Handbook of British Regiments - Concise Lineage Reference

Our review of Handbook of British Regiments finds it a compact, factual reference for readers who need a clear record of regimental lineage and identities. Aimed at historians, students of military organization and informed enthusiasts, the book's biggest strength is its standardized, entry-by-entry layout that makes comparison simple and reliable. The reviewer found the focus on the late 1980s British army particularly useful for tracing how cavalry and infantry units were absorbed or amalgamated, making this a practical working reference rather than a narrative history.

Key Features

• Standardized entries: Each regiment and corps has a uniform layout so details such as current title and history can be compared quickly.
• Coverage of late 1980s army: The book documents approximately 85 regiments and corps that formed the British army toward the end of the 1980s, useful for that historical snapshot.
• Lineage and history: Concise historical notes explain processes of absorption and amalgamation that reduced the number of regiments over time.
• Uniform and ceremonial details: Entries include information on uniform and colonel-in-chief where applicable, assisting identification and visual reference.
• Reference format: The factual, non-narrative layout makes it easy to extract specific data for research or cataloguing.

Who It's For

The Handbook of British Regiments is best for military historians, archive librarians and students who need a factual, comparable reference for British regiments around the late 1980s. It suits anyone tracing unit lineage, researching unit titles, or verifying ceremonial details such as colonel-in-chief and uniform descriptions.

Casual readers seeking a narrative history or richly illustrated coffee-table book should look elsewhere; this is not a general readership history or pictorial volume, but a concise, directory-style handbook focused on facts and lineage.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive snapshot of roughly 85 regiments and corps active toward the late 1980s, making it valuable for that period.
• The standardized entry format allows quick comparison of titles, history and uniform details across units.
• Concise historical notes explain the absorption and amalgamation processes that shaped the modern army.

Cons

• The book is reference-oriented and not designed as a narrative history or richly illustrated work, which some readers may prefer.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Handbook of British Regiments is a concise, well-organized reference that delivers excellent value for researchers and enthusiasts who need an authoritative snapshot of regimental identities in the late 1980s. Its standardized entries and focus on lineage make it a practical tool for academic and archival work, though readers seeking narrative history or extensive illustration will want a different volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover all regiments up to the present?
Answer. It specifically documents the regiments and corps forming the British army toward the end of the 1980s rather than later reorganizations.

What kind of details does each entry include?
Answer. Entries provide current title, colonel-in-chief where applicable, uniform notes and a concise history outlining lineage and amalgamation events.

Is this suitable for general readers?
Answer. It is primarily a factual handbook for researchers; casual readers seeking narrative history or many illustrations may prefer other titles.