Includes bibliographical references (pages 540-545)
Introductory: Ruffle of drums -- How it began: French and English -- Elephants and cavalry: Indian model -- Rock-like infantry: British model -- Crisis upon crisis -- High noon of the Sepoy army -- Army in being -- Generals -- Officers -- Men -- Storm: Gathering darkness -- Fear and its causes -- Storm breaks -- Soldiers of the queen: New army -- Martial classes -- Her majesty's servants -- Under which king ...?: Change on two fronts -- First world war -- Between the wars -- Second world war: Defeat -- Second world war: Victory -- Appendix -- Notes and sources -- Index