Britain

Disastrous battle raged on the Somme from July until November, 1916; John Terraine describes how it marked the ‘ruddy grave’ of the German field army.

J.M. Brereton describes how Russian advances in Central Asia alarmed the British authorities in London as well as in India.

From February until December 1916, Verdun was the scene of the longest and heaviest series of battles.

L.W. Cowie describes how, early in 1805, a series of strong points were built along the British coast-line, to defend against Napoleon’s army, then arrayed across the Channel.

During the campaign of 1815, writes Michael Glover, Wellington was handicapped by a shortage of military maps.

In 1828, writes John Adair, the great patriot’s tomb was rudely disturbed by an enquiring Whig historian.

M. Foster Farley describes how a powerful attack on the State of South Carolina, by the British fleet and army was met and valiantly repulsed.

John Terraine describes how the Allied offensive of spring 1917 promised victory but ended in failure and mutiny.

The purchase system, writes Robert Woodall, was regarded by its opponents as the main obstacle to the creation of professional officer corps.

Once Rowland Hill had launched the Penny Post, many British citizens, it was said, first learned to read that they might enjoy a letter. By Dee Moss.