Vol. 1. September, 1921. No. 1.

PREFACE

THERE can be small doubt that for many years past the want has very much been felt of a Society for Military Research, and especially for a journal in which soldiers who have served and who are still serving and others could ask for and receive information about matters connected with regiments - their past history, campaigns and dress, or in regard to the whereabouts of old diaries and letters illustrating important events in their earlier lives. Lately this want has become intensified, for officers have set seriously to work to bring out new editions of their regimental histories, and they are no longer content to build these up upon the works of Alison and Fortescue, or to accept unhesitatingly what was set down about certain units of the British Army early in the last century by Richard Cannon.

They want to know more, to find out details of matters which are regimentally obscure, and they want to know where these may be discovered, and to "swop" ideas with others similarly employed.

In the year that the Great War broke out these views, long ventilated, had at last taken shape, and some of those interested in the past history of our Army, its achievements and traditions, had come together and decided upon an initial plan of action; a provisional committee was formed, and in that very month in which War was declared the project was so far advanced that something approaching one hundred and fifty applications had been sent in for provisional membership of the proposed Society. The war caused us all to turn our minds rather to making of new history than to the mere recording or searching into the history of the past, and consequently it was not until early this year that the matter was revived and the project definitely taken in hand again. A meeting was held on the 3rd June at the Royal United Service Institution, a committee was appointed, and the publication of a quarterly journal was decided upon, to be called "Army Historical Research," and to contain original articles, extracts from rare and not easily accessible military works, prints and drawings, notes, questions and answers, and generally to serve as a medium of inter-communication between members of the Society. It is believed that the Society is capable of enduring benefit to the Army in general and to the individuals composing it. Up to 29 August, 153 ladies and gentlemen have joined the Society.

ARTHUR LEETHAM

Journal 1-2 (1923) | Journal 3-4 (1925) | Journal 5-6 (1927) | Journal 7-8 (1929)

Miscellaneous Journals
Journal 27 (1949) | Journal 96 (Autumn 2018) |  Journal 97 (Winter 2018)