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Check the [http://shop.fibis.org/amazon.htm FIBIS Online Bookshop] for availability of recommended titles and more information. ===Army=== * Barthorp, Michael''Indian infantry regiments 1860-1914''. London: Osprey, 1979 (Men-at-arms series) A basic overview of the infantry regiments of the Indian Army, with useful illustrations showing the various uniforms.
* DuckersThis little book (under 200 pages) relates the rise and fall of the inimitable George Thomas (1756-1802), Peter''an Irish mercenary who was leader of a large contingent of soldiers, became the one-time lover of the renowned Begum Sombru and eventually established his own kingdom based at Hansi. The British-Indian Army 1860-1914''narrative reveals the complexity of a man who exhibited a ruthless courage in pursuit of his enemy but was loyal and generous in his dealings with his own men and those who hired them.Princes Risborough: Shire, 2003 Each chapter embodies quotes from (Shire album; 412) This usefulrelevant texts and footnotes to satisfy the academic. For the average reader, well-illustrated little this book provides is an excellent introduction to this early period in the institution, uniforms, arms history of India and services of to the Indian Army from its formation in 1860 until the advent type of WW1life lead by European mercenary soldiers. * HarrisThere is also a list of characters and glossary for ease of reference, Rplus a bibliography.GAn enthralling and unforgettable read.''Bengal cavalry regiments 1857-1914''Recommended. London: Osprey(Beverly Hallam, FIBIS trustee, 1979 (Men-at-arms series2010) Short history of the Indian Army cavalry with illustrations showing their uniforms.
* India. Army Dept.
''Army regulations, India. Vol. 7: dress''.
Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001
A reprint of the 1913 official instructions regarding all aspects of dress for both the British Army in India and the Indian Army. Descriptions of uniforms, facings, badges and devices are given for all regiments, and the variations for all officers, staff, and men.
* Jackson, Donovan''India's Army''.London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1940 Available in a number of reprints, "Major Donovan Jackson's comprehensive compilation of histories of individual regiments of the Indian Army This enormous tome is effectively an almost essential reference tool for those interested in the Indian Army during the British Colonial period. In the author's forward he notes that much encyclopedia of the contents of the book originally appeared as a series of articles in ''The Statesman'' during 1938-39. All the histories were compiled from official or regimental sources. For each regiment Major Jackson covers its development and changes of names, with relevant dates, actions, awards, notes on uniforms, etc. The book is copiously illustrated with photographs and drawings of badges. No regiment is excluded, with brief histories of the units of the Auxiliary Force (Volunteer Regiments) included, anything which can described as well as lengthier descriptions of the Indian States Forces, Body Guards and Irregular Regiments. The only criticism is that there is neither a bibliography nor a subject index provided. However, the overall content makes this an outstanding work of reference on the Indian Army from its earliest days as EIC Army regiments up to the outbreak of WWII". (Sylvia Murphy, 2008) * Mason, Philip''A Matter of Honour : an account of the Indian Army, its officers and men''cavalry regiment.London: Cape, 1974 "Philip Mason (1906-99) was for 40 years an Indian Civil Servant. On his retirement he wrote some excellent books on India. One was ''A Matter of Honour'' which traces the history of the Indian Army from its origins under the East India Company through to Independence in 1947. All the main campaigns Its purpose of the Indian Army and of course the disintegration of the Bengal Army in the Mutiny and its later painful reconstruction are chronicled. A major theme is how you instill loyalty in what can be seen effectively as an army of occupation. The answer according to Mason book is only by the highest standards of military conduct. If your ancestors were explained in the Indian Army, whether under the East India Company or later, this book is highly recommended". (Richard Morgan FIBIS trustee, 2008)opening paragraph:
* Yeats-Brown, Francis ''Lives This book attempts to record the regimental iconography of Indian Cavalry regiments in the armies of India from circa 1750 to present times including Pakistan. Since the evolution of a Bengal Lancerregimental iconography or the regimental badges would be incomplete without its history , the lineage, battle honours, ethnic composition, highest awards won, as well as highlights from the respective histories are included.''.
This book won ... Within each section, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography regiment is described in 1930. It is a palatable sized introduction to the life terms of a Bengal Lancer from 1905 until the time his regiment was disbanded at the end date and circumstances of its being first raised; what the First World War. However it author calls its lineage (that is not any mergers with other regiments in its composition), its battle honours; its ethnic composition; a mere military account as the book divides naturally into three sections very brief description of its uniform (eg 13th Duke of interest. PrimarilyConnaught’s (Watson’s Horse) Uniform Blue Facings Scarlet), the life of an English cavalryman in the Bengal lancers is presented. Days of regimental routine interspersed with pig stickinghighest gallantry awards, polo playing and visiting nautch girls. The cavalry regiment comprises both English and Indian soldiers and the author easily assimilates the attitudes of both worlds finally its iconography – that is to say the society details of the west buttons, shako badges and so forth which identify the mysticism of the Eastregiment.
During It must be admitted that some of these sections are brief. However the completeness of the First World War Yeatscoverage of all regiments is impressive. It even includes short-Brown is sent to France and later joins a flying lived volunteer corps in Mesopotamia – where is he captured by Turks. He eventually escapes and returns to India. However his days such as a lancer are soon over and the reader is presented with Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, which lasted for about a wonderful tour of India as he goes in search of practising gurus to learn year during the secrets of yoga and inner truthMutiny. An evocative and satisfying read. Recommended. (Beverly Hallam, FIBIS trustee)
=====Army lists=====The full review by Richard Morgan, former FIBIS Trustee, appears in FIBIS ''Journal'' 23 (Spring 2010) pp. 49-50, available online to members in Search FIBIS. Details on purchasing a copy in the United Kingdom are included in the full review.
* Hart, G. A.''Hart's annual army list''. [Online version] 1861-18681870
=====HEIC armies=====* Beckett, Ian F. W.''Discovering English county regiments''. 3rd ed.Princes Risborough: Shire, 2003 (Discovering series; 294)
This is an important reference work, originally published in 1927, on the officers of the HEIC Bengal Army who entered service between 1758 and 1834. Their military careers are shown, where appropriate through to the beginning of the 20th Century, covering service in the Afghan Wars, the Sikh Wars and the Indian Mutiny.
An invaluable reference work A reprint of the 1913 official instructions regarding all aspects of dress for those whose ancestors were officers both the British Army in India and the HEIC Madras Indian Army between 1760 . Descriptions of uniforms, facings, badges and 1837. Available devices are given for all regiments, and the variations for reading online or download at [http://www.archiveall officers, staff, and men.org/details/alphabeticallist00dodwuoft Internet Archive]
=====British regiments=====* Jackson, Donovan''India's Army''.London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1940
* RichardsIf your ancestors were in the Indian Army, Frank''Old soldier sahib''whether under the East India Company or later, this book is highly recommended".Uckfield: Naval & Military Press (Richard Morgan FIBIS trustee, 20032008)
Private Frank Richards DCM MM* Yeats-Brown, enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1901 and, in this reprinted prequel to Francis ''Old soldiers never dieLives of a Bengal Lancer'', he recounts his experiences as a British soldier serving primarily in India and Burma prior to WW1. As the publisher says New ed. London: "his descriptions of the soldier's life in those countries in those far off days and his anecdotes makes wonderful reading".Dennis Dobson, 1954 (Twentieth century classics)
=====Medical Departments=====During the First World War Yeats-Brown is sent to France and later joins a flying corps in Mesopotamia – where is he captured by Turks. He eventually escapes and returns to India. However his days as a lancer are soon over and the reader is presented with a wonderful tour of India as he goes in search of practising gurus to learn the secrets of yoga and inner truth. An evocative and satisfying read. Recommended." (Beverly Hallam, FIBIS trustee)
===Wars and battles=======The Mutiny====
====WW1====
====WW2====
====Other wars and battles====
→HEIC armies
* Duckers, Peter
This small, prolifically illustrated book outlines medals issued to British soldiers and sailors who were involved in action around the world. As the HEIC began the habit of issuing general campaign medals examples of several of these are pictured. Whether one wants to identify a medal inherited from an ancestor or see what an ancestor's campaign medal would have looked like this title is a useful starting point.
* Hennessy, Maurice
''The rajah from Tipperary''.
Sevenoaks, Kent: New English Library, 1972
* Holmes, Richard
"Holmes is a distinguished historian of the British Army ...[In this book he writes] about both [East India] Company and British Army soldiers, and both the officers and the rankers. He seems to be on surer ground when it comes to the British Army and to the officers but still has much to tell us on the rankers, with his source material coming from a mixture of the ten page bibliography and memoirs and letters. He lists eighteen such sources in the National Army Museum and thirteen in the British Library (as well as published sources), and gives numerous extracts from them as he describes what life was like... As nearly every fact is footnoted with the citation, anyone who is interested can follow up clues in the bibliography. All in all, this 500 page book is excellent background reading for anyone with a soldier ancestor." The full review by Steve van Dulken is available on p. 46 of the FIBIS ''Journal'' 15 (Spring 2006)
* Irving, Miles
Inscriptions from graves and monuments of some 1100 soldiers, mostly officers, together with additional biographical notes. Originally published as volume 2 of the Indian Monumental Inscription Series, this covers the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province, Kashmir and Afghanistan.
* Nath, Ashok
''Izzat : historical records and iconography of Indian Cavalry Regiments 1757-2007.''
Delhi: Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, United Service Institution of India, 2009
The iconography section does not show uniforms – only the buttons and badges, sabretaches and a few shakoes... It must be regretted that there are no illustrations of picturesque uniforms...
Nevertheless the more limited objectives that the author has set himself have been realised very thoroughly. This is not a book to find out about individual family ancestors, but it is a book to find out about something of what sort of regiment they served in and about its 'iconography' (to use the author’s word). Izzat means respect or renown, and this is a work of love and piety to a great tradition, and is available for reference on the open shelves of the Asian and African Studies Reading Room at the British Library."
===Army lists===
Army lists are the directories of this section of the military. They are a useful way of tracking an officer's career. Some key years are available as reprints. Original editions may be consulted in large reference collections.
* Hart, G. A.
Lt. Col. Hart's annual volumes, begun in 1840 and continued until 1915, generally contain far more career information than the official Army Lists. This is a reprint of the edition corrected to December 1859, and thus includes details of service in the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny. Covers all Commissioned Officers (including paymasters, quartermasters, surgeons, etc) in the Army (including Militia), Ordnance and Marines.
* Hart, G. A.
''Hart's annual army list''. [Online versions]
A full view of a series of this invaluable title covering the years following the institution of the Indian Army is available at [http://books.google.com/books?q=editions:0-5YLr7Ubqb3G4d8eZ&client=firefox-a&lr=&id=BLAaAAAAMAAJ&sa=N&start=0 Google Books]
Later published British Army lists
Full view editions covering years up to 1946 are available to search and view at [http://archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Anlsarmylists&sort=-publicdate archive.org]
This is a reprint of the edition corrected to December 1884. Covers all Commissioned Officers (including paymasters, quartermasters, surgeons, etc) in the Army, Ordnance and Marines, plus the Militia list, Indian Civil Services list, Indian Staff Corps and Indian local forces.
===British regiments===
"This is a fabulous compact guide to the confusing world of British Army regiments. [It] lists all the Regiments of Foot ... and cross-references the regimental names with the regimental numbers. Equally importantly, it covers when regiments were raised, disbanded, and amalgamated with other regiments (including battalions). Each regiment has a brief history, and includes additional information such as battle honours, Victoria Crosses, nicknames, mottoes, memorials and details for the regimental museum. There are also numerous colour and B&W illustrations ... Please note that this book does not cover the Royal Artillery or the Royal Engineers". (Anne Kelsall, former FIBIS Webmaster and Marketing Manager, 2005).
* Gould, W.J.D.
''Ten years in India in the 16th Lancers, and three years in Africa in the Cape Corps Levies''. Toronto: Hunter Rose, 1880
"This book, which is available online through the [http://www.archive.org/details/tenyearsinindiai00gouluoft Canadian Libraries Internet Archive], records the author’s ten year tour of duty with the 16th Lancers in India from 1837 to 1846, gives a fascinating insight into the early days of the Raj, and life in the British Army. It also explores his later military exploits with the Cape Corps Levies in Africa. It will appeal to those who have military ancestors, and those who are interested in military history – with the added spice of eye-witness accounts of that history.
There are very powerful descriptions of the battles of Ghunzee, Cabul, Maharajapoor, Buddiwal, Aliwal, Sabraon etc, as well as descriptions of the beauty or otherwise of the countryside and the military cantonments. It also contains humorous anecdotes, descriptions of British soldier's social life in India at that time from the point of view of a non-commissioned officer, and the hardships endured during the battles." (Ainslie Sharpe, 2009)
* Richards, Frank
''Old soldier sahib''.
Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2003
Private Frank Richards DCM MM, enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1901 and, in this reprinted prequel to ''Old soldiers never die'', he recounts his experiences as a British soldier serving primarily in India and Burma prior to WW1. As the publisher says: "his descriptions of the soldier's life in those countries in those far off days and his anecdotes makes wonderful reading".
===HEIC armies===
* Bailey, Peter
Families in British India Society, 2006. (FIBIS research guide; 1)
This is the essential handbook for anyone researching ancestors who were connected to the HEIC Armies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. It covers records from the armies' origins until their assimilation into the British Army in 1860. Laid out in a clear and accessible manner, the book directs searchers to records on all available stages of a man's career, whether officer or soldier, including sources which may provide details on his wife and children. For those researchers not fortunate enough to have access to the India Office Records at the British Library, the LDS film numbers are included. A full review by Richard Scott Morel, Archivist of Pre-1858 India Office Records, is available on pp. 45-46 of the FIBIS ''Journal'' 17 (Spring 2007)Available from [https://www.fibis.org/store/ FIBIS shop] *Dodwell, Edward''Alphabetical list of the officers of the Madras army : with the dates of their respective promotion, retirement, resignation or death, whether in India or in Europe; from the year 1760, to the year 1834 inclusive, corrected to September 30, 1837'', compiled by Messrs. Dodwell and Miles. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, 1838 An invaluable reference work for those whose ancestors were officers in the HEIC Madras Army between 1760 and 1837. Available for reading online or download at [http://www.archive.org/details/alphabeticallist00dodwuoft Internet Archive] *Dodwell & Miles''Alphabetical list of the officers of the Bengal army : with the dates of their respective promotion, retirement, resignation or death, whether in India or in Europe; from the year 1760, to the year 1834 inclusive, corrected to September 30, 1837'', compiled by Messrs. Dodwell and Miles. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, 1838
Similar volume to the above Madras Army List but now covering Bengal Army. Available to download or read online at [http://www.archive.org/details/alphabeticallist00dodwrich Archive.org]
* Hodson, V.C.P.
''Officers of the Bengal Army 1758-1834''. 6 vols. Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2001
** [http://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=152&s_id=0 Index to Names] is held on FIBIS database
This is an important reference work, originally published in 1927, on the officers of the HEIC Bengal Army who entered service between 1758 and 1834. Their military careers are shown, where appropriate through to the beginning of the 20th Century, covering service in the Afghan Wars, the Sikh Wars and the Indian Mutiny.
===Indian Army===
* Barthorp, Michael
''Indian infantry regiments 1860-1914''. London: Osprey, 1979 (Men-at-arms series)
A basic overview of the infantry regiments of the Indian Army, with useful illustrations showing the various uniforms.
* Duckers, Peter
''The British-Indian Army 1860-1914''.
Princes Risborough: Shire, 2003 (Shire album; 412)
This useful, well-illustrated little book provides an introduction to the institution, uniforms, arms and services of the Indian Army from its formation in 1860 until the advent of WW1.
* Harris, R.G.
''Bengal cavalry regiments 1857-1914''. London: Osprey, 1979 (Men-at-arms series)
Short history of the Indian Army cavalry with illustrations showing their uniforms.
*Dodwell, EdwardIndia. Army Dept.''Alphabetical list of the officers of the Madras army : with the dates of their respective promotionArmy regulations, retirement, resignation or death, whether in India or in Europe; from the year 1760, to the year 1834 inclusive, corrected to September 30, 1837. Vol. 7: dress'', compiled by Messrs. Dodwell and Miles. [Online version] LondonUckfield: Longman, Orme, BrownNaval & Military Press, 18382001
Available in a number of reprints, "Major Donovan Jackson's comprehensive compilation of histories of individual regiments of the Indian Army is an almost essential reference tool for those interested in the Indian Army during the British Colonial period. In the author's forward he notes that much of the contents of the book originally appeared as a series of articles in ''The Statesman'' during 1938-39. All the histories were compiled from official or regimental sources. For each regiment Major Jackson covers its development and changes of names, with relevant dates, actions, awards, notes on uniforms, etc. The book is copiously illustrated with photographs and drawings of badges. No regiment is excluded, with brief histories of the units of the Auxiliary Force (Volunteer Regiments) included, as well as lengthier descriptions of the Indian States Forces, Body Guards and Irregular Regiments. The only criticism is that there is neither a bibliography nor a subject index provided. However, the overall content makes this an outstanding work of reference on the Indian Army from its earliest days as EIC Army regiments up to the outbreak of WWII". (Sylvia Murphy, 2008)
* BeckettMason, Ian F. W.Philip''Discovering English county regimentsA Matter of honour : an account of the Indian Army, its officers and men''. 3rd ed.Princes RisboroughLondon: ShireCape, 2003 (Discovering series; 294)1974
"This is a fabulous compact guide to Philip Mason (1906-99) was for 40 years an Indian Civil Servant. On his retirement he wrote some excellent books on India. One was ''A Matter of Honour'' which traces the confusing world history of British the Indian Army regimentsfrom its origins under the East India Company through to Independence in 1947. [It] lists all All the Regiments main campaigns of Foot ... and cross-references the regimental names with the regimental numbers. Equally importantly, it covers when regiments were raised, disbanded, Indian Army and amalgamated with other regiments (including battalions). Each regiment has a brief history, and includes additional information such as battle honours, Victoria Crosses, nicknames, mottoes, memorials and details for of course the regimental museum. There are also numerous colour and B&W illustrations ... Please note that this book does not cover disintegration of the Royal Artillery or Bengal Army in the Royal Engineers". (Anne Kelsall, former FIBIS Webmaster Mutiny and Marketing Manager, 2005)its later painful reconstruction are chronicled.
A major theme is how you instill loyalty in what can be seen effectively as an army of occupation. The answer according to Mason is only by the highest standards of military conduct.
"This book won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for biography in 1930. It is a palatable sized introduction to the life of a Bengal Lancer from 1905 until the time his regiment was disbanded at the end of the First World War. However it is not a mere military account as the book divides naturally into three sections of interest. Primarily, the life of an English cavalryman in the Bengal lancers is presented. Days of regimental routine interspersed with pig sticking, polo playing and visiting nautch girls. The cavalry regiment comprises both English and Indian soldiers and the author easily assimilates the attitudes of both worlds – the society of the west and the mysticism of the East.
===Medical Departments===
* Crawford, D.G.
Originally published in 1930, this gives details of educational qualifications, dates of birth, appointments and promotions, and war service for 6,586 surgeons in the Indian Medical Service. The IMS was a division of the military, although its surgeons were sometimes seconded to civil postings. In addition to career information there are a variety of appendices and background detail on such topics as medical colleges and places of instruction in India. Note that the Roll does not include members of the Subordinate Medical Service/Departments.
===Other===
* [[Categoryhttp:Recommended reading]//wiki.fibis.org/images/0/09/Life_in_the_Army_in_British_India.pdf List of books recommended by Peter Moore] ===Navy===(PDF)
==Navy==
* Low, Charles Rathbone
This history covers the life span of the HEIC Indian Navy. Operations from the Persian Gulf to the Burma and First China Wars, from Aden to New Zealand and the Maori Wars, and the Indian Mutiny. Survey work from the Red Sea to the China Seas. The author entered the East India Company's Indian Navy in 1853 and saw active service against pirates and slave traders in waters ranging from Zanzibar to the China Seas. This edition includes indexes of ships and officers, compiled by Captain Douglas Morris R.N.
* Dalrymple, William
For anyone who wishes to form a balanced picture of the Indian Mutiny, this is essential reading. The last Mughal of the book's title was the Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II, whose line, the House of Timur, had gradually seen their power and influence eroded by the British foreigners. Coming as traders but gradually amassing for themselves huge wealth and power, even to the extent of taking over the Emperor's capital city, Delhi, their overall arrogance and lack of understanding of the local people laid the ground for the largest uprising ever experienced in the British Empire. Using English, Urdu and Persian language sources, Dalrymple presents the results of his extensive research into the causes, events and consequences of the Mutiny in this readable but, of necessity, long book.
* David, Saul
This is the standard modern account of the Indian Mutiny.
* Fremont-Barnes, Gregory
This is a useful, short introduction to the subject, with many illustrations and some maps and plans.
* Llewellyn-Jones, Rosie
''The great uprising in India 1857-58''.
The full review by Richard Morgan, a FIBIS Trustee, is available on pp. 53-55 of the FIBIS ''Journal'' 19 (Spring 2008)
* Ward, Andrew
Focusing on the siege and subsequent massacres at Cawnpore, the author presents an authoritative and detailed account of these horrific events, and their consequences. The result is a long, readable book with copious foot notes.
* Spencer, William
This invaluable guide to locating information on ancestors who served in WW1 has been expanded and updated to refer to many resources which are now available online. The primary source is still the National Archives (TNA) at Kew in England, where in addition to the more obvious Records of Service (British Army officers and other ranks, RAF, WAAC, auxiliary and nursing services) are those of the Indian Army and Dominion Forces. This directs the family historian to a possible treasure trove of records, including those for medals and awards, prisoners of war, unit war diaries and maps.
* Brayley, Martin J.
This provides a concise overview of events in the Far East, with a major focus on Burma. In common with all titles in this series there are coloured illustrations showing uniforms in detail, plus many photographs.
* Young, James
This title is one of more than a dozen contemporary accounts of battles in India and Asia which Leonaur have brought back into print in attractive, affordable versions. The books are OCR versions of the originals and it should be noted that in the case of ''Galloping guns'', and possibly also the other titles, software recognition failures have not been corrected.
[[Category:Recommended reading]]
[[Category:Military|Reading]]
