The Diehards: The 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot (now part of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment) Nothing could exceed the conduct and gallantry of Colonel Inglis at the head of his regiment.’ That is how Field Marshal Sir William Beresford, the British commander-in-chief at the Battle of Albuera, described the performance which gained ‘The Diehards’ […]
Articles
Pigeon-guided missiles
Military Times revisits the bizarre WWII invention of Burrhus Frederic Skinner. Behavioural analyst, author, innovator, poet, social philosopher, and Harvard professor of psychology, Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904-1990) was certainly a highly influential jack-of-all-trades. He invented the operant conditioning chamber, the cumulative recorder, the teaching machine, and pioneered his own scientific philosophy, ‘Radical Behaviorism’. What he […]
The Shropshire Regimental Museum
Keith Robson, Military Times’ roving museum buff, reports on the collections of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury Castle, now home to the Shropshire Regimental Museum, is built in a warm, local red sandstone. Today, it doesn’t look as forbidding or as threatening as other stone castles, but an important stronghold it once was. […]
The Fairey Swordfish
Obsolete it may have been, but the Fairey Swordfish remained in front-line service throughout the Second World War, distinguishing itself as the last biplane in the world to see active service. Although Taranto was arguably its finest hour, Swordfish scored many other notable successes, notably damaging the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941, helping sink […]
Iranian Archer – Soldier Profile
Iranian archer of the Persian Wars On the battlefield, the archers were formed up in the centre of the army, many ranks deep, protected by a barricade of shields and spears along their front, such that any enemy formation approaching would face a relentless rain of tens of thousands of high-velocity arrows. At a glance […]
Athenian Hoplite – Soldier Profile
Athenian Hoplite of the Persian Wars In pitched battle, the army formed a single phalanx of 10,000 men, a kilometre wide, eight ranks deep, protected by a wall of overlapping shields with a hedge of spear-blades projecting above. At a Glance Appearance Shield design: either individually chosen or representing clan, neighbourhood, or tribe Clothing and […]
Roman legionary – Soldier Profile
First century AD Roman legionary. At a glance Appearance Uniform and Imperial Clothing and Jewellery Military tunic worn as standard Leather belt, baldric, and apron straps often with personalised metallic decorations Scabbard, often with personalised decoration Hobnailed sandals Weaponry Throwing spear with pyramidal head and long metal shank (pilum) Short, stabbing sword (gladius) Dagger (pugio) […]
Celtic warrior – Soldier Profile
First century AD British Celtic warrior At a glance Appearance Hair sometimes lime-washed and spiked-up Face sometimes painted with blue protective tattoos Clothing and Jewellery Cloak, tunic and trousers, often of tartan cloth Neck-ring (torc) made of gold, silver, electrum or bronze Leather belt, often with decorated buckle and plates Scabbard, often decorated, especially at the […]
The Stonewall Brigade – Regiment Profile
Brigadier-General Thomas J Jackson, a professor of Virginia Military Institute, and his foot cavalry. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War in the eastern theatre. The Union men afterwards knew it as First Bull Run, the Confederates as First Manassas. It was fought on 21 July 1861 by two armies of […]
The Royal Scots Greys – Regiment Profile
The Royal Scots Greys: The regiment that caught the French Eagle. The image of the Scots Greys charging out of the picture in Lady Elizabeth Butler’s classic painting Scotland Forever! depicts one of the proudest moments in the regiment’s history. The truth, however, is far more remarkable than the portrayal of wild galloping horses in […]
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