The history of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry during the Great War was a tragic one as the Regiment was one of the Indian army formations caught up in the disaster at Kut-al-Asmara in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq) in which a garrison commended by General Sir Charles Townshend was bottled up and compelled to surrender by the Turks. After the tragedy of Kut - in which many soldiers perished in Turkish captivity - the regiment was re-formed from its surviving remnants and saw service in the Palestinian campaign in the closing months of the war. Unit histories of Indian Army regiments are comparatively rare, and this one will be prized by all interested in the Raj and the Great War in Iraq.

This is the story of a small town, Midwestern, provincial young man who, over sixty years ago, was plucked out of his quiet, workaday life by the explosion of World War II. He found himself fastened to the conveyor belt that was transforming civilian men into pilots of heavy bombers. Initially terrified, he gradually adjusted to the process, and found to his surprise that he was enjoying it. It changed from an ordeal into a privilege. In spite of himself, he found a whole new world of exciting experiences far beyond his wildest dreams. A few brushes with violent death in the high altitudes were the spice that sweetened survival and enriched each day's happenings. Sherman was mostly right about war being hell, but for a few lucky ones, it was almost fun.

The Zulu War-by possibly its most authentic historians
Most written histories intend to be accurate, but they often suffer from the bias of perspective, and whilst this history of the Anglo-Zulu War is no exception, it is exceptional in that it is decidedly not a view of the conflict from an Imperial British standpoint. Francis Colenso was the daughter of Bishop Colenso, whose Bishopric included Zululand at the time of the war. She knew the Zulu nation well, had an affection for it and in company with her father was an ardent advocate in its cause. She was well aware of the many shameful calumnies perpetrated against it by the British including the bringing about of the war of 1879 itself. This history, written by an author who was on the spot, was originally published very shortly after the events themselves took place. It provides a very different view, far removed from a story of Imperial glory or folly. Ultimately the traditional Zulu way of life was destroyed by the war and the injustice and tragedy of that is painfully elaborated in these pages. 'Fanny' Colenso had a close personal relationship with Colonel Anthony Durnford, who fell at Isandlwhana and who became one of Lord Chelmsford's scapegoats for the disaster. For the military aspects of her history she called upon the assistance of Durnford's brother, Edward-also a soldier-to provide vital expertise, credibility, accuracy and authority. This is the first and possibly the most important history of the Zulu War and the events that bought it about and is an essential component of any library of the history of South Africa.

Slim though this unit history is, it covers a lot of ground - from the raising of the battalions of this distinguished Indian regiment by that brilliant soldier Gen. Sir Charles Napier in 1844 down to the campaign against a post-Second World War Communist takeover of Greece in 1944-46. En route, the Battalion saw service on many a bloodstained battlefield including campaigns against their fellow countrymen around the famous North-West frontier in the 19th century, to both world wars. A fascinating history of a fierce fighting unit which will be snapped up by all those interested in India and her soldiers.

Kel Palmer is a proud Mancunian. On retirement in 2000, he and Rosemarie planned to move from their 17th century haunted Sussex cottage to the sunshine of Cyprus or Kauai, but chose Wales This memoir, covering the 76 years he can remember, is written so that chapters may be read in isolation avoiding autobiographic boredom.

It depicts life during WW2 as seen through the eyes of a young boy, via roller-coaster days at Grammar School, spurning a sporting career to join the RAF leading to commissioning and flying training.

His first superiors were men wearied by war, facing new challenges as the jet replaced the piston and the WP replaced Nazism. It was a time before aircraft technology had mushroomed, before ejection seats, and electronic wizardry, but in which the flying was immensely exciting and life as a young officer was about fun and fulfillment. He flew mainly fighters with a mix of frontline squadrons, Operational conversion, Flying College, and service with the USAF and US Navy. He was a pioneer of fighter in-flight refueling in the heady days when RAF squadrons deployed worldwide.

Later he held Command posts, served in MOD Operational Requirements, Directed the Air Warfare College, and was Chief of Nuclear Plans at SHAPE, leading to his career in the defence industry. On cancellation of Nimrod AEW he left air defence switching to maritime patrol and battlefield surveillance as those roles became increasingly important. During the 90s life caught up with him and he enjoyed a triple heart bypass, divorced and re-married, and watched his four children complete their education and grow into adulthood.

He retired in 2000 to become involved in Community affairs, Youth, the environment and social housing, receiving The Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

He has lived in the USA, Germany, Belgium and Cyprus, travelled to 111 countries, and been an accomplished and versatile sportsman playing his last game of rugby at 46 and soccer at 61.An enthusiastic dancer, Kel is a great lover of music and of furry friends. He published his memoirs in 2005, updating them in the light of much reflection and some repercussions.

The Loyal North Lancs is one of the proudest names among British Army Regiments, and this massive history is a fitting memorial to their performance in the Great War. The Regiment served in virtually every theatre - the Western Front; Gallipoli; Egypt; Palestine; East Africa and Macedonia; - and this book tells the story of them all. The First Battalion of the regiment were in at the first - taking part in the defence of Ypres at Langemarck and Gheluvelt; and were in at the finish - participating in the breaking of the HIndenburg LIne. IN between, they fought at the battles of Neuve Chapelle and Aubers RIdge in 1915; the Somme in 1916; and the battles of Arras and Passchendaele in 1917. The 2nd Battalion was sent to East Africa and took part in the disastrous attack on Tanga and the subsequent frustrating campaign against that guerilla leader of genius, General Von Lettow-Vorbeck. Towards the end of the war, the battalion served in Egypt, Palestine and on the western front. The regiment's 1st/4th and 2nd/4th (territorial) battalions fought at Festubert in 1915 and then on the Somme and in the Ypres salient and Passchendale, and took part in the breaking of the HIndenburg line. A comprehensive, plainand unvarnished history of the regiment's huge contribution to the world war, this book, fully illustrated with maps and photos, and with appendices covering awards, uniforms, colours and honours, is a book that all lovers of Lancashire and all interested in the history of the Great War will treasure.

Survival, the IISS's bimonthly journal, challenges conventional wisdom and brings fresh, often controversial, perspectives on strategic issues of the moment. In this issue: Barry Posen argues that Europe is better placed to defend itself militarily than many, including the IISS, have portrayed it to be Kori Schake examines the prospects of Republican politics in a post-Trump America Daniel Byman and Aditi Joshi call for protocols to curb the abuse of social media by malign agents and states Nigel Gould-Davies explains Russia's stance on Belarus with reference to Moscow's long history of involving itself in its neighbours' affairs And nine more thought-provoking pieces, as well as our regular book reviews and Noteworthy column. Editor: Dr Dana Allin Managing Editor: Jonathan Stevenson Associate Editor: Carolyn West Assistant Editor: Jessica Watson