Famous Regiments of the British Army: Volume One : A Pictorial Guide and Celebration

When first published in 2009, Dorian Bond selected some of the most famous regiments of the British Army to explore, and continued to write three full volumes. It became clear that every regiment of the army had exploits of merit and famous moments worthy of inclusion. Now, with all regiments included, he presents a newly arranged series.

Bond starts with the Household Division, including the five foot guards regiments and the three cavalry regiments, followed by the first twenty-eight numbered line infantry regiments, providing a timely reminder of past glories. Featured are their battle honours, their badges, their most famous sons and the stories of the actions of Victoria Cross holders. Each regiment’s section is accompanied by artwork and photographs that illustrate insignia, uniforms and soldiers in action.

In concise and accessible text, Bond reveals the history of these unique bodies of men, how the Glorious Glosters – the Gloucestershire regiment –were once known as the Slashers, after a Montreal magistrate’s ear was cutoff in 1764. Why was their cap badge of the sphinx worn at the front and the back? Because of their heroism at the Battle of Alexandria in Egypt in 1801.

Covering action wherever the regiments found it, in Flanders, Ireland, America, South Africa, the West Indies, the Crimea, Burma, Germany and Korea, Famous Regiments of the British Army tells the stories of some of the most famous battles in history, from Ramillies to Talavera, Waterloo and Arnhem, and the role these regiments played.