Victorian Military Society
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Military Society is a British
educational charity (Registered Charity No 1117006) which promotes the study of military history – of all nations and races – in the period 1837 to 1914. Its journal Soldiers of the Queen publishes work by professional and amateur historians as well as articles by academic researchers.
. His work involved him visiting a number of Victorian buildings and military works such as Woolwich Arsenal
, Chatham Dockyard
and the Palmerston Forts
protecting Portsmouth
Harbour. He became interested in their history and the events that had given rise to buildings of such considerable size and complexity.
As the result of a letter to the press asking if there were any other people who might share his interest in the military history of the Victorian period (at the time a deeply unfashionable one), the Victorian Military Society was formed. The Marquis of Anglesey, the distinguished historian of the British Cavalry, became the Society’s president and the late Stanley Baker
, the actor and producer of the film Zulu, became the Society’s first vice-president.
Other notable members of the Society have included the military historians Ian Knight (one of the Society’s founder members) a noted expert on the Zulu War and Rorke’s Drift, Michael Barthorp
author of books on the North West Frontier, the Boer War
and the Sudan campaigns, and the late Kenneth Griffith
, actor, documentary film maker, Boer war historian and author of a book on the siege and relief of Ladysmith
.
Its Chairman is Chris Kempton.
The Society publishes original research and articles on the Victorian and Edwardian periods in its quarterly Soldiers of the Queen (Journal)
, which takes its name from the popular song of the period. It became an educational charity in 2007.
Over the years, as well as publishing many articles on a wide number of subjects related to the period 1837 to 1914, the journal has also reflected some of the major anniversaries of the time, producing special editions of Soldiers of the Queen to commemorate General Gordon
and the attempt to relieve Khartoum
, the Boer War, the Territorial Army and its forerunners, and the 150th anniversary of the Indian Mutiny
.
A whole edition was also dedicated to the Royal Navy
in the Victorian period, recognising the role it played in maintaining the Pax Britannica
, as well as in polar exploration, surveying the oceans and the suppression of the slave trade.
The Editor of the journal is Andy Smith and the Reviews Editor is Dr Roger T. Stearn. Regular contributors include Ian Knight, Harold E Raugh, Dr Rodney Atwood, Dr Andrew Winrow, Dorothy Anderson, N.C. Hayes and Ian Cross.
The Society also has a Living History arm, The Diehards, who recreate British infantry regiments of the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
educational charity (Registered Charity No 1117006) which promotes the study of military history – of all nations and races – in the period 1837 to 1914. Its journal Soldiers of the Queen publishes work by professional and amateur historians as well as articles by academic researchers.
History
The Victorian Military Society was founded in 1974 by the late John Crouch FRIBA, who was an architect employed by the Ministry of Defence in Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. His work involved him visiting a number of Victorian buildings and military works such as Woolwich Arsenal
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
, Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
and the Palmerston Forts
Palmerston Forts
The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures, around the coast of Britain.The forts were built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and...
protecting Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
Harbour. He became interested in their history and the events that had given rise to buildings of such considerable size and complexity.
As the result of a letter to the press asking if there were any other people who might share his interest in the military history of the Victorian period (at the time a deeply unfashionable one), the Victorian Military Society was formed. The Marquis of Anglesey, the distinguished historian of the British Cavalry, became the Society’s president and the late Stanley Baker
Stanley Baker
Sir Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor and film producer.-Early career:William Stanley Baker was born in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, Wales. In the mid-1930s his parents moved to London, where Baker spent most of his formative years...
, the actor and producer of the film Zulu, became the Society’s first vice-president.
Other notable members of the Society have included the military historians Ian Knight (one of the Society’s founder members) a noted expert on the Zulu War and Rorke’s Drift, Michael Barthorp
Michael Barthorp
Michael Barthorp is a British historian and writer, specialising in military history and military uniforms. He lives in the Channel Islands.Barthorp attended Wellington College and served in the Rifle Brigade as an officer during World War II...
author of books on the North West Frontier, the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
and the Sudan campaigns, and the late Kenneth Griffith
Kenneth Griffith
Kenneth Griffith was a Welsh actor and documentary filmmaker.-Early life:He was born Kenneth Reginald Griffiths in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Six months after his birth his parents split up and left Tenby, leaving Kenneth with his paternal grandparents, Emily and Ernest, who immediately adopted...
, actor, documentary film maker, Boer war historian and author of a book on the siege and relief of Ladysmith
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
.
Its Chairman is Chris Kempton.
The Society publishes original research and articles on the Victorian and Edwardian periods in its quarterly Soldiers of the Queen (Journal)
Soldiers of the Queen (journal)
Soldiers of the Queen is the quarterly journal of the Victorian Military Society . SOTQ carries scholarly articles on many aspects of military and naval history of the Victorian and Edwardian era, but with a strong emphasis on the armed forces of Great Britain and the British Empire, and the...
, which takes its name from the popular song of the period. It became an educational charity in 2007.
Over the years, as well as publishing many articles on a wide number of subjects related to the period 1837 to 1914, the journal has also reflected some of the major anniversaries of the time, producing special editions of Soldiers of the Queen to commemorate General Gordon
Charles George Gordon
Major-General Charles George Gordon, CB , known as "Chinese" Gordon, Gordon Pasha, and Gordon of Khartoum, was a British army officer and administrator....
and the attempt to relieve Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, the Boer War, the Territorial Army and its forerunners, and the 150th anniversary of the Indian Mutiny
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
.
A whole edition was also dedicated to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the Victorian period, recognising the role it played in maintaining the Pax Britannica
Pax Britannica
Pax Britannica was the period of relative peace in Europe when the British Empire controlled most of the key maritime trade routes and enjoyed unchallenged sea power...
, as well as in polar exploration, surveying the oceans and the suppression of the slave trade.
The Editor of the journal is Andy Smith and the Reviews Editor is Dr Roger T. Stearn. Regular contributors include Ian Knight, Harold E Raugh, Dr Rodney Atwood, Dr Andrew Winrow, Dorothy Anderson, N.C. Hayes and Ian Cross.
The Society also has a Living History arm, The Diehards, who recreate British infantry regiments of the Victorian and Edwardian periods.