The British Army 1939-45 (1): North West Europe

The inportance of the British Army's contribution to World War II - and of WWII in the history of the British Army - is impossible to overstate. This first of three titles covers the introduction of new uniforms and equipment, based on a new tactical doctrine, in the 1930s; the costly lessons of Norway and France, 1940; the grim period when Britain stood alone in the world against Hitler's Germany; the slow build-up to the Second Front, and the army which crossed the Channel on D-Day 1944, and liberated huge areas of Western Europe by spring 1945. Mike Chappell comes from an Aldershot family with British Army connections stretching back several generations. He began painting military subjects in 1968 and since then has gained world-wide popularity as a military illustrator, and has written and illustrated several books in the Military list. Most recently he has illustrated a three volume Men-at-Arms set of the US Army in World War II. Martin Brayley, Abipp, is a military photographer whose service has taken him to most comers of the world, A long-time militaria collector, he has contributed many artides to specialist magazines in the UK and overseas, and is the author of WWII British Women's Uniforms in Colour Photographs (1995) and the well-reviewed The World War II Tommy (1998), He is currently working on a series of three titles on the British Army of World War II. An expert marksman, he has represented Great Britain at international level. Martin Brayiey lives in Hampshire with his wife and two children.