Released in 1969, the film Battle of Britain went on to become one of the most iconic war movies ever produced. The film drew many respected British actors to accept roles as key figures of the battle, including Sir Laurence Olivier as Hugh Dowding and Trevor Howard as Keith Park. It also starred Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer and Robert Shaw as squadron leaders. As well as its large all-star international cast, the film was notable for its spectacular flying sequences which were on a far grander scale than anything that had been seen on film before. At the time of its release, Battle of Britain was singled out for its efforts to portray the events of the summer of 1940 in great accuracy. To achieve this, Battle of Britain veterans such as Group Captain Tom Gleave, Wing Commander Robert Stanford Tuck, Wing Commander Douglas Bader, Squadron Leader Bolesław Drobiński and Luftwaffe General Adolf Galland were all involved as consultants. This detailed description of the making of the film is supported by a mouth-watering selection of pictures that were taken during the production stages. The images cover not only the many vintage aircraft used in the film, but also the airfields, the actors, and even the merchandise which accompanied the film’s release in 1969 – plus a whole lot more. There are numerous air-to-air shots of the Spitfires, Messerschmitts, Hurricanes and Heinkels that were brought together for the film. There are also images that capture the moment that Battle of Britain veterans, some of whom were acting as consultants, visited the sets. Interviews with people who worked on the film, such as Hamish Mahaddie, John Blake and Ron Goodwin, among others, bring the story to life.

This is a beautifully produced - and surely definitive - complete account of its subject. With 235 annotated high quality b/w illustrations and six full colour plates, printed on fine quality paper, it is a volume for any edged weapon or British Army enthusiast to treasure. The text encompasses technical details such as the pattern of swords - and the reasons why certain types were adopted, along with instructions for correctly wearing them. There are descriptions of the use of swords in battle - sometimes described by the swordsman wielding them - such as the gory account of the butchery at Waterloo by Sgt. Ewart who famously charged with the Royal Scots Greys. Sir Garnett Wolseley, the celebrated Victorian General, describes chopping men down from head to waist while serving with the Household Cavalry in Egypt in 1882. There are appendices on marking swords and chronological lists of changing sword patterns. This is a Naval and Military Press, National Army Museum joint reprint of the (1996) revised and greatly expanded edition of a book that first appeared in 1975 and quickly established itself as the standard authority on the British Army s swords.

BRITISH & IRISH HISTORY. The British Isles have long been steeped in a rich heritage of ceremony and tradition, and there are few artefacts that evoke this culture so strongly as the ceremonial sword. Undertaking a monumental task to create a celebration of artistry, craft and tradition, author Edward Barrett travelled to over sixty locations, from Edinburgh to Exeter, Camarthen to Canterbury, on a 3,500-mile-long odyssey to inspect, document and measure the eighty-seven state and civic swords of Great Britain. This was followed by a further 1,000-mile journey around Ireland researching similar swords. The individual story behind each of these magnificent works of art is told in full, and the volume also explores the history of the sword, the scabbard and their manufacture, as well as of other ceremonial trappings of each location. With unique access to the Royal Collections and stunning full-colour images throughout, Edward Barrett more than brings this fascinating work to life.