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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.

36Articles
9Historical Eras
1,488Related Items
426+Years Covered
Explore the Interactive Timeline
Discover 36 articles across 426+ years of military history — zoom, filter by era, and browse related items on a fully interactive visual timeline.
11June

Today in Military History

  • 1940RAF carries out its first bombing raids on Italian targets after Mussolini's declaration

Featured Articles

guide Victorian Era (1837–1901) World War I (1914–1918) World War II (1939–1945)
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
D-Day: 6 June 1944 — The Normandy Landings
4 Mar 2026 · 16 min read

Browse by Era

Pre-1800
1600 – 1799

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

3 articles84 items
Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)
1799 – 1815

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

6 articles15 items
Victorian Era (1837–1901)
1837 – 1901

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

17 articles53 items
Boer Wars (1880–1902)
1880 – 1902

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

2 articles32 items
World War I (1914–1918)
1914 – 1918

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

15 articles276 items
Inter-War Period (1918–1939)
1918 – 1939

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

2 articles47 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.

16 articles835 items
Cold War (1945–1990)
1945 – 1990

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

7 articles127 items
Modern Era (1990–Present)
1990 – 2026

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

6 articles19 items

Browse by Branch & Service

Infantry
1,208 items
Cavalry & Armour
589 items
Corps & Departments
516 items
British Army
315 items
Territorial & Volunteer
293 items
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258 items
Colonial & Overseas Territory Forces
235 items
Canadian Forces
197 items
Indian Forces
142 items
Guards
115 items
Scottish Regiments
107 items
Royal Artillery
102 items
Royal Navy
101 items
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92 items
American Forces
76 items
Royal Air Force
63 items
Gurkhas
50 items
French Forces
35 items

Latest Articles

All ErasPre-1800Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)Victorian Era (1837–1901)Boer 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)
D-Day: 6 June 1944 — The Normandy LandingsFeatured
On This DayWorld War II (1939–1945)
D-Day: 6 June 1944 — The Normandy Landings
The largest amphibious invasion in history — how Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and opened the Second Front.
4 Mar 202616 min read
Caring for Your Militaria Collection: A Preservation Guide
Collector's Guide
Caring for Your Militaria Collection: A Preservation Guide
Expert advice on storing, cleaning, and preserving military antiques — from medals and badges to uniforms and paper items.
3 Mar 202611 min read
The Royal Artillery: Ubique — A Regimental History
Regiment ProfileNapoleonic Wars (1799–1815)Victorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)World War II (1939–1945)Cold War (1945–1990)Modern Era (1990–Present)
The Royal Artillery: Ubique — A Regimental History
The story of the Royal Regiment of Artillery — "Everywhere" — from its founding in 1716 to modern operations.
2 Mar 202610 min read
Napoleonic Shako Plates and Helmet Badges: A Collector’s Overview
Encyclopedia EntryPre-1800Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)
Napoleonic Shako Plates and Helmet Badges: A Collector’s Overview
An introduction to the distinctive helmet plates and shako badges of the Napoleonic era — identification, rarity, and collecting tips.
1 Mar 202611 min read
The Gurkhas: 200 Years of Service to the British CrownFeatured
Feature ArticleVictorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)World War II (1939–1945)Cold War (1945–1990)Modern Era (1990–Present)
The Gurkhas: 200 Years of Service to the British Crown
From the Anglo-Nepalese War to Helmand Province — the remarkable history of the Gurkha soldiers who have served Britain since 1815.
28 Feb 20269 min read
How to Authenticate British Military Buttons
Collector's GuidePre-1800Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815)Victorian Era (1837–1901)World War I (1914–1918)World War II (1939–1945)
How to Authenticate British Military Buttons
A practical guide to identifying genuine British military buttons — from Georgian pewter to Victorian gilt — and spotting modern reproductions.
27 Feb 202610 min read
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