THE STORY
OF
THE BRITISH ARMY

FIELD MARSHAL THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT WOLSELEY, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.M.G., &C., &C.

From a Photograph by Werner & Son, Dublin

THE STORY
OF
THE BRITISH ARMY

BY
Lieut.-Colonel
C. COOPER KING, F.G.S.

WITH PLANS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

METHUEN & CO.
36 ESSEX STREET, W.C.
LONDON
1897

IN TOKEN OF A LENGTHENED FRIENDSHIP
I DEDICATE THIS STORY
OF
HER MAJESTY’S ARMY
TO
ITS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
F.-M. THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
VISCOUNT WOLSELEY, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.M.G.

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I have endeavoured in the space at my disposal to showhow the British Army has grown up. I have tried merelyto tell a “story,” and therefore omitted much that mighthave been said regarding the noble work the Queen’s Armyhas done. As regards the opinions advanced, I have always,as far as possible, given the reasons for my views and theauthorities which induced me to form them.

I have adhered to the principle of using the old regimentalnumbers, for the sake of continuity; though, afterthe date when these were altered, I have, in most cases,added their present territorial titles.

I wish to express my great appreciation of the courtesyof the Colonel and the Officers of the Lancashire Fusiliers(20th), South Wales Borderers (24th), and the Prince ofWales’s Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment (14th), in allowingme to sketch the uniforms of their men from the interestinghistories of their respective regiments, and to E. C. Brett,Esq., for permitting me to copy the suits of armour that Ihave chosen as types from his father’s magnificent volume onArms and Armour.

Kingsclear, Camberley,
March 1897.

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