Gentlemen in khaki

About this book

"During the last century the British Army has been ceaselessly on active service, fighting one enemy or another all over the world. It has in this time undergone profound change yet to look at the Army in 1890 and again today is also to observe remarkable similarities, most notable of all being its priceless regimental system. In tracing the Army's activities over this period, John Strawson concentrates on the soldiers themselves, whether Generals or Tommies, and their performance in action. Success in Queen Victoria's Imperial wars is followed by a major set-back in South Africa; carnage on the Western Front and the tragedy of Gallipoli are lightened by Allenby's triumphant campaign in Palestine; being unprepared for Hitler's war brings inevitable failure in France and the Far East; the slow road back is inspired by Britain's greatest man of action, Mr. Winston Churchill, who figures so largely in the story. From a small Imperial Army in 1890, keeping the Pax Britannica with the Royal Navy's aid, we see its expansion and mechanization, and then after the Second World War, National Service is retained for some years to deal with Korea and a retreat we have a small, volunteer Army of professionals, dedicated to Europe's defence"--Jacket.