Whether you are interested in the career of an individual officer, researching medals awarded to a soldier or just want to know more about a particular battle or campaign, this book will point you in the right direction. Assuming that the reader has no prior knowledge of the British army, its history or organization, family historian Simon Fowler explains which records survive, where they can be found and how they can help you in your research.

The author also describes resources available online as well as books and campaign histories. Worked examples are included which show how the records can be used to discover the career of an individual or a specific action, and particular attention is paid to explaining the records and the reasons behind their creation - this information can be very important in understanding how these documents can help your research.