The Bottom Line
Pros
- Wonderfully written.
- Informative and comprehensive.
- Relatively broad timeframe.
Cons
- Illustrations less useful than normal.
Description
- 64 pages, including chronology and index.
- 8 colour plates and numerous B&W.
- Published by Osprey, ISBN: 1841763799.
Guide Review - Redcoat Officer 1740 - 1815 by Stuart Reid and Gerry Embleton
The British officer class may lack the reputation of their Prussian counterparts, but they remain an intriguing group, well-illustrated by source material and histories. In this, the 42nd Warrior book and a companion to Osprey's two British Redcoat volumes, Stuart Reid tackles a praiseworthily broad era covering Culloden, the American Revolutionary Conflicts, the Napoleonic Wars and numerous colonial pursuits. Reid explains how the structure of the British army changed with regard to officers before examining their social class (not as upper as you might believe), their training, their dress and equipment, the system of purchase/promotion, their responsibilities during peace and war and their retirement. Of more interest to the socially minded are sections detailing the sense of 'belonging' and brotherhood among officers, as well as the morality and duty expected of a 'gentleman'.Of course, this is an Osprey volume, so there are eight nicely drawn colour plates illustrating weapons, uniforms, normal clothes and equipment, each accompanied by a marvelously detailed commentary. However, five of the plates are vignettes showing officers during their lives: leading a unit, at peace in their billet, training etc. Modelers will be disappointed, but casual readers may be delighted. In addition, almost every page carries a black and white image while there are many well chosen quotations. My only complaint is the lack of a glossary for military terms: Reid assumes you know what ensigns and subalterns were, but some won't. Although the text won't compete with a four hundred page volume of dedicated material - although the artistic content certainly will! - Redcoat Officer 1740-1815 is a good account of the British Officer class during the Redcoat's most famous era, suitable for anyone but the already dedicated military reader.
