(Redirected from British army)
The 'British Army' is the
land armed forces branch of the
British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the
governments and armed forces of
England and
Scotland into the
United Kingdom of Great Britain in
1707. The new British Army incorporated regiments that had already existed in England and Scotland and was controlled by the
War Office from
London. As of April, 2007, the British Army includes roughly 110,580 regular personnel and 38,460
Territorial Army members. The full time element of the British Army has also been referred to as the ''Regular Army'' since the creation of the reservist ''Territorial Army''. The British Army is deployed in many of the world's war zones as part of a fighting force and in
United Nations peacekeeping forces.
In contrast to the
Royal Navy,
Royal Marines and
Royal Air Force, the British Army does not include "Royal" in its title, because of its roots as a collection of disparate units, many of which do bear the "Royal" prefix, such as the
Royal Artillery and the
Royal Engineers.
History
Main articles: History of the British Army
The British Army came into being with the merger of the
Scottish Army and the Welsh/English Army, following the unification of the two countries' parliaments and the creation of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. Although
England had made many earlier claims to
sovereignty in
Scotland, there had been no unified British state prior to that time (other than a brief period during which the Roman province of Britain had achieved political independence-although even that had failed to establish complete control over the north of the island). The new British Army incorporated existing English and Scottish regiments, and was controlled from London.
From roughly 1763 until at least 1945, the United Kingdom was one of the leading military and economic powers of the world. The
British Empire expanded in this time to include
colonies,
protectorates, and
Dominions throughout the
Americas,
Africa,
Asia and
Australasia. Although the
Royal Navy is widely regarded as having been vital for the rise of Empire, and British dominance of the world, the British Army played important roles in colonisation. First, the British Army including
garrisoning the colonies, capturing strategically important territories and participating in actions to pacify colonial borders, support allied governments, suppress Britain's rivals, and protect against foreign powers and hostile natives. Second, the troops also helped capture strategically important territories for the British, allowing the British Empire to expand throughout the globe. The Army also involved itself in numerous wars meant to pacify the borders, or to prop-up friendly governments, and thereby keep other, competitive, empires away from the British Empire's borders. Among these actions were the
Seven Years' War, the
American War of Independence, the
Napoleonic Wars, the
First and
Second Opium Wars, the
Boxer Rebellion, the
New Zealand Wars, the
Indian Mutiny, the
First and
Second Boer Wars, the
Fenian raids, the
Anglo-Irish War, its serial interventions into
Afghanistan (which were meant to maintain a friendly buffer state between British India and the
Russian Empire), and the
Crimean War (to keep the Russian Empire at a safe distance by coming to Turkey's aid).
As had its predecessor, the English Army, in building the Empire, the British Army fought
Spain,
France, and the
Netherlands for supremacy in North America and the
West Indies. It also battled many
Native American nations and groups, including the many disgruntled former allies who launched
Pontiac's War in response to the wave of British settlers that flooded over the Appalachians following the defeat of France in the
Seven Years' War. The British Government's attempt to mollify the Natives by delineating the Appalachians as the westward limit for European settlement was a significant motivator of the American colonies in launching the secessionist
American War of Independence. The British Army fought American colonists and their Native and French allies in that war.
The British army was heavily involved in the
Napoleonic Wars in which the army served in Spain, across Europe, and in North Africa. The war between the British and French Empires stretched around the world. The British Army finally came to defeat Napoleon at one of Britain's greatest military victories at the battle of
Waterloo.
Under
Oliver Cromwell, the English Army had been active in the conquest, and the settlement, of Ireland since the 1650s. The Cromwellian campaign was characterised by its uncompromising treatment of the Irish towns (most notably Drogheda) that had supported the Royalists during the English Civil War. It (and subsequently, the British Army) have been almost continuously involved in Ireland ever since, primarily in suppressing numerous Irish revolts and campaigns for self-determination. It was faced with the prospect of battling Anglo-Irish and Ulster Scots settlers in Ireland, who alongside their Irish countrymen had raised their own volunteer army and threatened to emulate the American colonists if their conditions (primarily concerning home rule and freedom of trade) were not met. The British Army found itself fighting Irish rebels, both Protestant and Catholic, primarily in Ulster and Leinster (
Wolfe Tone's United Irishmen) in the
1798 rebellion.
In addition to battling the armies of other European Empires' (and of its former colonies, the United States, in the
American War of 1812,) in the battle for global supremacy, the British Army fought the Chinese in the
First and
Second Opium Wars, and the
Boxer Rebellion;
MÄori tribes in the first of the
New Zealand Wars;
Indian princely forces and
British East India Company mutineers in the
Indian Mutiny; the Boers in the
First and
Second Boer Wars; Irish
Fenians in Canada during the
Fenian raids; and
Irish separatists in the
Anglo-Irish War.
Following William and Mary's accession to the throne, England involved itself in the
War of the Grand Alliance primarily to prevent a French invasion restoring Mary's father,
James II. Following the 1707 union of England and Scotland, and then the
1801 creation of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British foreign policy, on the continent, was to contain expansion by its competitor powers such as
France and
Spain. The territorial ambitions of the French led to the
War of the Spanish Succession and the
Napoleonic Wars. Russian activity led to the
Crimean War.
The vastly increasing demands of imperial expansion, and the inadequacies and inefficiencies of the underfunded, post-Napoleonic Wars British Army, and of the
Militia,
Yeomanry, and
Volunteer Force, led to the
Cardwell Reforms of the late 19th century, which gave the British Army its modern shape, and redefined its
regimental system.
Great Britain's dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers, notably
Germany. The UK was allied with France (by the
Entente Cordiale) and Russia, and when the
First World War broke out in 1914, the British Army sent the
British Expeditionary Force to France and Belgium to prevent Germany from occupying these countries. The War would be the most devastating in British military history, with near 800,000 men killed and over 2 million wounded. In the early part of the war, the professional force of the BEF was decimated and, by turns, a volunteer (and then conscripted) force replaced it. Major battles included the
Battle of the Somme. Advances in technology saw British advent of the
tank and advances in
aircraft design which were to be decisive in future battles. Trench warfare dominated strategy, and the use of chemical and poison gases added to the devastation.
In 1939, the
Second World War broke out with the German invasion of
Poland. British assurances to the Polish led the British Empire to declare war on Germany. Again an
Expeditionary Force was sent to France, only to be hastily evacuated as the German forces swept through the Low Countries and across France in 1940. Only the
Dunkirk evacuations saved the entire Expeditionary Force from capture. Later, however, the British would have success defeating the Italians and Germans at the
Battle of El Alamein in
North Africa, and in the
D-Day invasions of Normandy. In the Far East, the British Army battled the
Japanese in
Burma. World War II saw the British army develop its Commando units including the
Special Air Service. During the war the British army was one of the major fighting forces on the side of the allies.
After the end of World War II, the British Empire declined with the independence of
India, and other colonies in Africa and Asia. Accordingly the strength of the British military was reduced, in recognition of Britain's reduced role in world affairs. However, a large deployment of
British troops remained in Germany, facing the threat of
Soviet invasion. The
Cold War saw massive technological advances in warfare, and the Army saw more technologically advanced weapons systems installed.
Despite the decline of the British Empire, the Army was still deployed around the world, fighting in the
Korean War, the
Suez crisis of 1956, and colonial wars in
Oman and
Malaysia. In 1982 the British Army, alongside the
Royal Marines, helped to recapture the
Falkland Islands during the
Falklands War against
Argentina.
In the three decades following 1969, the Army was heavily deployed in
Northern Ireland, to support the
Royal Ulster Constabulary (later the
Police Service of Northern Ireland) in their conflict with loyalist and republican paramilitary groups, called
Operation Banner. The locally-recruited
Ulster Defence Regiment was formed, later becoming the
Royal Irish Regiment in 1992. Over 700 soldiers were killed during the
Troubles. Following the
IRA ceasefires between 1994 and 1996 and since 1997, demilitarisation has taken place as part of the peace process, much reducing the military presence in the area. On June 25th 2007, the Second Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment vacated the Army complex at Bessbrook Mill in Armagh. This is part of the 'normalisation' programme in Northern Ireland in response to the IRA's declared end to its activities.
As with its return to Afghanistan, following the 2001 Al Qaeda terrorist attacks in the USA, the British Army's current return to Iraq in
Operation Telic reflects a tradition of interceding in the region which included the
Mesopotamian Campaign of the Great War, the
Anglo-Iraq War of 1941 (the first ''Gulf War''), and the
Gulf War fought to liberate
Kuwait (referred to as
Operation Granby).
Recent and current conflicts
Persian Gulf War
Main articles: Operation Granby
The ending of the
Cold War saw a 40% cut in manpower. Despite this, the Army has been deployed in an increasingly global role. In 1991, the United Kingdom was the second largest contributor (after the USA) to the coalition force that fought
Iraq in the
Persian Gulf War.
The nation supplied just under 50,000 personnel and was the nation put in control of
Kuwait after it was liberated.
Balkans conflicts
Main articles: Yugoslav wars
The British Army was deployed to
Yugoslavia in 1992. Initially this force formed part of the
United Nations Protection Force. In 1995 command was transferred to
IFOR and then to
SFOR. Currently troops are under the command of
EUFOR. Over 10,000 troops were sent. In 1999 British forces under the command of
SFOR were sent to
Kosovo during the conflict there. Command was subsequently transferred to
KFOR.
Afghanistan
Main articles: 2001-present war in Afghanistan
In 2001 The
3rd Division Signal Regiment were deployed in
Kabul,
Afghanistan to assist in the liberation of the troubled capital.
Royal Marines Commandos also swept the
Afghan mountains but this force is part of the
Royal Navy. The British Armed forces are currently in charge of NATO forces in the nation. The British Army is today concentrating on fighting
Taliban forces and bringing security to Helmand province under NATO control.
Iraq War
Main articles: Iraq War
In 2003, the United Kingdom was the only other major contributor to the United States-led
invasion of Iraq. There was great disagreement amongst the populace but the government voted for the conflict, with the result of sending over 30,000 army personnel to the region. The British Army is still the major coalition presence in the city of
Basra and the Southern regions of
Iraq. The British Army is not currently at war, but this is a conflict against groups acting within Iraq. The British Army's main duty in Iraq is peace-keeping.
Northern Ireland
Main articles: Operation Banner
The British Army was initially deployed in
Northern Ireland to prevent
sectarian attacks on Catholic communities and keep order in the wake of Catholic rioting and was under
Operation Banner between 1969 and 2007 in support of the
Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and its successor, the
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
[1] There has been a steady reduction in the number of troops deployed in
Northern Ireland since the
Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. In 2005, after the
Provisional Irish Republican Army announced an end to armed conflict in Northern Ireland, it was revealed that the British Army would dismantle posts in the province and withdraw many troops and restore troop levels to that of a peace time garrison. Officially Operation Banner ended on 1 August 2007 after 38 years, making it the longest military operation in the history of the British Army.
Tommy Atkins and other nicknames
A long established nickname for a British soldier has been '
Tommy Atkins' or 'Tommy' for short. The origins are obscure but most probably derive from a specimen army form circulated by the Adjutant-General Sir Harry Calvert to all units in 1815 where the blanks had been filled in with the particulars of a Private Thomas Atkins, No 6 Company, 23rd Regiment of Foot. Present day English soldiers are often referred to as 'Toms' or just 'Tom' (The Scots equivalent being 'Jock'). Outside the services soldiers are generally known as 'Squaddies' by the
British popular press. The British Army magazine ''Soldier'' has a regular cartoon strip, 'Tom', featuring the everyday life of a British soldier.
Junior officers in the army are generally known as 'Ruperts' by the
Other ranks. This nickname is believed to be derived from the children's comic book character
Rupert Bear who epitomises traditional public school values (see "Inside the British Army" by
Antony Beevor ISBN 071134658)
The term 'Pongo' or 'Perce' is often used by Sailors and Royal Marines to refer to soldiers. It is not considered complimentary.
Today's Army
Statistics
Current deployments
'High Intensity' Operations
| Country | Dates | Deployment | Details |
|---|
| Afghanistan | 2001– | 7,000 troops | British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. Currently, under Operation Herrick, the Army maintains a battalion in Kabul and most of a brigade in the southern province of Helmand. |
|---|
| Iraq | 2003– | 5,000 troops | As part of Operation Telic (Gulf War 2), the British Army participated in the invasion of Iraq. Following the decision for continued security operations, the UK commands the Multi-National Division (South-East) with a headquarters unit, National Support Element, and a combat brigade (at the moment 1 Mechanised Brigade), along with troops from Italy, Norway, Romania, Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal and Lithuania. A large number of Territorial Army soldiers have been deployed for a variety of tasks, both as individuals serving and as formed units. Troop numbers are gradually decreasing, though the UK Government does not have a timetable for a full withdrawal. |
|---|
'Low-Intensity' Operations
| Country | Dates | Deployment | Details |
|---|
| Cyprus | 1960– | Two resident infantry battalions, Royal Engineers, 16 Flight Army Air Corps and Joint Service Signals Unit at Ayios Nikolaos as a part of British Forces Cyprus | The UK retains two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus after the island's independence. The bases serve as forward bases for deployments in the Middle East. British forces are also deployed separately with UN peacekeeping forces on the island. |
|---|
| Falkland Islands | 1982– | An infantry company group and an Engineers Squadron | Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party served as garrison. After 1982 the garrison was enlarged, and bolstered with an RAF base. |
|---|
| Gibraltar | 1704– | One infantry battalion, Joint Provost and Security Unit as a part of British Forces Gibraltar | British Army garrison is provided by an indigenous regiment, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which has been on the Army regular establishment since the last British regiment left in 1991. |
|---|
| Kosovo | 1999 | 300 troops | After the Kosovo War in 1999, the British Army led the NATO deployment in Kosovo to restore peace to the province. Since then, the UK has withdrawn some forces, as other nations provided troops. |
|---|
| Rest of the Middle East | 1990 | 3,700 troops | Since the Gulf War in 1991, the UK has had a considerable military presence in the Middle East. Besides Iraq, there are also an additional 3,500 troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as regular training missions in Oman. |
|---|
| Sierra Leone | 1999 | About 100 troops | The British Army were deployed to Sierra Leone, a former British colony, in 1999 to aid the government in quelling violent uprisings by militiamen, under United Nations resolutions. Troops ( Royal Marines ) remain in the region to provide military support and training to the Sierra Leone government. |
|---|
Training Operations
| Country | Dates | Deployment | Details |
|---|
| Belize | 1981– | British Army Training and Support Unit Belize and 25 Flight Army Air Corps | British troops have been based in Belize since the country gained independence from the UK in 1981. Until 1994 Belize's neighbour, Guatemala claimed the territory, and British troops were based in Belize to provide a deterrent force |
|---|
| Brunei | 1962– | One battalion from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Garrison, Training Team Brunei (TTB) and 7 Flight Army Air Corps | A Gurkha battalion has been maintained in Brunei since the Brunei Revolt in 1962 at the request of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III. The Training Team Brunei (TTB) is the Army's jungle warfare school, while the small number of garrison troops support the battalion. 7 Flight Army Air Corps provides helicopter support to both the Gurkha battalion and the TTB. |
|---|
| Canada | 1972– | British Army Training Unit Suffield and 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps | Training centre in the Alberta prairie. Conducts regular, major armoured training exercises every year with helicopter support provided by 29 (BATUS) Flight AAC. |
|---|
| Germany | 1945– | 1st (UK) Armoured Division as part of British Forces Germany and 12 Flight Army Air Corps | British forces remained in Germany after the end of World War II. Forces declined considerably after the end of the Cold War, although the lack of accommodation in the UK means forces will continue to be based in Germany. |
|---|
| Kenya | | British Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya | The Army has a training centre in Kenya, under agreement with the Kenyan government. It provides training facilities for three infantry battalions per year |
|---|
Equipment
Main articles: Modern equipment of the British Army
The basic infantry weapons of the British Army are the SA-80 assault rifle family, with several variants such as the
L86A2 Light Support Weapon and the short stock variant, issued to tank crews. The general issue sidearm is the Browning L9A1, though a search is currently underway to find a replacement for the
L9A1. Support fire is provided by the Minimi light machine gun and the
L7 GPMG; indirect fire by
51 and
81 mm Mortar, as well as the
UGL, mounted under the barrel of the SA80 rifle. Sniper rifles used include the
L96A1 7.62 mm, the
L115A1 and the
AW50F, all produced by
Accuracy International. In addition, some units use the
L82A1 .50 calibre Barrett sniper rifle.
The British Army commonly uses the
Land Rover Wolf and
Land Rover Defender; with the
Challenger 2 as its Main Battle Tank. The
Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle is the primary APC, although many variants of the
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) are used, as well as the
Saxon APC and
FV430 series.
The Army uses three main artillery systems; the
MLRS, which debuted in
Operation Granby and has a range of 30 km: the
AS-90, a self-propelled howitzer, and the
L118, a 105 mm towed gun-howitzer, used primarily by lighter units and in support of the
Royal Marines
The
Rapier FSC Missile System is the Army's primary battlefield air defence system, widely deployed since the
Falklands War; and the
Starstreak HVM is a surface-to-air missile, launched either by a single soldier or from a vehicle-mounted launcher. The Starstreak fills a similar role to the American
FIM-92 Stinger
The
Army Air Corps (AAC) provide direct aviation support for the Army, although the RAF also assist in this role. The primary attack helicopter is the
Westland WAH-64 Apache; a license-built, modified version of the
AH-64 Apache that will replace the Westland Lynx AH7 in the anti-tank role. The Westland Lynx performs several roles including tactical transport, armed escort, reconnaissance and evacuation. It used to also offer the anti-tank warfare roll; it could carry eight
TOW anti-tank missiles. The Tow missile system fit, for the Lynx was withdrawn from service by the MOD in December 2005, after the coming in to service of the WAH-64 Apache.
The
Bell 212 is used as a specialist utility and transport helicopter, with a crew of two and a transport capacity of twelve troops.
The
Westland Gazelle helicopter is a light helicopter, primarily used for battlefield scouting and control of artillery and aircraft.
The Agusta A109 is used for Special Operations Aviation, along with the Gazelle.
The
Britten-Norman Islander is a light aircraft used for airborne reconnaissance and command, primarily in Northern Ireland.
Formation and structure
'' See main article:
Structure of the British Army''
The structure of the British Army is complex, due to the different origins of its various constituent parts. It is broadly split into the Regular Army (full-time soldiers and units) and the
Territorial Army (part-time soldiers and units).
In terms of its military structure it has two parallel organisations, one administrative and one operational.
Administrative:
Corps, which is a grouping by common function, such as Royal 'Corps' of Signals.
★
Divisions administrating all military units, both Regular and TA, within a geographical area.
★
★
Brigade in a non fighting capacity
★
★
★
Regiment, which is a grouping of
battalions most commonly found in the
Infantry. It is also the correct name for the Corps sized grouping of
Artillery regiments.
Operational:
The three major commands are
Land Command, Headquarters
Adjutant General, and Headquarters Northern Ireland.
Corps made up of two or more Divisions (now unlikely to be deployed as a purely national formation due to the size of the British Army)
★
Division made up of two or three Brigades with an HQ element and support troops. Commanded by a major-general
★
★
Brigade made up of three Battalions an HQ element and associated support troops. Commanded by a
brigadier
★
★
★
Battalion of about 700 soldiers, made up of five companies commanded by a
lieutenant-colonel
or:
★
Battlegroup. This is a mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, and its structure is task specific. It is formed around the core of either an armoured regiment or infantry battalion, and has other units added or removed from it as necessary. A battlegroup will typically consist of between 600 and 700 soldiers under the command of a lt. colonel.
★
★
Company of about 100 soldiers, typically in three platoons, commanded by a
major.
★
★
★
Platoon of about 30 soldiers, commanded by a
second lieutenant or
lieutenant.
★
★
★
★
Section of about 8 to 10 soldiers, commanded by a
corporal.
A number of elements of the British Army use alternative terms for Battalion, Company and Platoon. These include the
Royal Armoured Corps,
Corps of Royal Engineers,
Royal Logistics Corps, and the
Royal Corps of Signals who use Regiment(Battalion),
Squadron(Company) and
The non-ceremonial flag of the British Army. Sometimes the word "Army" in gold letters appears below the badge.
The British Army does not have its own specific ensign, unlike the Royal Navy, which uses the
White Ensign, and the RAF, which uses the
Royal Air Force Ensign. Instead, the Army has different flags and ensigns, for the entire army and the different regiments and corps. The official flag of the Army as a whole is the
Union Flag, flown in ratio 3:5. A non-ceremonial flag also exists, which is used at recruiting events, military events and exhibitions. Whilst at war, the Union Flag is always used, and this flag represents the Army on the
Cenotaph in
Whitehall,
London (the UK's memorial to war dead). A British Army ensign also exists for vessels commanded by a commissioned officer, the
Blue Ensign defaced with the Army badge. Army Vessels are operated by the Maritime element of the
RLC.
Each line regiment (which does not include the Rifle Regiments) also has its own flags, known as
the Colours - the Regimental Colour and the Queen's Colour. These colours have been taken into battle in the past and give pride to the regiment. There is great variation in the designs of different regimental colours. Typically the colour has the regiment's badge in the centre.
Ranks, specialisms and insignia
| Abbreviation | FM | Gen. | Lt-Gen. | Maj-Gen. | Brig. | Col. | Lt-Col. | Maj. | Capt. | Lt. | 2nd Lt. |
★ 1 Now an honorary or wartime rank only. |
Every regiment and corps has its own distinctive insignia, such as
cap badge,
beret and
stable belt.
Throughout the army there are many official specialisms. They do not affect rank, but they do affect pay bands.
| 'Band 2 Specialisms:' | 'Band 3 Specialisms:' |
| Bandsman | Survey Technician |
| Farrier | Lab Technician |
| Driver Tank Transporter | Registered General Nurse |
| Radar Operator | Telcom Op (Special) |
| Meteorologist | Aircraft Technician |
| Bomb Disposal Engineer | SAS Soldier |
| Telcom Op (Linguist) |
| Operator Special Intelligence |
| Construction Materials Technician |
| Gun Fitter |
| Driver Specialist |
| Vehicle Electrician |
| Armoured Engineer |
Royal Navy and RAF infantry units
The other armed services have their own infantry units which are not part of the British Army. The
Royal Marines are amphibious
light infantry forming part of the
Royal Navy, and the
Royal Air Force has the
RAF Regiment used for airfield defence, force protection duties and Forward Air Control.
Overseas Territories Military Units
Numerous military units were raised historically in British territories, including self-governing and Crown colonies, and protectorates. Few of these have appeared on the Army List, and their relationship to the British Army has been ambiguous. Whereas Dominions, such as Canada and Australia, raised their own armies, Crown possessions (like the Channel Islands), and colonies (now called Overseas Territories) were, and are, legally part of the UK, and their defence remains the responsibility of the National (i.e., United Kingdom) government. All military forces of overseas territories are, therefore, under the direct command of the UK Government, via the local Governor and Commander-In-Chief. Many of the units in colonies, or former colonies, were also actually formed at the behest of the UK Government as it sought to reduce the deployment of the British Army on garrison around the world at the latter end of the 19th century. Today, three overseas territories retain locally-raised military units,
Bermuda,
Gibraltar, and the
Falkland Islands. The units are patterned on the British Army, are subject to review by the Ministry of Defence, and are ultimately under the control of the British government, not the local governments of the territories (though day-to-day control may be delegated to Ministers of the territorial governments). Despite this, the units may have no tasking or funding from the MOD, and are generally raised under acts of the territorial assemblies.
★
Bermuda Regiment
★
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
★
Falkland Islands Defence Force
See also
★
List of British Army Regiments (2008)
★
Ministry of Defence
★
Redcoat
★
Territorial Army
★
Volunteer Army
★
British military history
★
British Army Casualties during Operation TELIC
★
Royal Navy
★
Royal Air Force
★
United Kingdom Special Forces
★
Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army
★
UK topics
★
Army Rugby Union
★
Eastbourne Redoubt Holds collections of
The Royal Sussex Regiment,
The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (see also
The Queen's Royal Hussars) and the Sussex Combined Services.
★
Victoria Cross
External links
★
British Army Website
★
The British War Memorial Project
★
The National Archives of Scotland: Doing research. Guides. Military records.
★
Regiments and Corps of the British Army: An Introductory Overview Regiments.Org.
★
British Armed Forces
★
British Light Infantry Regiments
★
The British Army in the Great War
★
The British Army Rumour Service - an unofficial site for news, gossip and discussion.
★
UK Military News & Information Portal
★
British Army during the Napoleonic Wars
★ Tom Wall, ''
New Statesman'',
6 December 2004,
"Our boy soldiers"
★
Royal Engineers Museum - Royal Engineers History
★
Britain's Small Wars The History of British Military Conflicts since 1945
★
Redoubt Fortress MuseumHolds collections of
The Royal Sussex Regiment,
The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (see also
The Queen's Royal Hussars) and the Sussex Combined Services.
★
Eastbourne Redoubt
★
Women in the british armed forces
★ The Royal Sussex Regimental Association
[3]
Footnotes
1. Northern Ireland Yearbook 2005, , Michael, McKernan, Stationery Office, ,
2. Armed forces.co.uk
3. One in 10 Soldiers is Recruited Overseas Wilson, Graeme
4. Recruitment Age for Army Raised
5. ''‘Ian's death brought people together''' in the ''Daily Telegraph'' 19 March 2003
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