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Some time ago I read of an officer of the old 52nd who used to strop his razor fifty-two times every morning before shaving. In1881, when the Cardwell reforms took effect, the 52nd were linked with the 43rd. The officer concerned still stropped his razor fifty-two times but when he reached forty-three he turned his head to one side and spat. It is doubtful the author had ever heard this story because his version of the amalgamation speaks of brotherhood between the two regiments.Sir Henry Newbolt was a well-known literary figure of his time, poet, novelist, historian (he wrote the last two volumes of the Official Naval History) and very much a patriot. In this book he tells the story of both regiments from their formation to the end of 1914. Each chapter covers a specific period and the fortunes of the regiments during those periods are described five of the fifteen chapters are devoted to the Peninsular War. The 43rd was raised in 1741, at first as the 54th but this was changed in 1751 and in 1782 it became the Monmouthshires. The 52nd was raised in 1755, also as the 54th, but this number, too, was changed within a couple of years and in 1782 it became the Oxfordshire Regiment. The eventual union of these two regiments seems to have been pre-destined for not only did they begin life with the same Foot number, they served together in the American War of Independence; in 1803 they were both redesignated Light Infantry under General Moore; in 1807 they went together on the Copenhagen expedition; they fought together through the seven years of the Peninsular War in which they were awarded identical battle honours and in 1881 they were linked to become the 1st (43rd Foot) and 2nd (52nd Foot) Battalions of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry Regiment. In 1908 there was another change in title when the regiment was designated the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and although this event took place within the time frame of this history, Newbolt makes no mention of it let alone explain it; so I, for one, still have no idea how or why Buckinghamshire got into the act. Of two appendices, one reproduces the list of officers as published in the September 1915 Army List (corrected to August 31st 1914) and the other lists the officer casualties for the first year of the Great War, that is to the end of August 1915.

This exceptionally widely researched history of the 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment from its origins in 1741 to 1881 - when it merged into the Royal West Kent Regiment - is by a former Commander of the Unit, Col. Arthur Fyler. Drawing on his 40 years witrh the regiment, Col. Fyler devoted his retirement to compiling his history. He begins with the regiment's defence of Fort Oswego in Canada, which it was compelled to surrender in 1756 to a superior French force under the Marquis de Montcalm. In the Seven Years' War with France, the 50th served in Germany under the Marquis of Granby in 1760-2, helping to defeat the French at the battles of Warburg, Vellinghausen and Wilhelmsthal. In the Napoleonic Wars, the 50th took part in Admiral Hood's occupation of Corsica, helped storm Calvi and garrisoned the Corsican capital, Ajaccio under its Commander, Lt.-Col Wauchope, who was appointed Governor of the island. Forced to withdraw from his native island by Napoleon, the 50th took part in the expedition against the French in Egypt in 1801 under Sir Ralph Abercrombie, landing at Aboukir Bay, taking part in the battle of Alexandria, and marching up the Nile valley. Having helped compel the capitulation of General Menou's forces In Egypt, the 50th took in the defeat of the Danes outside Copenhagen under Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1807. The regiment played a part in all the major campaigns and battles of the Peninsula War, from Vimeiro and Corunna under Sir John Moore, to Torres Vedras, Fuentes D'Onoro, Vittoria, Maya, Roncesvalles, Nivelle, St Orthes, and Toulouse, under Generals Hill and Wellesley (later Wellington). After garrison duty in Jamaica, the 50th took part in the Sikh Wars in the Punjab, and other indian campaigns under Sir Charles Napier; its battle honours included Punniar, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon. In the Crimean War the 50th helped defeat the Russians at the Battle of the Alma. The history concludes with the regiment's part in New Zealand's Maori Wars. Generously Illustrated with 40 plates (some in colour) and maps. With ten appendices, including short lives of Sir Charles Napier and Sir Hudson Lowe, Governor of St Helena during Napoleon's captivity.

This history is dedicated to The Royal Munster Fusiliers, in Glorious Memory of Their Illustrious Origin, The Bengal European Regiment, of whose Honour, Fame, and Decorations They are the Inheritors and Trusted Guardians. The origins of the regiment go back a hundred years before Plassey, to the very early days of the East India Company when each of the three Presidencies (Bengal, Madras and Bombay) had their own armies of Native and European troops. The latter were initially organised in companies and it was as a small guard of honour (an Ensign and thirty men) that the Bengal Regiment began life in 1652. This grew into several companies till 1756 when, under Clive's orders, they were grouped to form the regiment, then known as "The Bengal European Battalion." In 1839 a second Bengal European Regiment was formed so we now had the 1st and 2nd Regiments. In 1858 the Presidencies' European regiments were taken over by the Crown and the two Bengal regiments became 1st and 2nd Bengal Fusiliers, redesignated in 1861 as 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers and the 104th Bengal Fusiliers. It was in 1881 they became 1st and 2nd Battalions The Royal Munster Fusiliers.This book really is an account of the conquest of India by the British. It opens in 1644 (back home the Civil War was at its height) with a look at the political causes which led to the formation of the regiment. The enemies were not only the Native Rulers but also the French, Portuguese, Dutch and Danes all of whom had to be dealt with - the most powerful being the French. The narrative covers all these events which involved the regiment in frequent fighting. At the beginning of the book is a list of the Regiment's war services from 1756 to 1858 - no less than 83 wars, battles and engagements, all are described in these pages and at the end of each chapter is a select list of references or bibliography. From time to time lists of officers serving in the regiment are given as are casualties in various actions. But it is not just war. There are interesting details on reorganisation, on pay and conditions of service, on dress and establishments, all making this a very comprehensive history.

Official history of the 1919 Third Afghan War in which Britain repelled Afghani-Pashtun thrusts into the North West Frontier and bombed Afghani cities from the air. Illustrated with fine and detailed maps.

The Regiment was established in 1911, but this book deals solely with its WWI services - Egypt, Allipoli and Palestine (Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Jordan). The narrative is clear and informative, with plenty of detail and with many individuals mentioned by name (especially casualties). Apps: Roll of Honour (KIA and WIA, Gallipoli and Palestine), H & A, List of COs.