Militaria.co.uk Knowledge Base

Military History Hub

Explore articles, guides, and features spanning centuries of military history. From cap badges to campaign medals, uniforms to unit histories — the stories behind the items we collect and preserve.

20Articles
9Historical Eras
1,791Related Items
426+Years Covered
Explore the Interactive Timeline
Discover 20 articles across 426+ years of military history — zoom, filter by era, and browse related items on a fully interactive visual timeline.
3September

Today in Military History

  • 1939Britain declares war on Germany: Chamberlain announces 'this country is at war'

Featured Articles

guide World War II (1939–1945) Victorian Era (1837–1901) World War I (1914–1918)
The British Army Cap Badge: A Collectors Guide to Identification
Key Reform Childers Reforms, 1881 Contents Introduction What Is a Cap Badge? History and Development Materials and Manufacture Design Elements […]
The Victoria Cross: Britain’s Highest Military Honour
11 Mar 2026 · 10 min read
The Guards Division: Britain’s Elite Household Troops
8 Mar 2026 · 9 min read
The Gurkhas: 200 Years of Service to the British Crown
28 Feb 2026 · 9 min read

Browse by Era

Boer Wars (1880–1902)
1880 – 1902

The First and Second Boer Wars in South Africa, a defining conflict of the late Victorian era.

1 article41 items
World War I (1914–1918)
1914 – 1918

The Great War: trench warfare, Gallipoli, the Somme, Passchendaele, and the birth of modern warfare.

11 articles341 items
Inter-War Period (1918–1939)
1918 – 1939

The years between the World Wars: mechanisation, colonial policing, and the build-up to WW2.

2 articles67 items
World War II (1939–1945)
1939 – 1945

The Second World War: Dunkirk, the Blitz, El Alamein, D-Day, Burma, and the war at sea.

10 articles931 items
Cold War (1945–1990)
1945 – 1990

Korea, Malaya, Suez, Aden, the Falklands, Northern Ireland, and the end of the Cold War.

7 articles161 items
Modern Era (1990–Present)
1990 – 2026

The Gulf Wars, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and contemporary British military operations.

5 articles36 items
Pre-1800
1600 – 1799

Military history before 1800, including the English Civil War, Jacobite risings, and colonial conflicts.

0 articles95 items
Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)
1799 – 1815

The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, including Trafalgar, Waterloo, and the Peninsular War.

3 articles42 items
Victorian Era (1837–1901)
1837 – 1901

The age of Empire: Crimean War, Indian Mutiny, Zulu War, and colonial campaigns across Africa and Asia.

13 articles77 items

Browse by Branch & Service

Infantry
1,205 items
Cavalry & Armour
582 items
Corps & Departments
510 items
British Army
306 items
Territorial & Volunteer
299 items
South African Forces
278 items
Colonial & Overseas Territory Forces
254 items
Canadian Forces
180 items
Indian Forces
132 items
Guards
116 items
Royal Navy
116 items
Scottish Regiments
112 items
Royal Artillery
98 items
Royal Marines
89 items
American Forces
76 items
Royal Air Force
64 items
Gurkhas
49 items
Civilian & Home Front
37 items

Latest Articles

All ErasBoer Wars (1880–1902)World War I (1914–1918)Inter-War Period (1918–1939)World War II (1939–1945)Cold War (1945–1990)Modern Era (1990–Present)Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)Victorian Era (1837–1901)
Feature ArticleVictorian Era (1837–1901)
The Crimean War: History & Collectables
Britain’s Forgotten War The Crimean War (1853–1856) occupies a peculiar place in British military history. It was the first major […]
20 Mar 20265 min read
Feature ArticleNapoleonic Wars (1799–1815)
The Battle of Waterloo 1815: History & Collectables
The Battle That Defined an Era On 18 June 1815, near the small Belgian village of Waterloo, the Duke of […]
20 Mar 20266 min read
Collector's Guide
Where to Buy Authentic British Militaria
The Landscape of the British Militaria Market Buying authentic British militaria has never been easier — or more fraught with […]
20 Mar 20266 min read
Collector's Guide
The Complete Guide to Collecting British Militaria
Why Collect British Militaria? Britain’s military history spans over a thousand years — from the medieval longbowmen who shaped Europe […]
20 Mar 202614 min read
Regiment ProfileWorld War II (1939–1945)Cold War (1945–1990)Victorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)
The Royal Engineers: Sappers Through the Ages
The history of the Royal Engineers from the Tower of London's first military engineers to modern combat engineering — over 300 years of service.
20 Mar 202611 min read
Weapon ProfileWorld War I (1914–1918)World War II (1939–1945)Victorian Era (1837–1901)
The Webley Revolver: Britain’s Service Sidearm from 1887 to 1963
The complete history of the Webley revolver — the iconic British service sidearm carried through two World Wars, colonial campaigns and beyond.
20 Mar 202611 min read
Regiment ProfileModern Era (1990–Present)World War II (1939–1945)Cold War (1945–1990)
The SAS: A History of Britain’s Special Air Service
The history of the Special Air Service from its founding in the North African desert in 1941 to its modern role as one of the world's premier special forces units.
20 Mar 202613 min read
Feature ArticleVictorian Era (1837–1901)
The Zulu War of 1879: Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and the Fall of the Zulu Kingdom
The dramatic story of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 — from the disaster at Isandlwana to the legendary defence of Rorke's Drift and the final defeat of the Zulu Kingdom.
20 Mar 202611 min read
Weapon ProfileVictorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)World War II (1939–1945)
The British Bayonet: A History from Plug to Sword to SA80
Trace the evolution of the British bayonet from the 17th-century plug bayonet through socket, sword and knife patterns to the modern SA80 bayonet.
20 Mar 202611 min read
Encyclopedia EntryVictorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)
The Pickelhaube: A History of Imperial Germany’s Spiked Helmet
The complete history of the Pickelhaube — Imperial Germany's iconic spiked helmet — from its Prussian origins in 1842 to its use in the First World War.
20 Mar 202611 min read
Shopping Basket
Scroll to Top
★

Join the Collector's List

Be first to hear about new arrivals, rare finds, and exclusive offers. Join 1,000+ collectors who never miss a piece.

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.