explores how the Guards were able to adapt to changing conditions on the battlefield and adopt new operational and tactical procedures. Finally, the book reveals why the Guards' armoured formations were hurriedly disbanded in June 1945\. Additionally, using new archive material, the book discloses why it took over a decade to publish the official' history of the Guards Armoured Division.

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Book SynopsisThe book contributes to wider understanding of the RAMC and medical services in the First World War

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Book SynopsisThe British Eighth Army, which played a decisive role in defeating the Axis in North Africa, was one of the most celebrated Allied armies of the Second World War, and this photographic history is the ideal introduction to it. The carefully chosen photographs show the men, weapons and equipment of the army during campaigns in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The battles the army fought in the Western Desert in 1941 and 1942 are the stuff of legend, as is the second Battle of El Alamein when, under Montgomery, it defeated the German and Italian forces commanded by Rommel. The book gives a vivid insight into the fighting and the desert conditions, and it shows what a varied, multinational force the army was, for it brought together men from Britain, the British Empire and Commonwealth as well as Free French, Greeks and Poles.

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Book SynopsisSince its formation on 17 May 1958, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment has played an extremely full role in the British Army's order of battle, serving in Cyprus, British Guiana (Guyana), Northern Ireland, West Germany, Malta, British Honduras (Belize), Berlin, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. As a result of a reorganisation of the British Army, reflecting changing operational requirements, The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the senior County Regiment in the British Army, was merged into a new Regiment, The Rifles, on 1st February 2007.This book tells the story, largely in photographic form, of the many and varied achievements of all parts of the Regimental Family - the 1st Battalion, the Territorial Army, the Cadet Forces, the Regimental Associations and, of course, their families - during forty-eight momentous years.

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Book SynopsisFormed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two line infantry regiments, 72nd Regiment and 78th (Highland) Regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders fought in various late colonial wars in Africa (invasion of Egypt, Mahdist War, 2nd Boer War) and India (Hazara Campaigns and Chitral Expedition, Northwest Frontier) as well as serving in the Far East. In the First World War its battalions saw service in the Middle East (Mesopotamia, Kut, Baghdad, Palestine) as well as most of the major battles of the Western Front, from Le Cateau in 1914 to the breaking of the Hindenberg Line in 1918 (and including Aubers Ridge, Messines, 2nd Ypres, The Somme and Passchendaele in between). Between the wars they were involved in colonial policing' again on the Northwest Frontier, Palestine and elsewhere. During the Second World War, 1st Battalion fought in the East throughout (Malaya, Burma, India) while 2nd Battalionsaw action in the Battle of France and was forced to surrender to Rommel's troops at St. Valery-en-Caux.A particular strength of this book is the personal story of one of the regiment's soldiers - his time on the North West Frontier and coverage of his four years of captivity and forced labour in PoW camps as suffered by many 2nd Battalion veterans during World War 2. This comes courtesy of exclusive access to this PoW's correspondence home. Meanwhile, the reconstituted 2nd Battalion redeemed itself through its participation in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the invasions of Tunisia, Sicily and Italy, D-Day and the Normandy Battles, and the invasion of Germany (operations Veritable and Plunder). Overall, this is an excellent and overdue account of the loyal service and many campaigns and battles of the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment across eighty years, from its raising to its amalgamation into the Queen's Own Highlanders in 1961.

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Book SynopsisLieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks was a legend in his lifetime. He leapt to fame as a Brigade, Divisional and Corps Commander during the Second World War where his dashing style, good luck and easy manner won him huge respect and great success. He was happiest in the frontline and yet his victories in the field were hard won, be they in North Africa or NW Europe. By 1944 he was commanding 200,000 men of all Allied nations who did not agree on much else but all thought highly of him. His attributes brought him success in industry, as a TV presenter and as Black Rod, in the Houses of Parliament.

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Book SynopsisPrecise, factual appraisals of each stage of the battles, all of which are placed within its strategic context.

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Book SynopsisOver a million Indian soldiers fought in the First World War, the largest force from the colonies and dominions. Their contribution, however, has been largely forgotten. Many soldiers were illiterate and travelled from remote villages in India to fight in the muddy trenches in France and Flanders. Many went on to win the highest bravery awards. For King and another Country tells, for the first time, the personal stories of some of these Indians who went to the Western Front: from a grand turbanned Maharaja rearing to fight for Empire to a lowly sweeper who dies in a hospital in England, from a Pathan who wins the Victoria Cross to a young pilot barely out of school. Shrabani Basu delves into archives in Britain and narratives buried in villages in India and Pakistan to recreate the War through the eyes of the Indians who fought it. There are heroic tales of bravery as well as those of despair and desperation; there are accounts of the relationships that weTrade ReviewA stirring, fascinating and fresh account of a part of our history that should be declared Not Forgotten * Ian Hislop *A beautifully written book that gently yet powerfully reminds of the debt freedom owes to the Indian soldier and nation. It is compellingly different and it's timing perfect. It serves humbly to remind we British of the debt we owe the people of the sub-continent and of the ties that irrevocably bind us together * Lord Richards, Former Chief of Defence Staff *Shrabani Basu has captured the epic drama and the human tragedy of World War I with an artist's eye and a historian's mind. Her narrative vivifies a chapter of modern history that had dullened into sepia * Gopal Gandhi *In this moving chronicle of dauntless courage and human fortitude, Shrabani Basu restores to history and to greatness valorous men orphaned by the king they served and forgotten by the country they loved * Shashi Tharoor *Basu’s book tells us of children as young as 10 who fought in the frontline; of special arrangements made by the British to accommodate caste and religion, including separate funeral provisions; of the enduring blight of untouchability, even on foreign shores; and of outstanding examples of bravery, earning 11 Indians the Victoria Cross * The Hindu *In her new book For King and Country, the historian Shrabani Basu movingly explores the ordeals, and the achievements, of the million-plus Indian troops who fought for the Empire in the First World War * Independent *

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Book SynopsisStories of the men who served the guns on the D-Day beaches

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Book SynopsisIrish troops had fought for Louis XIV in the 1670s, under Irish officers who had little choice but to fight in foreign service, with the blessing of Charles II. With the accession of James II, and the religious politics of who might earn the English crown, they became embroiled in the Jacobite succession crisis, fighting in Ireland, then sent to France under Lord Mountcashel in 1689. With the fall of Limerick in 1691, Patrick Sarsfield led the second 'flight' of 'Wild Geese' to the continent, to fight in a war for the French, against the Grand Alliance of Europe, in the vain hope that their loyalty might warrant French support in a return to Ireland under a Jacobite king. From the Nine Years War, through the War of the Spanish Succession, and beyond, their descendents would be present at Fontenoy, Culloden and in the Americas, forever destined to fight for a cause and land which had changed beyond recognition. D.P.Graham explains the origins of the brigade and its regiments, the personalities who led them and formed their reputation, and the circumstances of their final dissolution in the aftermath of French Revolution.

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Book SynopsisTransform your mindset and your life with these 10 simple lessons. THE INCREDIBLE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Inspirational . . . Sandhurst helped me to discover my potential. Now discover yours.' TIM PEAKE, ESA astronaut___________Winston Churchill never surrendered.Prince Harry has fought for mental health around the world.Tobias Ellwood risked his life to save others during the Westminster terrorist attack.Tim Peake became Britain's first astronaut on the International Space Station.Nicola Wetherill led the first all-female expedition across the Antarctic ice.Ed Withey even organized his wedding with military precision.The one thing all of these individuals have in common? Their world-class Sandhurst training.Stand Up Straight applies 10 simple but transformative lessons that every officer is taught during their time at the world-famous military academy. Modern and counter-intuitive, with lessons ranging from making your bed and ironing your shirt to achieving better discipline, emotional intelligence, resilience and fast decision-making under pressure, the book draws on first-hand battlefield experience as well as the leadership lessons taught at Sandhurst.The result is an inspiring and timeless book of practical advice and military wisdom that will help every reader raise their game and face life's everyday battles with confidence and calm.___________'Brilliant, practical advice. Can help transform your mindset and life.' OLLIE OLLERTON''Military Mindfulness' . . . can help us all reach our potential.' TELEGRAPH'I loved this book.' CHRIS EVANS'Brilliant military rules that can change your life . . . Sandhurst's precious life lessons, self-discipline, teamwork, even standing up straight, can make life run smoother, better, nobler, longer.' DAILY MAIL'Follow the General's orders and fold your socks. You'll be a better person for it.' THE TIMES'These military men are on to something. . . . increases your chances of tackling the to-do list with a sense of calm if not ease.' INDEPENDENT'It's a fantastic read on how to sort yourself out.' PIERS MORGAN'It's a fascinating book, full of good old-fashioned common sense . . . it's a game-raiser.' THIS ENGLANDTrade ReviewFight your own battles with Sandhurst's self-help book. * Telegraph *Inspirational… Sandhurst helped me to discover my potential. Now discover yours. * Tim Peake, ESA astronaut *I loved this book. * CHRIS EVANS, The Chris Evans Breakfast Show *Brilliant, practical advice. Can help transform your mindset and life. * OLLIE OLLERTON, Ex-Special Forces Soldier, star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, bestselling author of Break Point *These military men are on to something. Something as simple as making the bed really can change the mood of the day. Starting right increases your chances of tacking the to-do list with a sense of calm if not ease. * INDEPENDENT *

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Book Synopsis'Drawing on the stories of the soldiers who were there, this dramatic history of the SAS is full of bravado. Forged to fight guerrillas in the sweltering jungles of Malaya... Ryan writes with the authority of a man familiar with every nuance of the regiment's tactics, training, weapons and equipment.' - Sunday Times CultureTasked with storming mountain strongholds in the desert. Trained to hunt down the world's most wanted terrorists. This is the extraordinary story of 22 SAS. The history of the modern SAS is one of the great successes of post-war Britain. Since it was revived in 1950 to combat Communist insurgents, the Regiment has gone from strength to strength, fighting covert wars in Oman, Borneo, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Persian Gulf and beyond. In the process, it has become one of the most indispensable, and at times controversial, units in the British armyToday, the SAS is regarded as the world's leading Special Forces unit, renowned for its demanding Selection course and its relentless ability to adapt to the changing nature of warfare. More than anything else, however, it is the determination and ingenuity of the SAS soldiers that has made the Regiment what it is today. Drawing on his extensive network of contacts and his own experiences, Chris Ryan tells the story of the men on the ground. From the earliest patrols in the Malayan jungle, through to the storming of the Iranian Embassy, the daring raids behind enemy lines in the Gulf War, and up-to-minute missions to capture or kill notorious terrorists - this is the gripping, no-holds-barred account of Regiment operations. Above all, it is a story of elite soldiers fighting, and triumphing, against seemingly impossible odds.Trade ReviewPraise for Chris Ryan * : *Ryan chooses fiercely up-to-the-minute plots, and laces them with an exceptional eye for detail and insider knowledge ... Fearsome and fast-moving. * Daily Mail *The action comes bullet-fast and Ryan's experience of covert operations flash through the high-speed story like tracer rounds * The Sun *Nobody takes you to the action better than Ryan, because he's the real deal, and this muscle-and-bone thriller will have fans' blood pumping. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisA finalist for the Los Angeles Times Science & Technology Book Prize ‘The most entertaining writer in science’ – The Times, Books of the Year War. Mention it and most of us think of history, of conflicts on foreign soil, of heroism and compromise, of strategy and weapons. But there’s a whole other side to the gruesome business of the battlefield. In Grunt, the inimitable Mary Roach explores the science of keeping human beings intact, awake, sane, uninfected and uninfested in the bizarre and extreme circumstances of war. Setting about her task with infectious enthusiasm, she sniffs World War II stink bombs, tests earplugs in a simulated war zone and burns the midnight oil with the crew of a nuclear submarine. Speaking to the scientists and the soldiers, she learns about everything from life-changing medical procedures to innovations as esoteric as firing dead chickens at fighter jets. Engrossing, insightful and laugh-out-loud funny, this is an irresistible ride to the wilder shores of modern military life.Trade Review‘An absorbing tale that blends compassion and a bracing realpolitik into a fascinating account of one woman’s unquenchable will to not only survive but thrive.’ * Irish Times *‘Roach [is] a gentle, highly original and exceptionally funny science writer…Grunt is an extraordinary piece of reporting…alive with stories and gobbets of trivia, many of them told for the first time.’ * The Times *‘Sometimes you simply have to marvel at her ability to get behind the press release and into the laboratory…Completely fascinating.’ * Marcus Berkmann, Daily Mail *‘Takes a subject that we think we know a fair bit about…and hones in…where our knowledge is probably nil.’ * Independent *‘Mary Roach is the Hunter S Thompson of science writing…[Grunt] proves again she is the most entertaining writer in science’. * The Times, Books of the Year *'Roach has a strong stomach...but also a wicked wit'. * Sunday Herald *‘[A] quick-fire exploration of the extraordinary world of military science’. * Sunday Express *‘Hilarious and informative’. * Soldier Magazine *‘Fascinating...The book is a treasure trove of unorthodox thinking and experimentation when faced with the challenge of war...Roach gives a memorable starting point into the topic that leaves readers wanting more.’ * New York Journal of Books *‘Roach’s prose is a triumph…A master of synthesis and scene, she unpacks subjects that on their surface might seem boring, disgusting, outrageous, emotionally charged, or morally suspect and infuses them with insight, humor, and humanity.’ * Boston Globe *‘The unflagging enthusiasm in her books, the raw happiness that bounces off the pages, isn’t the sort of thing that can be faked.’ * Seattle Review of Books *‘Mostly…she plays things for laughs, and the raw material is irresistible. Take the guys who fire grocery-store chickens at jets on a runway (to study bird strikes). Or the astonishing World War II-era research into disseminating horrible stinks on a massive scale, as a way to demoralize enemy troops. Not to mention the blast-proof underwear.’ * Seattle Times *‘[Roach] approaches her craft with a curious mind and a humorous bent, translating high science into a highly enjoyable read.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘A must read for fans of Roach and for those who relish learning about the secret histories of everyday things.’ * Library Journal, starred review *‘Roach joins Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Levitt in making a career of turning serious research on oddball subjects into bestsellers.’ * Kirkus *‘Roach lightens the scene with her snarky sense of humour and sharp interviewing skills to make uptight military personnel loosen up and share entertaining anecdotes.’ * Dallas News *‘Our most consistently entertaining science journalist wanders into the ‘corners and crannies’ of military technology. Roach goes where other writers wouldn’t dare (witness her classic take on cadavers, STIFF), here eyeing ‘the parts no one makes movies about—not the killing but the keeping alive.” And her search produces images-a kind of technopoetry-that are hard to forget; a cannon firing chickens into airplanes, urethra replacement surgery, a “brief history of stink bombs.”’ * O Magazine *‘A mirthful, informative peek behind the curtain of military science.’ * Washington Post *‘From the ever-illuminating author of Bonk and Stiff comes an examination of the science behind war. Even the tiniest minutiae count on the battlefield, and Roach leads us through her discoveries in her inimitable style.’ * Elle *‘A rare literary bird, a bestselling science writer...Roach avidly and impishly infiltrates the world of military science...[she] is exuberantly and imaginatively informative and irreverently funny, but she is also in awe of the accomplished and committed military people she meets.’ * Booklist, starred review *‘She writes exquisitely about the excruciating while also displaying supreme attunement to the oddness of the subculture she’s writing about.’ * Chicago Tribune *‘Mary Roach is one of the best in the business of science writing...She takes readers on a tour of the scientists who attempt to conquer the panic, exhaustion, heat, and noise that plague modern soldiers.’ * Brooklyn Magazine *‘Nobody does weird science quite like [Roach], and this time, she takes on war. Though all her books look at the human body in extreme situations (sex! space! death!), this isn’t simply a blood-drenched affair. Instead, Roach looks at the unexpected things that take place behind the scenes.’ * Wired *‘Tremendously entertaining, wildly informative and vividly written.’ * LA Times *‘Extremely likeable…and quick with a quip….[Roach’s] skill is to draw out the good humour and honesty of both the subjects and practitioners of these white arts among the dark arts of war.’ * San Francisco Chronicle *‘Brilliant.’ * Science *‘Covering these topics and more, Roach has done a fascinating job of portraying unexpected, creative sides of military science.’ * New York Post *

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Book Synopsis‘ Well written and persuasive … objective and well-rounded… .this scholarly rehabilitation should be the standard biography’ **** Andrew Roberts, Mail on Sunday ‘ A true judgment of him must lie somewhere between hero and zero, and in this detailed biography Gary Sheffield shows himself well qualified to make it … a balanced portrait’ Sunday Times ‘ Solid scholarship and admirable advocacy’ Sunday Telegraph Douglas Haig is the single most controversial general in British history. In 1918, after his armies had won the First World War, he was feted as a saviour. But within twenty years his reputation was in ruins, and it has never recovered. In this fascinating biography, Professor Gary Sheffield reassesses Haig’ s reputation, assessing his critical role in preparing the army for war.

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Book SynopsisMore than a century has passed past since German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the treasures of Bronze Age Mycenae. The richly decorated artefacts of the entombed warriors, whose bodies still lay in their graves, confirmed that Homer's epic The Iliad was based upon true events, and that the Achaeans described in his poems probably did exist. Through a combined study of the mythical tradition, archeological findings and written sources, this fascinating addition to the Warrior series explores the evolution of warfare in the Bronze Age Greek world. Covering weaponry, clothing, helmets and body armour, it provides a richly illustrated guide to the warriors who have shone from the pages of Homer's poem for almost three millennia.Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Appearance and equipment On campaign Belief and belonging Experience of battle After the battle Collecting/Museums/Re-enactment Bibliography Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisThe letters of 2nd Lt. Victor George Ursell 1913 -1917 and War Diary of the 8th Kingâ??s Shropshire Light Infantry. With a Mathematics scholarship to Oxford in 1912 the hopes and aspirations of Victorâ??s parents and teachers are riding high, but his exuberance, vitality, sporting ability and his engagement to what the family refer to as his â??Russian Princessâ?? Lena, are thrown into jeopardy by the unfolding horror of war. His fiancÃe has to return to Moscow and Victor enlists, commencing a journey that will take him to France, Salonika, Malta, England and back to France again. If any story illustrates the loss, both personal and national during the First World War it can be found in these letters.

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Book SynopsisA TLS and a Prospect Book of the Year A revelatory, explosive new analysis of the military today. Over the first two decades of the twenty-first century the British Army fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, at considerable financial and human cost. Yet neither war achieved its objectives. Award-winning journalist Simon Akam questions why, and provides challenging but necessary answers. Composed from assiduous documentary research, field reportage, and hundreds of interviews, this book is a strikingly rich, nuanced portrait of one of our pivotal national institutions in a time of great stress. This is as much a book about Britain, and about the politics of failure, as it is about the military.Trade Review‘The truth about the British Army’ -- Jason Burke * The Guardian *‘A blockbuster critique … with heaps of evidence.’ -- Matthew Paris * The Times *‘Akam’s beautifully written, from the inside out, account of the British Army’s reluctance to engage with the realities of recent small wars, in Afghanistan in particular, is a must-read for every serious student of modern military history. At one level, it explains how and why we managed to turn victory over Al Qaeda in Afghanistan into defeat at the hands of the Taliban. But this book is about much more than the army in Afghanistan — it is a parable about failure, the failure of a revered institution, with a proud history and an uncritical public, to come to terms with a changed and changing world.’ -- Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, former British ambassador to Afghanistan‘Simon Akam has written a perceptive, challenging, and passionate book that looks at modern soldiering. In doing so, Akam provides an invaluable look at how the British Army works — and how the changing world in the 21st century is asking new and complex questions for soldiers and military strategy alike.’ -- Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads‘This brave, absorbing, and prodigiously well-researched tour de force renders every previous account of the British Army in its disastrous recent campaigns obsolete. Akam makes an unanswerable case that we are no longer very good at fighting wars, building his arguments with panache and good sense. In doing so he has done his country, and the army, a great service — although the Generals may not see it quite that way just yet. Put away the self-serving autobiographies and the obsequious histories of in-house academics; this is the definitive account of the British Army in its 21st Century misadventures.’ -- Frank Ledwidge, author of Losing Small Wars‘Simon Akam delivers a devastating indictment of Britain’s military chiefs for overseeing the shocking decline of the nation’s armed forces. His book is compulsory reading for every patriot.’ -- Tom Bower, biographer‘A powerful, compelling, and fascinating polemic. Essential reading.’ -- William Boyd‘A brilliant book … Gets right to the heart of so many of the British Army’s problems.’ -- Simon Scarrow, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Eagles of the Empire series‘A new book looks at the changes the British Army has undergone and roles it has played as an almost volunteer sidekick to the American military in the war on terror.’ -- CJ Chivers * The New York Times *‘Akam is an angry young man and the book is better for it.’ * The Times *‘A passionate book.’ -- Max Hastings * The Sunday Times *‘It’s compellingly written — I got through all 500-plus pages in two sittings – and it is certainly worth the effort.’ -- Adrian Weale * Mail on Sunday *‘Detailed and well structured.’ -- Anthony Loyd * New Statesman *‘Impassioned … It is a valuable addition to analysing the past, present, and future of a venerated institution.’ -- Kim Sengupta * The Independent *‘Gripping and thoroughly disheartening.’ -- Al Murray‘Simon Akam … has written a timely, elegant, and important book, The Changing of the Guard, about the British army’s failures in Afghanistan and Iraq.’ -- David Patrikarakos * The Spectator *‘Full of gripping reportage and compelling personal stories … the story he tells is profoundly important.’ -- David French * TLS *‘Akam makes many important points and reports in depth on officers’ recollections of specific episodes.’ -- Helen Parr * Prospect *‘A “state-of-the-nation” book of resounding power, deep conviction, and far-reaching significance.’ -- Richard Davenport-Hines * TLS *‘A blistering account … Akam’s research, including interviews with 260 individuals, is formidable.’ -- Richard Norton-Taylor * Declassified UK *‘Akam contends that there was as little accountability within the military hierarchy as there was outside it … The military would obviously like to avoid a close examination of this unbroken string of catastrophes, but Akam’s book is a gentle account — critical, but not unsympathetic.’ -- Tom Stevenson * London Review of Books *‘The Changing of the Guard is a major book that provides the first serious analysis of the effectiveness of the modern British Army … With a particular focus on the failure of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he gives a brunt assessment of the Army as an institution and its role in society. There is lots of interesting material here and some relevant lessons for Australia.’ -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *‘A scathing account of the British army in the years after 9/11 … Akam has not just done his homework, interviewing 260 people, but also shows his working in 89 pages of footnotes, full of forensic detail — and delicious gossip.’ -- Shashank Joshi * Spectator Australia *‘It is a review of the British Army … It does not tell a ‘pretty’ story — rather, it is a ‘warts and all’ tale … Simon Akam has written a fine book on how and why the British Army has changed, between 2001 and 2020. For those who have seen military service, it will provide a broad picture of the conditions some soldiers have faced in the early 21st Century. For those who have not, it shows clearly the true face of war, as it is fought in this day and age, and may, possibly, be fought in the near future and within current social value sets.’ -- Rob Ellis * RUSI VIC Library *‘[In] beautifully written, evocative, and passionate prose, [Akam places] you in the boots of British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan suddenly discovering the mission they’ve volunteered for isn’t the war they’re fighting at all … He begins asking questions at ground level, 260 interviews probing everyone from commanders, medal winners to those convicted of war crimes … This breadth of research gives Akam’s book immense power.’ -- Nicholas Stuart * The Canberra Times *‘[A] valuable and salutary read.’ * Foreign Affairs *‘The Changing of the Guard has contributed to the ongoing debate over how the British Army might change further as it enters a post-pandemic world where security challenges demand considerable flexibility of mind… Anything that provokes such self-awareness is good for institutions.’ * War on the Rocks *‘This is an unofficial oral history, created by hundreds of interviews as well as documents and personal observations by the author … This is a well written, organised and researched book … It reads well and is dynamic keeping the reader engaged … I commend Simon Akam for creating an accurate book that could be used as a Leadership discussion case study for the British Army as well as other militaries … It should become required reading at Sandhurst and the UK Joint Services Command and Staff College as well as the Defence Academy of the UK.’ -- Preston McLaughlin * Small Wars Journal *

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Book SynopsisIn their companion volume to British Army Cap Badges of the First World War, authors Peter Doyle and Chris Foster present an overview of the main cap badges worn by the British Army during the Second World War, which continued the rich and varied tradition of British regimental insignia. This book describes and illustrates, for the first time in high quality full colour, the main types of cap badge worn. With many amalgamations, war-raised units and special forces, British military insignia from the period have a surprising range that differs substantially from that worn by the soldiers of the previous generation. As in the first book, this volume contains contemporary illustrations of the soldiers themselves wearing the badges. Employing the skills of an established writer (and collector) and artist, it provides a unique reference guide for anyone interested in the British Army of the period.

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Book SynopsisA paperback edition of this classic work, which describes and illustrates the uniforms and equipment of the WWII British soldier using original items worn by live models in authentic settings.

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Book SynopsisWith the exception of the royal marines, who adopted light infantry rank insignia from their earliest days, the Royal Navy was slow to introduce distinguishing rate badges for those serving on the 'lower deck'. Even when they were introduced, in 1853, the corresponding introduction of a uniform was still four years away. As for officers, the design and arrangement of buttons also played a part in distinguishing one rating from another.

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Book SynopsisWhen the amphibious Duplex Drive (DD) Sherman tanks of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (QMO) touched down on the sand of Sword Beach as the vanguard of the D-Day invasion, ahead of the infantry and Commandos, it was the culmination of an evolution spanning several years. Switching roles from a mounted regiment in India, into a mechanised, armoured cavalry regiment, they fought in France in 1940, then faced an uncertain future, after evacuating through Dunkirk. However, the 13th/18th would subsequently be selected to spearhead the assault on Sword Beach in new, top secret amphibious tanks. Having successfully secured the beach on D-Day, the Regiment became heavily engaged in the battle for Normandy, earning themselves an excellent reputation with the infantry brigades which they supported, before pushing north into the Fatherland. Their casualties from D-Day onwards amounted to 142 Hussars lost, 236 wounded, with many gallantry awards received. In addition to recording the Regiment's ac

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Book SynopsisThis book surveys the medals awarded to British personnel for military service between 1914-2005, including two world wars. During the course of the twentieth century the role of Britain''s forces changed considerably-from imperial conquest and peacekeeping to full-scale participation in both world wars, campaigns for the withdrawl from Empire and service as a prominent member of the United Nations and NATO. The campaign medals awarded for these military actions have become a popular field for collectors, since the majority of British awards were officially named, thus making it possible through them to research the military career of an individual or regiment. This second edition has been extended to include the operations of British forces in the opening years of the twenty-first century.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a photographic record of the service of a distinguished county regiment whose origins go back to the Seven Years'' War, in the middle of the eighteenth century. Formed in 1881, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the KSLI, formerly the 53rd and 85th Regiments, did tours of duty around the world in the days of the Empire - serving in India, the Far East, the West Indies, and the Mediterranean. This book also shows the KSLI on active service which took them to Egypt in 1882, the Sudan in 1885, and South Africa during the Boer War. Much expanded, the KSLI rendered outstanding service during the First World War. The eight battalions that went overseas served on the Western Front (notably in the Ypres Salient, on the Somme, and in the great offensives of 1918), in Palestine and in Salonika. During the Second World War, the KSLI played a major part in engagements in France in 1940, in Tunisia, in Italy and in North West Europe. Post-war campaigning took them back to Palestine, t

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Book SynopsisThe history of a Tank Destroyer Battalion with an excellent combat record and the place of segregated tank destroyer battalions within the armed forces.

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Book SynopsisOriginal work appeared in 1950 but now a rarity. This new edition reproduces the classic original with much new and significant material added, giving greater detail to the events and personalities

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Book SynopsisThe official history of the RAF Regiment from its foundation in 1942 to the aftermath of hostilities.

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Book SynopsisIn answer to Lord Kitchener's appeal, in late August and September 1914 many men joined Alexandra's Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment, better known as The Green Howards. Recruits came from around the Middlesbrough area and the ironstone mines on the North Yorkshire moors, while otherscame from the East Durham coalfield and the Durham City area. The 8th and 9th Battalions left the Regimental Depot in Richmond in late September and moved to Frensham on the Hampshire/Surrey border, where they trained hard until bad weather forced a move to barracks in Aldershot. They arrived on the Somme front at the end of June 1916, but were not involved in the fighting until 5 July, when the 9th Battalion captured Horseshoe trench and Lieutenant Donald Simpson Bell won the VC when he destroyed a German machine gun position. On 10 July both battalions took part in the capture of Contalmaison, a village that had been a first day objective. A second VC was awarded posthumously to Private Will

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Book SynopsisAfter the Fall of France in 1940, a new puppet state was set up in the south. Officially known as the French State, it is better known as Vichy France. This collaborationist Vichy regime''s armed forces were more active and usually more numerous than German troops in the task of hunting down and crushing the maquis--the French Resistance guerrilla forces .This book covers the organization and operations of Vichy French Security Forces, including: the new Vichy Police Nationale, particularly their Groupes Mobiles de Reserve, the Service d''Ordre Légionnaire, and the Milice Francaise, a ruthless anti-Resistance militia armed partly with British weapons captured from SOE airdrops. Fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and commissioned artwork, it tells the story of Occupied France from the perspective of those who sought to keep it in German hands.Table of ContentsThe fall of France, 1940, and the emergence of the collaborationist Vichy regime / The Vichy National Police and its Mobile Reserve Groups / Joseph Darnand and the Service d'Ordre Légionnaire, January 1942 – transformation into Milice Francaise, January 1943 / Civil war against the Resistance, 1943-44 / The end, 1944-45 / Milice organization – weapons – uniforms / Select Bibliography / Plate Commentaries

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Book Synopsis''The Home Guards are an attacking force lying in wait for, and ready to destroy, any enemy who dares to set foot on out shores.'' The Home Guard has been immortalised in British culture in the TV series Dad''s Army. Formed by men not eligible for active service too old, too young, in reserved occupations vital to the war effort who were expected to resist a German invasion with any resources they had to hand, the Home Guard is the embodiment of plucky British resolve against the odds.The British Home Guard Pocketbook evokes this spirit. Written by Brig-Gen Green, commanding 4th battalion, Sussex Home Guard and Training Adviser for the Sussex Zone, this book is based on his experience and, in his own words, ''is the result of my ransacking the dusty pigeon-holes of memory and the condensation of many books, official instructions and writings''. Its tone is informal and colloquial: ''March discipline. Troops will always march off the parade ground at

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Book SynopsisThe Welsh at War trilogy is the culmination of over twelve years of painstaking research by the author into the Welsh men and infantry units who fought in the Great War. These units included the four regular regiments-the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, South Wales Borderers Welsh Regiment and Welsh Guards-as well as the Territorial Monmouthshire Regiment, the Yeomanry regiments: the Denbighshire Hussars, Pembroke Yeomanry, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry, Glamorgan Yeomanry and Welsh Horse Yeomanry and their amalgamation into service battalions for the regular regiments during 1917. Welsh troops fought with great courage in every theatre of the war-the Western Front, Aden, China, Gallipoli, Egypt, India, Italy, Salonika and in Palestine-and as well as the casualties who were suffered during these campaigns, many men gained recognition for acts of gallantry. The three volumes, split chronologically, cover all of the major actions and incidents in which each of the Welsh infantry regiments took part, as well as stories of Welsh airmen, Welshmen shot at dawn, Welsh rugby players who fell, Welsh gallantry winners and the Welshmen who died in non-Welsh units, such as the Dominion forces and other units of the British armed forces. While chronicling a history of the war through the events and battles that Welshmen took part in, the stories of many individual casualties are included throughout, together with many compelling photographs of the men and their last resting places. Volume III-'Through Mud To Victory'-'Third Ypres And The 1918 Offensives'-records the stories of the Welsh troops involved in the Third Battle of Ypres, from the Welsh battalions of the 19th (Western) Division at Messines Ridge, through the storming of the Pilckem Ridge by the 38th (Welsh) Division and the Guards Division; and the Welsh troops who fought in the final offensives at Passchendaele Ridge. The actions of Welsh troops during the Battle of Cambrai carry through to the final winter of the war and the volume records the sufferings of Welsh troops fighting during the desperate German 'Kaiserschlacht', offensives of the spring of 1918; and carries through the summer of 1918, when the 38th (Welsh) Division moved back to the Somme, to the actions of Welsh troops during the 100 Days Offensive which finally ended the war. The volume also covers the stories of the final battles in Italy, Salonika and Palestine, which saw Welsh troops play a large part.

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