Esposito, Gabriele Queen Victoria's Colonial Troops, 1837-1901

Organization, Uniforms and Equipment

Queen Victoria famously ruled over an empire on which the sun never set. To expand, defend and control Britain's global territories, the British Army had to fight against a bewildering array of enemies in equally diverse terrains and climates. From the subarctic mountains of Canada to the Sahara and the South African steppe, from the jungles of West Africa and Central India to China, British forces raised their flag. This task was only possible because troops were recruited from all the colonies, some of whom then served far from home (such as the Australians who were deployed in the Boer Wars). Colonial troops not only increased the number of forces available to the Empire, but also offered important diversity and flexibility through their local knowledge of the climate and terrain, as well as their different fighting styles. This allowed the British armies to adapt to the diverse enemies and environments they encountered. Gabriele Esposito provides an excellent overview of the troops recruited from all parts of the British Empire, explaining their organisation, weapons, uniforms and equipment, as well as how and where they were deployed. The informative text is richly illustrated with colour illustrations.