Warrior British Redcoat (1) - 1740-1793 Osprey Books

During this period, the British army earned itself a formidable reputation as a fighting force, laying the foundations of one of the greatest empires in history. It was however a deeply unpopular institution at the time, and recruited from a far lower proportion of the population than almost any other army in Europe. Due to its role as a police force at home, and demonisation by American propaganda, the army was viewed as little removed from a penal institution run by aristocratic dilettantes. This view, still held by many today, is challenged by Stuart Reid in his book British Redcoat 1740-1793. Reid paints a picture of an increasingly professionalised force, in which promotion through the ranks to a commission was possible and indeed did happen. The methods and process of recruitment, the social background of the troops and their reasons for joining the army are all closely examined, as are their pay, careers and training. The book also investigates the more personal parts of infantry life: food, drink and leisure. The development and increasing use of light infantry and the evolution of bayonet drill throughout the period are also studied closely and much emphasis is placed by the author on the increased training and thus professionalism of the force. This was an important time of change and improvement for the British Army, and British Redcoat 1740-1793 fully brings this out in its comprehensive examination of the lives, conditions and experiences of the late 18th-century infantryman.