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What we have here is a large collections of facts about the British army from 1805-15, covering a wide range of topics from the pay of the private soldier to the awards given to the highest ranking member of the army. Much of the information is presented in one of over 300 tables, which provide lists of anything from regimental nicknames (and the reasons for them) to the items of equipment issued to each type of solder and how long they were expected to last.
One of the most valuable features of this book is that most of the information provided covers all of the period. Where some books may provide a list of officer seniority for one or two dates, this one presents us with twenty three lists of seniority, from Hanover in 1805 to Guadaloupe in 1815. The tables vary in length, with some fitting three to a page, while others (such as the location of infantry regiments in 1805 and 1815) cover as many as five pages.
This is the sort of book that you either dip into to for a short random read or use to find a particular piece of information, and not one that most people would sit down to read from end to end. It is an invaluable reference book for anyone interested in the British army in this period, as well as a great source of useful trivia (including the appearance of a Sholto Douglas in the 4th Light Dragoons in the Peninsula!).
Chapters
1 - The British Army
2 - Officer Seniority
3 - The Regiment
4 - Life of an Officer
5 - Life of a Soldier
6 - British Casualties in the Napoleonic Wars
7 - Sovereign's Honours Awarded for Merit
8 - Campaign Medals for Meritorious of Honourable Service
Author: Robert Burnham and Ron McGuigan
Edition: Hardcover
Pages: 326
Publisher: Frontline
Year: 2010