Berkshire's Military Heritage

Forged through centuries of armed struggle and foreign domination, aggressive invaders, oppressive monarchs, and rebellious citizens have repeatedly clashed to create Berkshires military heritage. A heritage stained with blood spilt during hard-fought sieges, vicious battles, terrible slaughters, and tragic accidents. The oldest remnants of Berkshires military heritage date to the Atrebates, an Iron Age people whose impressive hill forts once dominated the countys skyline, and whose remains are visible today. Windsor Castle, a royal residence, embodies almost a thousand years of military action and is still one of the nations top ceremonial attractions. The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst formed on the site of the former Royal Military College is one of the worlds toughest and most revered military training academies in the world. Its graduates include the Sultan of Brunei, Sir Winston Churchill, fascist Sir Oswald Mosley, James Bond author Ian Fleming, sports personalities Fionidi Parker and Heather Stanning, singer James Blunt, Oscar-winning actor David Niven, and Princes William and Harry. Berkshires military forces include the Royal Berkshire Regiments Biscuit Boys, who have protected the county and nation at home and abroad since 1881; and the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary service, who were formed and operated out of the county during the Second World War. Military historian and battlefield guide, former soldier Dean Hollands writes passionately about Britains military heritage and this book will interest anyone keen to know more about Berkshires remarkable military history.