A Guide To The Sources Of British Military History

Designed to fill an overlooked gap, this book, originally published in 1972, provides a single unified introduction to bibliographical sources of British military history. Moreover it includes guidance in a number of fields in which no similar source is available at all, giving information on how to obtain acess to special collections and private archives, and links military history, especially during peacetime, with the development of science and technology.

What exactly is military history? Forty years ago it meant battles, campaigns, great commanders, drums and trumpets. It was largely the preserve of military professionals and was used to support national history and nationalism. Now, though, the study of war has been transformed by the war and society approach, by the examination of identity, memory and gender, and a less Euro-centric and more global perspective. Generally it is recognised that war and conflict must be integrated into the wider narrative of historical development, and this is why Ian Becketts research guide is such a useful tool for anyone working in this growing field. It introduces students to all the key debates, issues and resources. While European and global perspectives are not neglected, there is an emphasis on the British experience of war since 1500. This survey of British military history will be essential reading and reference for anyone who has a professional or amateur interest in the subject, and it will be a valuable introduction for newcomers to it.

This book contains some 600 entries on a range of topics from ancient Chinese warfare to late 20th-century intervention operations. Designed for a wide variety of users, it encompasses general reviews of aspects of military organization and science, as well as specific wars and conflicts. The book examines naval and air warfare, as well as significant individuals, including commanders, theorists, and war leaders. Each entry includes a listing of additional publications on the topic, accompanied by an article discussing these publications with reference to their particular emphases, strengths, and limitations.

Military history is the subject of great popular interest and has been populated by non-academic historians and writers whose work often borders on what might be characterised as military pornography. Indeed, in the media, 'military historian' is a much abused, and all too easily applied term. Popular military history is characterised by often being narrative in structure rather than analytical, and invariably follows a simply explanatory path, is often enamoured of equipment and technology, and tends to place combat centre stage. Such writing is not referenced in this volume. By contrast, academically rigorous military history is characterised by being firmly based on archival/primary source research, on having a firm line of argument or overarching interpretation, on having a wide perspective, and having some comparison with other works in the field. What follows in this volume, therefore, is the integration of the military narrative within the wider political, socio-economic and cultural context. Like any other form of academic history, there can be significant divergence of interpretations between historians, and this will also become apparent, be it the nature of the 'military revolution' in Europe in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; the 'learning curve' on the Western Front during the First World War, or the nature of 'total war'.The guide seeks to introduce prospective research students to the debates, issues and resources within the field of military history. While the wider European and global perspectives are not neglected, as will be apparent from the discussion of contexts in Part I, there is an emphasis upon the British experience of war in the early modern, modern and contemporary periods in Part II, the periodisation corresponding approximately to the existence of a standing army in Britain from the seventeenth century onwards, and its origins in the sixteenth century. Nonetheless, an effort has been made to relate the debates on the nature of British military history since 1500 to wider issues connected to other armies. Indeed, one increasing area for study is comparison between the British and other experiences of war. Part III is concerned with sources for the study of British military history, though not just in Britain.

A reference book covering from Colonial Forces, 1607--1773 up to the time of the recent Persian Gulf War. The book links military history with developments in technology and science, and in 20th century military and naval medicine. First it gives unique coverage of the European background of American military affairs, and then proceeds, concentrating first on eras, then on branches of the service in war and in peace.