Authors and Contributors this page: T.F. Mills
Page created 5 April 2001. Corrected and updated 10.07.2004
 
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Can I Obtain
Hard-to-Find Military Books?
 

        You may have been directed here from the bibliography sections on this website. You have identified some interesting titles, but don't know where to find them?

        The typical public and academic library will have a handful of regimental histories and other books about the armies of the British Empire and Commonwealth. Chances are that these are not the books you are looking for. There are still options open to you:

        1. Ask your local librarian for assistance in identifying and obtaining books through inter-library loan. In many libraries, this service is fee-based, but still less expensive than purchasing the book. Local libraries and bookstores can also tell you whether a book is still in print or not.

        2. If purchase is an option, see our links to searchable databases of new and used books. Some web sites are cooperatives for many bookstores, and purchasing through the central website may involve an extra commission to them. Do some comparison shopping, and read the fine print. See also our links to websites of military publishers and book dealers around the world. There are many here who are not included in the searchable databases. Some dealers have a free search service, but note that the finder's fee can easily double the cost of the book.

Special note on Regimental Histories:

        Due to time constraints, we regret that we cannot routinely provide bibliographies of histories of particular regiments which have not yet been provided on each regiment's page of this site. Most of the famous regiments and corps of the British Empire and Commonwealth have multiple published histories. In the meantime, a couple of excellent printed bibliographies will help you.

        For the British Army see:

White, Arthur Sharpin.
A bibliography of regimental histories of the British Army.
London : Society for Army Historical Research in conjunction with Army Museums Ogilby Trust, 1965.
[reprinted by Naval & Military Press, 1992]
viii, 331 p. ; 25 cm.
ISBN: 1897632258

        For the rest of the Commonwealth and Empire the best bibliography is:

Perkins, Roger.
Regiments : regiments and corps of the British Empire and Commonwealth,1758-1993 : a critical bibliography of their published histories.
Newton Abbot, Devon : R. Perkins, 1994.
806 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
ISBN: 0950642932

        The two works combined have also been issued on CD-ROM. Libraries with major military and genealogy collections should have these bibliographies. If they do not, ask the library to purchase them for their users.