This work provides an organizational history of the maneuver brigade and case studies of its employment throughout the various wars. Apart from the text, the appendices at the end of the work provide a ready reference to all brigade organizations used in the Army since 1917 and the history of the brigade colors.

Story of The Rifle Brigade from its formation in 1800, its organization, uniform, equipment, arms and training and battles ending at Corunna in January 1809. The Rifle Brigade was formed in 1800 by detachments from various regiments as the ‘Experimental Corps of Riflemen’ initially and then ‘Rifle Corps’. It was under this name that the new regiment first made its mark under Nelson in the following year at the Battle of Copenhagen. In 1803 it was designated the 95th (Rifle) Regiment and in 1816, after Waterloo, it was taken out of the numbered regiments of the line and styled ‘The Rifle Brigade.’ In this first part the author, who served in the regiment, traces the evolution of the Rifle Corps with the advent of the rifle, which replaced the musket, and its effect on tactics...Dress, drill, equipment and armament all feature and the important period spent at Shorncliffe when Sir John Moore, the father of the Light Brigade, commanded the garrison; he was then regarded as “ the best trainer of troops England has ever possessed.” The first taste of action came with the Ferrol Expedition in 1800 which had the destruction of the Spanish base. The ‘Experimental Corps of Riflemen’ contributed detachments numbering 170 under the command of Stewart. They were first ashore on 25th August and it was the only corps in action on that day, which henceforth was celebrated as the birthday of the Regiment. During the next nine years covered in this book the regiment served on many fronts—Copenhagen, Germany, Monte Video, Buenos Ayres and finally the Peninsula where the 2nd Battalion arrived on 12th July 1808 and fought its first action against the French, at Rolica on 17th August. This first part ends with the terrible retreat to and battle of Corunna in January 1809 where Moore “was struck down by a round shot ......the ball carrying away his left shoulder and leaving his arm hanging by the exposed tendons.” Moore died of his wounds that same evening.—Print Ed.

Over 40 Illustrations of the officers, men and battles they engaged in. The Rifle Brigade has a long and distinguished history in the British Army as a corps of elite troops with a fighting pedigree stretching back to the times of Wellington, the Peninsular War and Waterloo. During the First World War the huge number of volunteers from New Zealand overstripped the ability of the administration to provide more than one brigade of infantry in 1915. However in 1916 a second brigade was formed and was designated as the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, marrying the traditions of the British Rifle Brigade for the highest standards of soldiery and the New Zealand traditions of courage, native skill and toughness. The New Zealand Rifle Brigade fought with distinction across the British zones of the battlefields of France and Flanders. As their official historian recounts with his vivid narrative from the bloody but successful debut at the battle of Flers-Courcelette, the battle of Messines, Passchendaele and the dark days of the German offensives in 1918, the “Dinks” as they were known covered themselves in glory. They would produce two Victoria cross winners from their ranks and many of their men would return to their native islands with other high honours for gallantry and bravery. However, the losses of these brave men were prodigious and the names of the fallen are inscribed in full detail in an appendix at the end of the book.