Spread across the medieval kingdom of England in a network of often formidable strongholds, castles, like cathedrals, are defining landmarks of their age, dominating their settings, in many cases even to this day. By representing an essential aspect of our history and heritage, the interpretation of which is constantly being revised, they demonstrate the value of Malcolm Hislop's compact, authoritative and well illustrated new guide to English castles.The gazetteer includes an astonishing variety of types, sizes and designs. Individual entries bring out the salient points of interest including historical context, building history and architectural character. The defensive and domestic purposes of these remarkable buildings are explained, as is the way in which their layout and role developed over the course of hundreds of years, from the predominantly earth and timber fortresses of the Normans to the complex stone castles of the later Middle Ages, many of which can be visited today.Hislop's experience as an archaeologist specializing in medieval buildings, castles in particular, as well as his eye for structural detail, ensure that his guide is a necessary handbook for readers who are keen on medieval history and warfare, and for visitors who are looking for an accessible introduction to these monumental relics of England's military past.
The 4th and 5th Battalions, the Norfolk Regiment were formed in the early days of The Great War as part of the Territorial Force and deployed with 54th (East Anglian) Division to Gallipoli in 1915. Most significantly the 1/5th Battalion was unique in that it contained The Sandringham Company, the only unit to be raised entirely from a Royal Estate.Tragically the Company, along with King George V's Agent Captain Beck, disappeared without trace on 12 August 1915, presumed to have been overcome by their Turkish adversaries.The Battalion was rebuilt and saw out the ill-fated Gallipoli Campaign being evacuated to Egypt in December 1915. Thereafter the Norfolks served with distinction in Palestine as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.The author has compiled a fascinating history of these Battalions' distinguished service using contemporary records and personal accounts illustrated with a splendid selection of photographs. The result is a fitting tribute to the memory of these brave volunteers.
From the restoration of the western Roman empire by Charlemagne to the battles of Robert the Bruce for Scottish independence, The Mighty Warrior Kings brings to life the epic victories and struggles of nine kings, whose reigns changed the course of European history.
Each myth is related in detail and then clinically examined to uncover the truth, exposing the inaccuracies and impossibilities of the stories.
Sunset, 8 June 1982, East Falkland. Eight specially trained Royal Marines infiltrate Goat Ridge, a long rocky hilltop between Mount Harriet and Two Sisters which are occupied by a battalion of 600 Argentine infantry. The next day, from their hiding place just meters away from the enemy, they note and sketch the Argentine positions, then withdraw as stealthily as they had come. Their daring patrol provides essential intelligence that guided the British assault which overwhelmed the Argentine defenses two days later.This was just one example of the missions undertaken by the Royal Marines Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre during the Falklands War, all of which are described in graphic detail in Rod Boswell's eyewitness account. Using his own recollections and those of his comrades, he describes their operations in the Falklands - the observation posts set up in the no man's land between San Carlos and Port Stanley, their role in the raid at Top Malo House, and the reconnaissance patrols they carried out close to the Argentine lines during the conflict.His first-hand account gives a fascinating insight into the operational skills of a small, specially trained unit and shows the important contribution it made to the success of the British advance. It also records the entire experience of the Falklands War from their point of view - the long voyage south through the Atlantic, the landings, the advance and the liberation of Stanley.
This is a fascinating and thoroughly researched study of these dramatic events that adds fresh insight to the question of the legion's supposed innate supremacy over the phalanx.
This book by Peters Spring examines the life of the remarkable, and controversial, F.W. Meredith, an individual who has largely been forgotten by history despite the brilliant advances he made - advances which helped the Allies win the war against Hitler's Third Reich.
The first full biography to explore the complex and controversial life story of the most successful female motorsports champion ever.
Enter the fascinating world of the UK's birds of prey. These noble hunters, with their remarkable flying skills, good looks and mysterious ways, are amongst our most attractive and interesting wildlife. They are some of the most enigmatic and rare species too, and this book will reveal them to you.Learn about the falcons, hawks, kites, osprey and eagles that grace our skies and landscape - from their impact on our culture in past and recent times, their value and uses in falconry, the history of their persecution and decline at the hands of humans, to their return to the UK through our reintroduction and conservation efforts.Admire their beauty up close with gorgeous photography and take an extraordinary peek into their secretive world. Be inspired by the moving words of people across the UK, who have described their thrilling, first-hand encounters, and discover where you can ethically experience these birds for yourself, to form an enduring connection with nature and make memories that will last a lifetime.This accessible and inspiring guide will help you to uncover the details of the habits, habitat, behavior and diet (and much more) of our UK birds of prey, and show you how they bring delight and magic into our lives.
Launched by Transbus in 2004, the original Enviro 200 mode was not a success. The Enviro 200 was relaunched in 2006, this new model becoming more successful. The new model was taken into stock by many London operators, replacing older single-deckers in their fleets. The Enviro 200 had just as much success as its predecessor, the Dennis Dart SLF. As with the Dart SLF, the Enviro 200 was available in a number of lengths. 2014 saw the launch of the Enviro 200 MMC (major model change), this replacing the original 'classic' Enviro 200 in 2018. The first all-electric Enviro 200 MMCs arrived in London in 2016, this becoming the standard model for new contracts. The London Enviro 200 looks at the history of the Enviro 200 and Enviro 200 MMC model in London service.
A new and richly illustrated account of Erwin Rommel and the 7th Panzer Division- known as the 'Ghost Division'-during the 1940 Battle for France and the follow up to Rommel's Ghost Division: Dash to the Channel - 1940.
This book seeks to redefine the genius of Isaac Newton, casting off the mythologised baggage of bygone eras.
Acclaimed regimental history, 'The best regimental history I have ever read' Sir Winston Churchill.
Incisive account of the military career of Queen Victoria's most famous general.
From the opening of the Great Western Railway in 1838 through to the end of steam traction on the Western Region in 1965 the 'engine shed' formed an important role in both the infrastructure and operation of the railway. As the Great Western system expanded so did the need for larger locomotive servicing facilities and from the 1870s right through to the 1930s many sheds were rebuilt into larger locomotive depots or in some cases replaced by entirely new structures.Nationalization of the railways in 1948 saw the formation of the 'British Railways Western Region'. Apart from a few early sub-shed closures the number of Western Region steam depots and sub-sheds remained almost unaltered until the regional boundary changes of 1958.Using black and white and color images from the Great Western Trust archive at Didcot, the book illustrates Western Region steam depots and 'sub sheds' that were in operation in the mid 1950s. With many previously unpublished photographs the book should interest modelers, historians and enthusiasts of the Western Region.Today the unique atmosphere of the steam 'shed' can be still be experienced at Didcot, where the original 1932 locomotive shed forms the centerpiece of the Didcot Railway Centre.
Focuses on upcycling old materials and foraging for new ones, and the majority of materials used can be found at home and repurposed.
This superbly researched book tells the story of one of the most significant maritime operations of the Second World War. The importance of the Arctic convoys providing the Soviets with the necessary equipment needed to win the war on the Eastern Front has too often been underestimated. This book puts that right.Following PQ17, the worst Allied maritime disaster of the Second World War, it was imperative that PQ18 got through. So when the convoy left Loch Ewe on 2 September 1942 the stakes could not have been higher. The Battle of Stalingrad was hanging in the balance. Had the convoy suffered unacceptable shipping and war supply losses, the Arctic route would have had to be suspended with potentially war-changing consequences not just for the Soviets but the whole Allied war effort. Consequently, as this work vividly describes, it was both the most heavily defended and the most heavily attacked convoy of the whole war.The author draws on contemporaneous accounts of the combatants from both sides including U-boat crews, airmen and, of course, the crews of the warships and merchantmen. Offering newly discovered facts about the convoy's turbulent passage, this book is a valuable addition to the history of the campaign which will appeal to historians and laymen alike.
This book explores why there is a major war again in Europe. Putin's actions need to be understood if not forgiven. With the Ukraine conflict increasingly seen as a proxy war of NATO versus Russia, how likely is the fighting to spread?The author, a highly respected journalist and political commentator, explains why Russia invaded a sovereign neighbor. To what extent did NATO's expansion to Russia's borders in the aftermath of the Cold War provoke Putin? Did the West's recent humiliating defeats in the Middle East and South Asia encourage Putin to exploit what he saw as its decadent strategic weakness and lack of resolve? What were the reasons for Russia's savage behavior in Ukraine? How might the Ukraine war end and what will the post-bellum world look like?The war in Ukraine has had worldwide impact with cost of living, food and energy crises and raised the risk of nuclear Armageddon by accident or intent so this book has universal appeal; not just to military buffs. It examines the complex military and political issues in layman's language while the story is told as a compelling historical narrative.Professor Moorcraft, who has worked in Ukraine and has witnessed Russian troops in action in Afghanistan and other theaters, is superbly qualified to write this work.
In Dennis Oliver's latest volume in the TankCraft series he uses archive photos and extensively researched colour illustrations to examine the later models of the Pzkpfw IV tank and the units that operated this deservedly famous armoured vehicle.
Small men, with big egos and mustaches, the hussars of Napoleon's army wore some of the most flamboyant and stylish uniforms of the epoch. The uniforms of the seventeen regiments of hussars are discussed in detail, along with the dress of their brethren in the thirty-two regiments of chasseurs à cheval, with an emphasis on highly elaborate dress of the trumpeters. Archive documents which have never been previously used to study the subject will be used for the first time: many of these documents have not been published in French and have never appeared as translations. Illustrated with contemporary illustrations, original items of uniform and reconstructions of uniforms, this is the definitive guide to the dress of the Napoleon's light cavalry.This is one of a series of ground-breaking books which will be the defacto study of this perennially popular subject for historians, researchers, wargamers, re-enactors and artists. Using archive records to 'set the record straight', as well as contemporary illustrations and original items of uniforms, the author sets out to describe the uniform of every regiment of Napoleon's army. Using archive sources found in the Archives Nationales and Service Historique du Armee de Terre in Paris, the author's unrivaled research over a period of twenty years, will reveal exactly how, for the first time in over 200 years, Napoleon's army was mounted, clothed and equipped.Having been granted to access to over 1,000 archive boxes, the author assesses how the regulations were adopted in practice. This vast resource, as yet untapped by the majority of researchers and historians for understanding the Napoleonic era in general, include the many regimental archive boxes preserved in the French Army archives. These sources provide, potentially bias free empirical data from which we can reconstruct the life story of a regiment, its officers and above all its clothing. What did trumpeters wear? Did cavalry regiments really have sapeurs? We answer these questions and present the reality of how regiments were dressed derived from diaries, letters, inspection returns, regimental accounts and even cases of fraud.For the first time, this unique series of books discusses the wide ranging 1806 uniform regulation and the more famous Bardin regulation which applied to all arms of the Army and explores the way in which regiments on campaign adopted and adapted their uniforms. For the first time since the days of Napoleon, we can say exactly what was worn by the French army.
This book is the first of two which covers the history of the Great Eastern Railway and its predecessors from the first proposal for a railway in the eastern counties in 1811 for a railway from Islington to Wallasea Island and Mucking to its absorption into the London and North Eastern Railway under the 1923 Grouping of Railways. This volume covers the period from 1811 up to the formation of the Great Eastern Railway in 1862.The history is the first history of the GER since Cecil J. Allen's history of the railway which was first published in 1955 and which has long been out of print.The book makes use of both previously published works on the GER and its predecessors, but also contemporary documents such as the Directors' reports to shareholders of the Eastern Counties Railway, timetables, reports in local and national newspapers as well as extracts from selected peoples' diaries. Some of which were not easily available to Allen when he wrote his history of the GER. Incorporating these other sources means the book sheds new light on the Railway's history.The book is intended for anyone who is either interested in railways and particularly the Great Eastern Railway and the railways of the east of England, but also for anyone who is interested in general in the history of that part of England.
A detailed, fast-moving account of the fighting in a neglected theatre of the Peninsular War.
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