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Delve deeper into stories of the Army and its soldiers, exploring events across the globe and down the centuries.

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Battle of Lexington, 1775

Battles of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775, the famous ‘shot heard ‘round the world’, marked the start of the American War of Independence.

The landing at Quebec, 1759

Battle of Quebec

The Battle of Quebec in 1759 was one of Britain's greatest victories of the Seven Years War (1756-63). Major-General James Wolfe’s triumph ultimately led to the British conquest of Canada.

Lord John Hopetoun, Royal Company of Archers, in 1822

The Royal Company of Archers

Formed in the 17th century, this organisation fell under government suspicion during the time of the Jacobite uprisings. Despite these inauspicious beginnings, it later evolved into the Sovereign's bodyguard in Scotland.

A Jewish refugee ship in Palestine, 1947

The British Army in Palestine

In the aftermath of the Second World War (1939-45), the British Army in Palestine confronted an escalating conflict between two rival nationalist movements – Jewish and Arab.

15 words with Indian origins

15 words with Indian origins

Discover how the cultural relationship between Britain and India has influenced our language.

On patrol during the Kenya Emergency, c1955

Kenya Emergency

The Kenya Emergency, or Mau Mau Revolt, was one of the British Army's bloodiest and most controversial post-war conflicts.

Rebel sepoys, 1857

Why did the Indian Rebellion happen?

In 1857, Indian soldiers rose up against their British commanders. The reasons behind the rebellion stretch back to the very origins of British involvement in Indian affairs.

Hudson's Horse at Rhotuck, 1857

Decisive events of the Indian Rebellion

The rebellion that broke out in 1857 was the biggest threat to Britain's colonial power during its rule of the Indian subcontinent.

Storming of Amoy, 1841

First China War

Between 1839 and 1842, British-Indian forces fought a war with Imperial China that served the interests of opium smugglers. Their resulting victory opened up the lucrative Chinese trade to British merchants.

United Nations Korean War Medal

Korean War

In 1950, the Cold War heated up significantly with the outbreak of conflict in Korea. This three-year struggle left millions dead, and its legacy remains of huge global consequence today.

Lieutenants Melville and Coghill saving the Colours at Isandlwana, 1879

Zulu War

In 1879, the British fought a war against the Zulu Kingdom. The Zulus resisted bravely and were only defeated after a series of particularly bloody battles that have gone down in the annals of colonial warfare.

The Tanjore Durbar, Madras, February 1840

Indian armies, Indian art

Artworks created by Indian artists for the British soldiers serving on the subcontinent provide a fascinating insight into early Anglo-Indian relations.

Stories of remembrance

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Peace and commemoration

After the Armistice in November 1918, millions of soldiers hoped they would soon go home. But demobilising so many troops was a huge task. How best to mark the Allied victory also became a subject for debate.

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Honouring the fallen

After the First World War, British society had to come to terms with the loss of huge numbers of its service personnel. Across the country, people found ways to commemorate the fallen at a local and national level.

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The Unknown Warrior

The grave of the Unknown Warrior contains the remains of an unidentified British serviceman, interred in 1920 to honour the fallen of the First World War. The secretive selection process remains shrouded in mystery.