The Amateur Military Tradition 1558-1945 (Manchester History of the British Army)

In this first full length study of the amateur military tradition in Britain, Ian Beckett presents a comprehensive and scholarly overview of the development of the auxiliary forces from the mid-seventeenth century to the present day. Re-evaluating the impact of the auxiliaries on British culture and society, the author argues that these forces, rather than the regular army, have provided an essential point of contact between army and society.Traditionally, standing armies in Britain have been viewed with considerable distrust and the preference for amateur and temporary soldiers has served to heighten the importance of the auxiliary forces in defence against both foreign invasion and domestic disorder. In this book, Ian Beckett traces the history of the auxiliary forces from the early evolution of a national militia through to the more systematic organisation of local auxiliaries and shows how the forces have continuously reflected and transmitted traditional attitudes towards military participation in Britain. Focusing on the development of such forces as the militia, yeomanry, volunteers, territorials and home guard, the author also conveys the continuity in their roles and the ubiquity of their presence in local society, highlighting not only their military purpose, but also their function as tools of social control and law-keeping.This book will be essential reading for military historians and their students and will also interest social historians and any general reader concerned with the interaction between army and society.