The Second Household Cavalry Regiment’s war was a short and exciting one, from Normandy in July 1944 to Germany in May 1945. In the vanguard of the Guards armored Division, 2 HCR, an armored reconnaissance regiment, was continuously on the advance and rarely out of contact with the enemy. Sometimes progress was slow and grinding, while at other times it was with exhilarating speed. Written shortly after the War, this book draws on the recollections of those who were in the thick of the action; the young troop leaders, their corporals-of-horse, and troopers. Roden Orde has taken great care to weave an accurate, balanced and readable account, the story of an entire regiment, from the commanding officer to the youngest trooper. This inclusive style was ahead of its time, with a narrative that has a contemporary feel to it. The story cracks on and Sir Winston Churchill later described it as ‘the best regimental history I have ever read’. The book is well illustrated with many contemporary photographs, hand-drawn maps, and wonderful paintings and drawings, some of which have not been seen for many years.

Henry Dallal’s photography evokes here an age-old world where the horse reigns supreme. At the heart of this book is the mounted cavalry, a professional elite that embodies India’s history, upholding ceremonial pageantry and equestrian skill as part of the country’s armed forces. The 61st Cavalry is an extraordinary body of soldiers in that it is one of the world’s few remaining active mounted cavalry regiments. From the traditional horse and camel fairs in the Thar Desert to the cool Victorian interiors of Babugarh Breeding Crente; from the nomadic Nihang warriors mounted on India’s indigenous Marwari horses to the international polo fields of Jaipur; from the regiment’s operational duties on patrol to its ceremonial function at the annual Republic Day Parade, Dallal’s photographic record portrays a little-known aspect of modern India where past and present stand vividly together, as well as a unique insight into the day-to-day life of an active cavalry regiment. This beautiful book will appeal to all who have an interest in military history of a love of horses.