Military Heritage

The military heritage of Northumberland is without doubt one of the richest in all the British Isles. By nature of it being England's most northern county, its borders have seen many bloody clashes and battles since the earliest times. Hadrian's Wall stretches along the south of the county and is dotted with forts, garrisons and fortified settlements along its length. The first Viking raid was carried out upon Lindisfarne in 793. There were clashes with the Scots for centuries and from the thirteenth century and for 400 years afterwards there were border raids by reivers. The Battle of Newburn in 1640 was one of the flashpoints that led to the English Civil War, and many a noble Northumberland family was ruined in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.It is hardly surprising that within the boundaries of the county there can be found more castles than anywhere else in Britain and, as a breed of fighting men, the steel of the Northumbrians is like no other. The men of the North were the backbone of the British Army; a number of regiments have recruited here, including the Coldstream Guards, King's Own Scottish Borderers and, of course, our very own Northumberland Fusiliers, 'The Fighting Fifth'. They all served with distinction wherever they fought – from the Peninsular War to South Africa, through two world wars, and beyond.Award-winning military historian Neil R. Storey knows and loves Northumberland and this book will interest anyone keen to know more about its remarkable military history.

The county of Staffordshire has an impressive military history and heritage that stretches back well over 1,000 years. In this book the authors explore the military heritage of the historical county of Staffordshire, including the heavily populated urban areas of Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Walsall and West Bromwich and the more rural parts of the county from its Anglo-Saxon and Viking legacy to the present day. As well as Staffordshire's historic fortifications, airbases and other military structures, the authors tell the story of Staffordshire's experiences on the Home Front in the world wars. Its military heritage also encompasses military hospitals, munitions, armaments and aircraft production, as well as the military units and regiments associated with Staffordshire, significant military personalities and awards and the foreign wars its soldiers were involved in through the centuries, as well as the county's memorials to these conflicts. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Staffordshire's remarkable military history.

The ancient walled city of Chester has an illustrious military history dating back to Roman times when a fort, four times the size of anything else in Britannia, was built here. In this book, local authors Adrian and Dawn L. Bridge chronicle the city's military history across the centuries. Beginning with the impact of the XXth Legion - Legio Vigesima Valeria Victrix - the authors go on to explore the Dark Ages, Viking, Saxon and medieval eras right through to the twentieth century, with both world wars, and beyond. Chapters focus on themes including local, national and foreign conflicts; military personalities, honours and awards; military units; and buildings and memorials. Both lesser and well-known aspects of the city's military heritage are featured to present a balanced perspective. In addition, the authors highlight women, as well as men, on the front line and the home front. Famous Chester military heroes such as Bomber Command's Leonard Cheshire VC and the Korean War's Kenneth Muir VC feature with lesser-known but equally distinguished local people such as John Dolphin (Head of SOE's Section IX during the Second World War). The Cheshire Regiment looms large in any discussion of Chester's military units. Its origins immediately after the 1688 Glorious Revolution are discussed together with the regiment's history up to its modern merger with the Mercian Regiment. Chester's Military Heritage presents a broad and insightful account of this important aspect of the city's history.

The county of Cornwall in the far south-west of England is surrounded by sea on three sides. Resisting Roman and Anglo-Saxon invaders, it retained its Celtic independence and remained separate from the rest of England into the Middle Ages. Cornwall has a rich military history that stretches back through centuries, and evidence of this military heritage can be seen throughout the county with numerous buildings and other structures still standing today. Cornwall's Military Heritage explores the history of the county – not only the battles that took place on its soil and the measures that were taken to defend it, but also the heritage of the military units that were nurtured there and sent to fight in conflicts abroad. Cornwall was home to two uprisings in 1497, followed by the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549 and the Spanish raiding of 1595. In the English Civil War, Cornwall was a Royalist stronghold in the predominantly Parliamentarian South West, and Pendennis Castle was besieged alongside the strategic Isles of Scilly, contested by both sides. Author Andrew Powell-Thomas explores the conflicts surrounding an array of historic monuments, including castles, forts, airfields and military bases, noting how the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and its antecedents fought through two world wars to maintain the survival of this most remarkable county.

The dockyard at Portsmouth was founded by Henry VII, developing into a naval base that was essentially the nation's most important military establishment. Here, in times of war, huge fleets were assembled and the harbour that lay alongside the dockyard witnessed the constant arrival and departure of ships engaged in convoy duties, blockading and attacking enemy ports or intercepting hostile seagoing fleets. In turn, it was a potential target for an enemy, for if the dockyard could be destroyed or captured, then the nation's first line of defence, the Royal Navy, would cease to be effective. Sensitive to such a danger, successive governments built defence structures in and around Portsmouth as well as barracks to house the navy, army and marine personnel. As the firepower of guns increased and the nature of fortifications changed, so did the defences of Portsmouth, with these gradually pushed further and further back so that the forts and gun batteries would always ensure the safety of Portsea Island from either land or sea attack. In the twentieth century the defences were adapted further for the new threat of aerial bombardment or attack by submarine. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Portsmouth's remarkable military history.

The county of Devon, with its coastline north and south, wild moorland, and rolling rural countryside, villages, market towns, many characterised by local industries, and historic cities of Exeter and Plymouth, has a rich military history that stretches back through centuries. Evidence of Devon's military heritage can be seen throughout the county with numerous buildings and other structures still standing proud today. Devon's Military Heritage explores the long military history of the county, not only the battles that took place on its soil and the measures that were taken to defend it against possible attack but also the heritage of the military units that were raised in the county and which were sent to fight in conflicts abroad. The 1588 Spanish Armada was first engaged by the English fleet off Plymouth, and the famous Devon mariners Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Richard Grenville were at the forefront of the defeat of the Armada and other encounters with the Spanish during this period. A hundred years later, in 1688, William of Orange landed at Brixham to launch the Glorious Revolution. Devonport has long been a major port and shipbuilding centre for the Royal Navy and Plymouth was a target for German aerial bombardment in the Second World War. Soldiers from the Devonshire Regiment and the Royal Devon Yeomanry and their antecedents fought for the country for centuries and Devon was also the site of the disastrous rehearsal for D-Day where hundreds of Allied servicemen lost their lives off Slapton Sands and in Lyme Bay. The military heritage of castles, fortifications, airfields, military bases and monuments throughout the county is also explored. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Devon's remarkable military history.

The north Wales seaside resort of Llandudno developed in the 1850s from a scatter of small settlements on the slopes of the Great Orme. The Iron Age defences of Pen Dinas hill fort and the presence of Roman coin hoards suggest local military conflict, and skirmishes are recorded from the time of the Vikings. In later centuries the focus for military activity stretches a mile or so down the Conwy Valley to the castles of Deganwy and battles between Welsh and English. Llandudno became embroiled in the invasion of Edward I when he gave the Bishop of Bangor land on the Great Orme to build a 'palace'. This was sacked in Owain Glyndwr's revolt of the early 1400s. With the rise of Britain's empire copper was mined, partly to provide cladding for the wooden-hulled ships of her navy. By the twentieth century significant military training establishments were based in the area, as were prisoner-of-war camps and convalescent homes for military personnel. In 1915 a German U-boat attempted to pick up escaped POWs in Llandudno Bay, and the town was chosen as the new location for the Royal Artillery's Coast Artillery School and the Inland Revenue. In Llandudno's Military Heritage authors Peter Johnson and Adrian Hughes cover all this and more, showing the impact that the military has had on this north Wales town, its combatants and its citizens over the centuries.

- The latest title in Amberley's exciting 'Military Heritage' series - Potential for review coverage in local press and medial as well as specialist military publications

Mention of this Derbyshire market town's name invariably conjures up an image of an iconic landmark: the crooked church steeple. However, it also speaks of a military heritage built up over two millenia. The word chester itself is derived from the ancient Roman fort or castrum – military garrisons that peppered the English countryside during Roman Britain. In 1266, at the Battle of Chesterfield, royal forces quashed a rebellion of local barons. Come the English Civil War 400 years later, anti-Royalist sentiment was again evident. Chesterfield deployed militia, together with a 'company of foot' from Derby, to defend the town from the king's forces. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, global conflicts attracted volunteers from throughout the Borough of Chesterfield. Egypt, South Africa and the Western Front became household names. In the Second World War, Chesterfield's citizens, serving with battalions of the Sherwood Foresters, saw action in theatres across the world. So also came tales of acts of courage and bravery: names like Fred Greaves, Bernard Vann and Victor Robinson, alongside many others.

Liverpool was founded by King John in 1207 as a military base on the River Mersey. From his new town the king planned to invade Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Heavily fortified, and defended by a great castle and a formidable tower, Liverpool was besieged and changed hands three times during the English Civil War. Volunteer troops from the town later helped defend the region against the Jacobite Rebellions of 1715 and 1745, and was then the scene of grisly executions of Scots rebels.In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Liverpool developed into one of the most significant ports in the British Empire. Defences were built to fend off attacks during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. Liverpool also secretly built ships for the Confederate Navy during the American Civil War, the last acts of which were the surrender of an American warship on the Mersey and of its commander in Liverpool Town Hall.The Kings Liverpool Regiment was one of a number of local volunteer forces that were core to the culture and economy, particularly of working-class Liverpool. In the First World War many local young men joined the famous 'Liverpool Pals' regiments and the Territorials. In the Second World War Liverpool played a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic, which was directed and won in secret bunkers under the city centre. These still exist and are open to the public - telling the story of how Liverpool defended the North Atlantic convoys that kept the country alive during the war.The most heavily bombed city in Britain outside London, Liverpool was devastated by the end of the conflict, but has now rebuilt itself and reclaimed its role as a world-class city. However, Liverpool still sends its sons and daughters to military and naval service around the world, in defence and on behalf of Great Britain. Join local author Ken Pye as he guides the reader through the military history of this remarkable city.

The making of Dorset's military heritage has been a dramatic, brutal, and often turbulent affair. From the time of the Durotriges tribes and their spectacular Iron Age strongholds, to the more modern sea forts and blast-proof nuclear bunkers of the Cold War, Dorset's landscape has been shaped by generations of defensive countermeasures. Successive and bloody invasions by Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman forces have paved the way for revolution, civil uprising, insurrection and rebellions that history defines as the Peasants' Revolt, the Swing and Monmouth Rebellions, the rise of the Dorset Clubmen, the Anarchy and English Civil Wars. In Tudor times the ships of Elizabeth I's navy dropped anchor in Dorset's waters before engaging the Spanish Armada off Portland. Men of the local volunteers, militias, yeomanry, and Dorsetshire's Regiment of Foot have fought bravely and with distinction at home and abroad, from the Peninsular War to South Africa, and through two world wars. The Royal Flying Corps and its successor the Royal Air Force played vital roles in defending the nation, and during the Second World War their presence proved invaluable in the planning and execution of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of northern France. Military historian, battlefield guide and former soldier Dean Hollands writes passionately about Britain's military heritage and this book will interest anyone keen to know more about Dorset's remarkable military history.

The landlocked county of Wiltshire, characterised by its high downland and wide valleys, has a rich military history that stretches back through the centuries. Evidence of Wiltshire's military heritage can be seen throughout the county with numerous buildings and other structures still standing today, from ancient hillforts and medieval castles to military bases used in two world wars and the present day, as well as the army's training area on Salisbury Plain. Wiltshire's Military Heritage explores the long military history of the county, not only the battles that took place on its soil, including between warring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and Danish invaders and during the English Civil War, but also the measures that were taken to defend it against possible attack. It also covers the heritage of the military units that were raised in the county and which were sent to fight in conflicts abroad. The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was originally raised in 1794 and fought in the Boer War and both world wars, and is part of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry based in Wiltshire today. Wiltshire's airfields played a significant role in both world wars, including during the Battle of Britain, and in recent years the town of Wootton Bassett became Royal Wootton Bassett because of its role in military funeral repatriations. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Wiltshire's remarkable military history.

Plymouth's history has been strongly defined by its position on a natural harbour on England's south coast. It was a trading port before the Romans arrived, defended by forts on the shoreline and inland. French raiders attacked the town in the Hundred Years' War and Plymouth Castle was later built to defend the English fleet in Sutton Pool. Drake famously played bowls on Plymouth Hoe awaiting the opportune moment to attack the Spanish Armada and the then town was later under siege during the English Civil War. Naval docks began to be built at Devonport in the seventeenth century, later protected by the Breakwater, and inland a ring of Palmerston forts were constructed. The port was a major embarkation point for British forces in both the First and Second World Wars, including flying boats from Mount Batten, and was heavily targeted by the Luftwaffe with huge destruction of swathes of the city. Although Plymouth is no longer in the front line of war, Devonport is still a major naval dockyard and although many army barracks were demolished post-war, it is still home to the Royal Marines, Royal Artillery and the Royal Navy at HMS Drake and nearby HMS Raleigh. Plymouth's Military Heritage will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about the city's remarkable military history.

- The latest title in Amberley's exciting new Military Heritage series - Potential for reveiw coverage in local press and media as well as specialised military publications - Authors live locally and are available to promote the book

For centuries Farnborough was a small town south-west of London, but today it has transformed into a large, vibrant commercial community, synonymous worldwide with the international air show, which it has hosted since 1949, and the home of military aviation. However, the real origins of Farnborough's military heritage lie not with aviation but with the arrival of the army in 1856 and the building of a new barrack complex in South Farnborough, called North Camp. The army's presence was further expanded with the arrival of the Royal Engineers, at South Farnborough, followed by the formation of the Army Air Battalion, and then the army's Royal Flying Corps. The Royal Flying Corps was eventually replaced by the creation at Farnborough of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Aircraft Establishment was set up. The Royal Engineers also established a camp in North Farnborough and during the war years Farnborough was home to many other units including troops from the Canadian Army. German prisoners of war were engaged in building housing in Farnborough, captured German scientists were brought here and interrogated about their knowledge of aviation and rocket development and captured German planes were flown and frequently crashed at Farnborough. The war years also saw many heroic stories and tragic events unfold as Farnborough was routinely attacked. Farnborough has a fantastic military heritage that includes hospitals, notable burials and a wealth of military buildings and structures as well as a fine and often overlooked collection of military monuments and memorials along with its association with many military personalities. This, then, is the real story of Farnborough's military heritage.

Located immediately to the south of London, between the capital and the English Channel, Surrey has long played a significant part in the defence of the nation. Evidence of ancient hilltop forts, Norman castles, Victorian forts and Second World War defence lines can still be found in the county. Throughout the centuries, the threat of invasion has never been far away. The Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans would all leave their mark on Surrey. In the late nineteenth century, with Britain suspicious of French intentions, a ring of fortified positions was established from Guildford through the county towards Kent, known as the London Defence Scheme. During the Second World War, Britain faced a new, frightening menace, that of air warfare. As the Battle of Britain played out in the skies over Surrey, the airfields of the county rose to the occasion against the might of the German Luftwaffe. Two of the Second World War's most iconic aircraft, the Hurricane and Wellington, were manufactured in the county. The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and the East Surrey Regiment, both formed in 1881, have fought bravely through countless campaigns all over the world. The East Surrey Regiment's 'football charge' on the first day of the Battle of the Somme was celebrated as a symbol of British courage. From Roman times through to the Second World War, this book provides a fascinating insight into the events, people and places that make up Surrey's military heritage.

Forged through centuries of armed struggle and foreign domination, aggressive invaders, oppressive monarchs, and rebellious citizens have repeatedly clashed to create Berkshire's military heritage. A heritage stained with blood spilt during hard-fought sieges, vicious battles, terrible slaughters, and tragic accidents. The oldest remnants of Berkshire's military heritage date to the Atrebates, an Iron Age people whose impressive hill forts once dominated the county's skyline, and whose remains are visible today. Windsor Castle, a royal residence, embodies almost a thousand years of military action and is still one of the nation's top ceremonial attractions. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst formed on the site of the former Royal Military College is one of the world's toughest and most revered military training academies in the world. Its graduates include the Sultan of Brunei, Sir Winston Churchill, fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, James Bond author Ian Fleming, sports personalities Fionidi Parker and Heather Stanning, singer James Blunt, Oscar-winning actor David Niven, and Princes William and Harry. Berkshire's military forces include the Royal Berkshire Regiment's 'Biscuit Boys', who have protected the county and nation at home and abroad since 1881; and the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary service, who were formed and operated out of the county during the Second World War. Military historian and battlefield guide, former soldier Dean Hollands writes passionately about Britain's military heritage and this book will interest anyone keen to know more about Berkshire's remarkable military history.

Few counties can rival Essex's extensive and varied military history. The battles fought in Essex, and by its servicemen and women overseas, have not only shaped the history of the county but have directly influenced the course of British and world history. In Essex's Military Heritage, Adam Culling explores 2,000 years of the county's military history, beginning with Boudicca's attack on Roman Colchester then moving on to frontline battles between the Anglo-Saxons and Viking raiders, medieval and Civil War sieges and beyond. Throughout Essex no better connection to its military past is more present than the physical evidence that remains. Norman castles, Tudor and Victorian forts, coastal and inland defences and the RAF and US Army Air Force airfields from the Second World War are a few reminders of Essex's military past. From the largest war memorial in the county in Colchester's Castle Park to commemorative stained-glass windows in village churches, peculiar, intriguing and moving memorials of military sacrifices are ever present throughout Essex. From the Crimean War to the present day, Essex has been the home to many military units. None are more significant than the Essex Regiment who, along with their predecessors, fought bravely in conflicts all around the world. Munitions factories and wartime manufacturing, gallant and distinguished conduct, Zeppelin crash sites, requisitioned stately homes and 'secret' nuclear bunkers, this book provides a fascinating insight into the events, people and places that represent Essex's military heritage.

- The latest title in Amberley's exciting 'Military Heritage' series - Potential for review coverage in local press and media as well as specialised military publications - Author lives locally and is available to promote the book

The Thames Estuary is the gateway into London that had to be defended against seaborne invasion. Through proximity to the Continent, these waters were a likely passageway for those intent upon seaborne raids or invasion, necessitating the need for a powerful naval force to be on hand when threatened. The first fortifications date back to Roman times. To support the British navy in these waters, four of the nation's royal dockyards – Chatham, Deptford, Sheerness and Woolwich – were clustered along the Thames Estuary or close by on the Medway from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for the commissioning, refitting and repair of warships. As well as being of importance for the defence of the country, the Thames Estuary fulfilled another role: that of underpinning naval activities designed to support British tactical and strategic operations in more distant parts of the world. Close to the mouth of the Thames, and near the point of confluence with the Medway, was the Nore, a key naval anchorage where newly commissioned warship assembled, taking on crews and receiving final instructions before joining the active seagoing fleet. In the twentieth century, additional defences against attack by submarine or from the air were established, and gunpowder factories sited along the estuary. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about the remarkable military history of the Thames Estuary over the last 2,000 years.

- The latest title in Amberley's Military Heritage series - Potential for review coverage in local press and media as well as specialised military publications