Books by War Office

The Home Guard was created in July 1940, and all Officers were listed in the Home Guard Lists which were issued at intervals throughout the war, each covering one of the UK Military Commands. These Command Lists give details of the relevant units down the chain of command. Officers are listed by unit and rank (with details of any decorations awarded during the Second World War up to 1941 or previously). Some entries identify service in previous units. These volumes are of great use to family and local historians wanting to track down the commissioned service of individuals; and for military enthusiasts and collectors they are also a useful way of tracking military service and Defence Medal entitlement. This volume on the South Eastern Command covers the Greater London Area.

The Home Guard was created in July 1940, and all Officers were listed in the Home Guard Lists which were issued at intervals throughout the war, each covering one of the UK Military Commands. These Command Lists give details of the relevant units down the chain of command. Officers are listed by unit and rank (with details of any decorations awarded during the Second World War up to 1941 or previously). Some entries identify service in previous units. These volumes are of great use to family and local historians wanting to track down the commissioned service of individuals; and for military enthusiasts and collectors they are also a useful way of tracking military service and Defence Medal entitlement. This volume on the South Eastern Command covers the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Created in July 1940, the Home Guard was not entitled to use military ranks until February 1941.All officers were then listed in the Home Guard List that was compiled in seven separate section. Each List gives details of all units proceeding down the chain of command from Areas to Zones, Groups, and Battalions. Officers are listed within their unit together with details of ranks (and dates) and decorations. Some entries identify service in previous units. These volumes allow for a much wider dissemination of this information that identifies personnel that did Home Guard service as officers and thus traces entitlements to the Defence Medal. This is a very useful volume for military historians and collectors, as well as family historians.

This 1911 manual on transporting troops by rail was reprinted with amendments after the outbreak of war in 1914. War by rail timetable - when vast numbers of men were moved by rail - was a vital part of the opening weeks of the war. The manual covers the general duties of railway transport personnel; the entraining and detraining of troops; the movement of stock supplies and animals; ambulance trains; armoured trains; the capacity of rolling stock and co-operation with and supervision of civilian railway personnel. It provides a very detailed picture of the organisation of railway traffic in wartime.

Full title: 'Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the Great War 1914-1920'.

This pamphlet was issued at the end of the Second World War, particularly to RAOC ammunition technicians, to enable safe identification of all German ammunition for rifles, mortars and cannon.It contains not only a description of the various types of ammunition, but has a series of coloured plates which show in detail main types of shell, particularly anti-tank and anti-aircraft rounds.It includes shell for the famous 88mm Flak and Pak (the same gun but in the ground role as a much respected and feared anti-tank gun.Further plates show ammunition box/case wrappers, and there is a listing of powder components and gun makers.There is a wealth of detail on aircraft cannon shell plus details of all anti-aircraft ground cannon shell.Rifle ammunition is covered in detail, as is the pistol cartridge.This is a rare publication which includes all that was known about German ammunition in the immediate aftermath of the war, and is used as a source book by many later publications.

This official War Office manual shows soldiers how to operate in urban areas. Among the subjects covered are weaponry; planning attacks and defence; how to clear houses' site guns, climb walls and handle explosives.

War Office manual of ammunition and explosives 1915. Includes details of all shell and small arms ammunition.The volume includes 115 colour plates and black and white drawings.