Books published by Naval & Military Press Ltd

This exceptionally widely researched history of the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment from its origins in 1741 to 1881 - when it merged into the Royal West Kent Regiment - is by a former Commander of the Unit, Col. Arthur Fyler. Drawing on his 40 years witrh the regiment, Col. Fyler devoted his retirement to compiling his history. He begins with the regiment's defence of Fort Oswego in Canada, which it was compelled to surrender in 1756 to a superior French force under the Marquis de Montcalm. In the Seven Years' War with France, the 50th served in Germany under the Marquis of Granby in 1760-2, helping to defeat the French at the battles of Warburg, Vellinghausen and Wilhelmsthal. In the Napoleonic Wars, the 50th took part in Admiral Hood's occupation of Corsica, helped storm Calvi and garrisoned the Corsican capital, Ajaccio under its Commander, Lt.-Col Wauchope, who was appointed Governor of the island. Forced to withdraw from his native island by Napoleon, the 50th took part in the expedition against the French in Egypt in 1801 under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, landing at Aboukir Bay, taking part in the battle of Alexandria, and marching up the Nile valley. Having helped compel the capitulation of General Menou's forces In Egypt, the 50th took in the defeat of the Danes outside Copenhagen under Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1807. The regiment played a part in all the major campaigns and battles of the Peninsula War, from Vimeiro and Corunna under Sir John Moore, to Torres Vedras, Fuentes D'Onoro, Vittoria, Maya, Roncesvalles, Nivelle, St Orthes, and Toulouse, under Generals Hill and Wellesley (later Wellington). After garrison duty in Jamaica, the 50th took part in the Sikh Wars in the Punjab, and other indian campaigns under Sir Charles Napier; its battle honours included Punniar, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon. In the Crimean War the 50th helped defeat the Russians at the Battle of the Alma. The history concludes with the regiment's part in New Zealand's Maori Wars. Generously Illustrated with 40 plates (some in colour) and maps. With ten appendices, including short lives of Sir Charles Napier and Sir Hudson Lowe, Governor of St Helena during Napoleon's captivity.

This history is dedicated to The Royal Munster Fusiliers, in Glorious Memory of Their Illustrious Origin, The Bengal European Regiment, of whose Honour, Fame, and Decorations They are the Inheritors and Trusted Guardians. The origins of the regiment go back a hundred years before Plassey, to the very early days of the East India Company when each of the three Presidencies (Bengal, Madras and Bombay) had their own armies of Native and European troops. The latter were initially organised in companies and it was as a small guard of honour (an Ensign and thirty men) that the Bengal Regiment began life in 1652. This grew into several companies till 1756 when, under Clive's orders, they were grouped to form the regiment, then known as "The Bengal European Battalion." In 1839 a second Bengal European Regiment was formed so we now had the 1st and 2nd Regiments. In 1858 the Presidencies' European regiments were taken over by the Crown and the two Bengal regiments became 1st and 2nd Bengal Fusiliers, redesignated in 1861 as 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers and the 104th Bengal Fusiliers. It was in 1881 they became 1st and 2nd Battalions The Royal Munster Fusiliers.This book really is an account of the conquest of India by the British. It opens in 1644 (back home the Civil War was at its height) with a look at the political causes which led to the formation of the regiment. The enemies were not only the Native Rulers but also the French, Portuguese, Dutch and Danes all of whom had to be dealt with - the most powerful being the French. The narrative covers all these events which involved the regiment in frequent fighting. At the beginning of the book is a list of the Regiment's war services from 1756 to 1858 - no less than 83 wars, battles and engagements, all are described in these pages and at the end of each chapter is a select list of references or bibliography. From time to time lists of officers serving in the regiment are given as are casualties in various actions. But it is not just war. There are interesting details on reorganisation, on pay and conditions of service, on dress and establishments, all making this a very comprehensive history.

Official history of the 1919 Third Afghan War in which Britain repelled Afghani-Pashtun thrusts into the North West Frontier and bombed Afghani cities from the air. Illustrated with fine and detailed maps.

The Regiment was established in 1911, but this book deals solely with its WWI services - Egypt, Allipoli and Palestine (Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Jordan). The narrative is clear and informative, with plenty of detail and with many individuals mentioned by name (especially casualties). Apps: Roll of Honour (KIA and WIA, Gallipoli and Palestine), H & A, List of COs.

A concise but vivid history of one of the most illustrious squadrons to serve over the Western Front in the Great War. One of the early commanders of the squadron was the great ace Major Lanoe Hawker VC, who was shot down in single combat wih the 'Red Baron', Manfred von Richthofen, in November 1916 at the end of the battle of the Somme. The squadron's other battle honours included the advance to the Hindenburg Line in the spring of 1917; the great retreat and the defence of Amiens in 1918; and the Allied counter-offensives and advances which led to the Armistice in the summer and autumn of 1918. As the squadron's final commander, Major V.A.H. Robeson MC proudly notes, in that year the squadron was never less than 10 men under strength, and at the end of the war were 26 men below. Still they carried on. The book is illustrated with photographs of the DH2, DH5 and SE5A machines used by the squadron, line-ups of squadron personnel and by the superb colour paintings of aerial action executed by one of its own officers, Capt. R.H.M.S. Saundby MC, author of 'Flying Colours'. There is also a Roll of Honur, and lists of Officers, warrant officers, ground crew and other ranks along with their addresses. Published in association with the Imperial War Museum, this is a book that no aerial entusiast of the war will want to be without.