Comic books in 'Soldier', graded by CBCS

Wargaming Journal. Fall 1995. 8.5-in. x 11-in.; black and white; 32 pages on slick paper. Cover price $5.00.

June-July 1936. Cover by John Newton Howitt. The storyline Purple Invasion begins here and runs sequentially through March 1938. This is the 1st appearance of the Purple Empire in The Operator #5 story "Death's Ragged Army" by Curtis Steele (All Operator #5 stories are written under the house-pseduonym Curtis Steele). Other stories include "Red Finger - Spy Poison!" by Arthur Leo Zagat and "Red Dust of Death" by Frank Gruber. Interior illustrations by J. Fleming Gould. 7-in x 10-in; black and white; 112 newsprint pages. Cover price $0.10.

August-September 1936. Cover by John Newton Howitt. The ongoing storyline Purple Invasion continues in the Operater #5 story "Patriots' Death Battalion" by Curtis Steele (All Operator #5 stories are written under the house-pseduonym Curtis Steele). Other stories include "Locked in With Death" by Arthur Leo Zagat and "Traitor's Legacy" by Frank Gruber. Interior illustrations by J. Fleming Gould. 7-in x 10-in; black and white; 112 newsprint pages. Cover price $0.10.

July-August 1937. Cover by John Newton Howitt. The ongoing storyline Purple Invasion continues in the Operater #5 story "Drums of Destruction" by Curtis Steele (All Operator #5 stories are written under the house-pseduonym Curtis Steele). Other stories include "The Fleet That Sailed To Hell" by Leon Byrne, "Trail of Dead Spies" by H. De V. Kier, "Envoy of Doom" by Arthur Leo Zagat, and "The Fighting Flagstaff" by Morton Taney. Interior illustrations by Ralph Carson. 7-in x 10-in; black and white; 112 newsprint pages. Cover price $0.10.

July-August 1938. Cover by John Newton Howitt. Operater #5 story "The Suicide Battalion" by Wayne Rogers, marks the beginning of his stint as author for the Operator #5 stories (All Operator #5 stories are written under the house-pseduonym Curtis Steele). Other stories include "When The Eagle Struck" by Leon Byrne and "One Life to Lose" by Morton Taney. Interior illustrations uncredited. 7-in x 10-in; black and white; 112 newsprint pages. Cover price $0.10.

1st printing.

By

This is a replica reprint of Operator #5 (1934-1939 Popular Publications) Pulp Vol. 5 #2.

Curtis Steele. Hampered by a superior's short-sightedness and beset on every side with peril and treachery, Jimmy Christopher takes the greatest gamble in his Secret Service career to keep an army of religious zealots from delivering America into the bondage of an Asiatic Moloch in this classic pulp reprint.

Softcover, 6-in. x 9-in., 132 pages, Text (with B&W chapter illustrations).

NOTE: Do NOT confuse with Operator #5 (1934-1939 Popular Publications) Pulp Vol. 5 #2.

Cover price $13.95.

A story from the Book of Mark is retold wherein a child is found to be deaf, but Jesus heals the child and his hearing is restored. Then follows a modern day story of Nancy, a baby girl that becomes deaf after an explosion. The doctors can do nothing. Nancy longs to hear what the other children can hear. Her parents see Oral Roberts on TV and take their daughter to a nearby TV taping. On the show Nancy is healed and can hear for the first time. Yet another miracle based on the healing touch of Oral Roberts using the power of faith in Jesus Christ. The comic is narrated by Oal Roberts and he appears regularly throughout the modern portion of the story. At the end of each story there is a page of Oral preaching the power of faith in Jesus.

(W) Tom Morello (A) Scott Hepburn (CA) Dan Jackson, Massimo Carnevale With the rebel leader's imminent execution forcing their hand, Orchid and Simon-with a few new allies in tow-must act now or see one of their last symbols of hope destroyed. But attempting to liberate anyone from dictator Tomo Wolfe's clutches may be the bold act that gets them all killed. Cover price $3.50.

Written by ARTHUR SUYDAM. Art & cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM. 'A Little Love, A Little Hate' Finally, the inspiration for the new animation pilot from Paranoid Delusions Productions! These original, riveting tales of Suydam's ultimate anti-heroes, Cholly and Flytrap, open as the team becomes embroiled in a vicious battle on a stark alien landscape. Complete with action-packed art and familiar yet surreal storytelling, 'A Little Love, a Little Hate,' provides what it promises as only Suydam can do it. Don't miss these terrifying, funny tales of action and adventure from a master craftsman with a startlingly unique point of view. CHOLLY AND FLYTRAP is ? and © Arthur Suydam, 2005. All Rights Reserved. Cover price $5.99.

Cover by George Baker. Stories and art by George Baker. A collection of the original Sad Sack strips by George Baker, introducing the character whose very name became synonymous with downtrodden grunt. These early strips appeared in Army newspapers and were often "pantomime" or wordless comics. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $2.00.

Cover pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Chic Stone. "Shields," script by Marty Greim, art by Dick Ayers; The Hun faces the Shield, Colonel Boyle and General Collins as he tries to get his powerful shield back from a museum its being kept in. 36 pgs., full color. $0.75. Cover price $0.75.

June 21-24, 1984

July 1-4, 1993

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "Allied Aviation of World War I!" Written by Hugh W. Cowin. This extremely informative volume focuses on American British, French, Italian, and Russian military aviation developments of World War I. Besides giving interesting new perspectives on both well known and obscure aircraft, detailing both aircraft designers and leading fighting aces of the Allied Powers. Softcover, 96 pages, Text (with B&W photos).

Volume 1 - 1st printing. "US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1941-43!" By Gordon L Rottman. The outbreak of World War II set in motion a massive expansion of the United States Marine Corps, leading to a 24-fold increase in size by August 1945. This book is the first of several volumes to examine the Corps's meteoric wartime expansion and the evolution of its units. It covers the immediate pre-war period, the rush to deploy defense forces in the war's early months, and the Marines' first combat operations on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. It focuses on the 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Divisions (MarDivs) and the provisional 1st, 2d, and 3d Marine Brigades Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "Wellington's Army in the Peninsula 1809-14!" By Stuart Reid. This highly detailed study provides a clear account of how the British Army was organised, who commanded it, and how it functioned in the field during the Peninsular War. Focusing principally on infantry, cavalry and artillery, including foreign units in British pay, it provides a detailed and comprehensive order of battle. Doctrine, training, tactics and equipment are discussed in depth, and medical services and engineers are also covered. Concise biographical details of key commanders, over 60 unit tree diagrams, organisational tables, plus numerous illustrations make this an essential reference work for students of this period. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "The American Expeditionary Forces in World War I!" By John Votaw. Upon the entry of the United States into World War I, the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were created by the War Department on short notice from existing units, filled up with men from the training camps and deployed with only their personal weapons and equipment. The US Army was not prepared for combat in France, and the remarkable achievement of the AEF's commanding officer, John J Pershing, was the creation of an American field army, built and nurtured from the bottom up. This book details the organizational structure, training and doctrine of the AEF and illustrates how it came to make a significant contribution to Allied victory in World War I. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 8 - 1st printing. "US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1944-45!" By Gordon L Rottman. In late1944 the US Marine Corps prepared for the toughest battles of the war. It had grown to 35,598 officers, 5,384 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted Marines, totaling 431,573 personnel, and now comprised of two amphibious corps, six divisions, 26 non-divisional artillery battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1 and 7, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps' organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure. It details the formation of the 5th and 6th Marine Divisions and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and examines the Corps' performance in the brutal battles on Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and its deployment as an occupation force. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 9 - 1st printing. "Japanese Army in World War II!" By Gordon L Rottman. The Japanese conquest of the Pacific comprised of a complex series of widely scattered operations; their intent was to neutralize American, Commonwealth, and Dutch forces, seize regions rich in economic resources, and secure an outer defense line for their empire. Although their conquest was successful, the forces deployed from Japan and China were not always ideally trained, equipped and armed. The South Seas and tropics proved challenging to these soldiers who were used to milder climates, and they were a less lethal enemy on the Chinese mainland. This book examines the overall structure of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), the forces in existence at the beginning of World War II and the organization of the forces committed to the conquest of the Pacific. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 11 - 1st printing. "US Army Forces in the Korean War 1950-53!" By Donald Boose. When North Korea attacked the South on June 25, 1950, United States forces in East Asia were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, whose largest ground force was Eighth US Army. This army fought a tenacious defense of South Korea, counterattacked north to the Yalu River with the separate X Corps, before falling back in the face of massive Chinese intervention, conducted a war of movement, and settled into a bloody two-year long period of static warfare. This title examines the combat mission, organization, and evolution of the Eighth US Army in Korea and its 300,000 US ground forces through highly detailed orders of battle, tables of organization and equipment, and examinations of crucial aspects such as doctrine, training, and tactics. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 12 - 1st printing. "US Special Warfare Units in the Pacific Theater 1941-45!" By Gordon L Rottman. The bitter fighting in the Pacific Theater required new forms of warfare, and the gathering of detailed intelligence information on the remote and varied islands and their determined defenders. As a result, new scout, raider and reconnaissance units were formed?the pioneers of today's special forces. Some units were small, while others comprised thousands of men. All contributed significantly to the war effort. This book examines a wide range of PTO special-warfare units, including the Alaskan and Alamo scouts, 5217th/1st Recon Battalion, Marine Amphibious Recon and Raider units, Amphibious Scouts, and 6th Ranger Battalion. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 13 - 1st printing. "The British Army in the Far East 1941-45!" By Alan Jeffreys. Between December 1941 and May 1942, the British Empire suffered a series of humiliating defeats in the Far East. Three years later the Japanese were defeated by British and Commonwealth forces at Kohima and Imphal and in the battles for Burma. This transformation in the fortunes was in large part due to the development of jungle warfare doctrine and the resulting improvements in training, tactics and equipment. This book examines British Army conventional forces that fought in the Far East, showing how the dissemination of doctrine improved training, and helped 14th Army's infantry divisions secure victory. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 18 - 1st printing. "British Commandos 1940-46!" By Tim Moreman. From their establishment in June 1940, the Commando units conducted a succession of daring hit-and-run raids from the sea into North-West Europe, Scandinavia, Italy and the Middle East. Among the highly publicised Commando operations were the raids on Vaagso, Dieppe, and St Nazaire. The Commandos also spawned a range of other Special Forces, including the Special Air Service, Special Boat Service and the Parachute Regiment. This Battle Orders title provides a detailed examination of the Army (and later Royal Marine) Commandos raised in the United Kingdom, from their inception in 1940 through to 1946, when the Army Commandos were disbanded and the role was assigned exclusively to the Royal Marines. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 19 - 1st printing. "The US Marine Corps in the Vietnam War!" By Ed Gilbert. III Marine Amphibious Force was conceived as a division command for a small Marine Corps commitment to Vietnam. Within four years it had grown to a reinforced corps of two divisions, an air wing, and the division-sized Force Logistics Command. This organization was unique in Marine Corps history in that it merged combat and major logistical functions under a single field command. This book examines the origins and constantly changing organizational structure of III MAF, and demonstrates how it conducted its savage struggle against Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese Army regular forces in the northern provinces of Vietnam. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 21 - 1st printing. "US Armored Units in the North African and Italian Campaigns 1942-45!" By Steven J Zaloga. The Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) saw the first operational deployment of US armoured divisions in World War II, and the experience proved chastening for the 1st Armored Division when it suffered defeat at the hands of Rommel's Afrika Korps at the battle of Kasserine Pass. This title covers the organization of these early US armored divisions, as well as the independent tank and tank destroyer battalions that accompanied them. It details the evolution of US armoured warfare tactics and doctrine, learned from the difficult experiences of North Africa, and illustrates how they were used elsewhere in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Italian Peninsula. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 22 - 1st printing. "US Airborne Units in the Mediterranean Theater 1942-44!" By Gordon L Rottman. This book is the first of three to examine the genesis, organization and operational deployment of the US airborne divisions in World War II. It discusses early airborne units, detailing how and why they were formed. Task organization for combat, details of attached units, tactics, and weapons and equipment are examined, together with command relationships. The units discussed in this book include the 82nd Airborne Division, 1st Special Service Force, 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team and 1st Airborne Task Force, and the operations in North Africa, Sicily, the Italian mainland, and in southern France are covered. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 23 - 1st printing. "Desert Raiders: Axis and Allied Special Forces 1940-43!" By Andrea Molinari. Although harsh and inhospitable, the North African theatre of World War II proved to be a perfect environment for irregular warfare and the deployment of Special Forces. Following Italy's entry into the war in June 1940, the Western Desert became the background for a long conflict dominated by motorized units. The major combatants - Great Britain, Free France, Italy and Germany - all developed irregular units to exploit the unique conditions of the region with varying degrees of success. This book details the genesis, organization and tactics of these forces, including such famous units as the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Service. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 24 - 1st printing. "US Army Infantry Divisions 1944-45!" By John Sayen. A complete overview of the evolving organization, tactics, doctrine, weapons and equipment of the US Infantry in the Pacific, Mediterranean and European theatres, from 1944 to the war's end. This follow-up to Battle Orders 17: US Army Infantry Divisions 1942-43, covers the critical period 1944-45 when changes instituted by Lieutenant General Leslie J McNair, the head of the Army Ground Forces and an organizational genius, were imposed on an army reluctant to change. The book includes a table outlining all 66 US Infantry Army divisions that served during World War II, and analyzes the organization of manpower and resources that turned these divisions into a war-winning army. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 25 - 1st printing. "US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944-45!" By Steven J Zaloga. The delivery of entire divisions to battlefields behind enemy lines by parachute and glider was a unique feature of World War II, and by the end of the war the US Army deployed the largest airborne force in the world, created in only three years, and boasting such impressive units as the 82nd All American and 101st Screaming Eagles. This book details the organization and operation history of these units throughout the war in Northwest Europe from 1944 to 1945, covering the desperate night drops over Normandy in support of the D-Day invasions, through the capture of Nijmegen during Operation Market-Garden to Operation Varsity, the last great airborne operation of the war to secure the crossing of the Rhine. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 26 - 1st printing. "US Airborne Units in the Pacific Theater 1942-45!" By Gordon L Rottman. This book examines the wide variety of airborne units that served in the Pacific Theater. Among the units covered are the 12,000-strong 11th Airborne Division; the elite 1st Special Service Force; the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Separate); and the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment. The nature of the enemy and the terrain in the PTO, and long distances that had to be covered, provided significant and diverse challenges to both Army and Marine Corps parachute units. Internal organization, weapons and equipment, command and control, training, combat missions, and combat operations including the 11th Division's fighting in the Philippines, and the 503rd PIR's legendary jump onto Corregidor and recapture of the island are all covered. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 29 - 1st printing. "The British Army on the Western Front 1916!" By Bruce Gudmundsson. Bruce Gudmundsson guides us expertly through the history of the British Expeditionary Force in 1916 as it struggled to become a modern army and turn the tide of the First World War. Examining the tactical innovatio0ns that accompanied this change and the conflicting strategies and tactics that it was expected to pursue, Gudmundsson explores the difficulties facing the British Army, including the bewildering number of new technologies in use, from novelties such as combat aircraft, tanks and armoured cars to trench mortars and more than a thousand pieces of siege artillery. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 30 - 1st printing. "Mobile Strike Forces in Vietnam 1966-70!" By Gordon L Rottman. US Special Forces in Vietnam created the Civilian Irregular Defence Group (CIDG), a large paramilitary organization designed to protect the local population from Viet Cong incursions, whilst conducting border surveillance, raids and combat patrols in the local area. Their camps were often overrun and having no spare manpower the US Special Forces created dedicated reaction units which could act in a responsive and flexible manner - Mobile Strike (MIKE) Forces. This book examines the MIKE Force units, which were formed from the CIDG, the parachute and airmobile training they were given, and the operations that they undertook, from relieving friendly camps to independent offensive operations, providing the first organizational history of the MIKE forces in combat. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 33 - 1st printing. "The US Army in the Vietnam War 1965-73!" By Gordon L Rottman. This book provides detailed information about how US Army units were organised and operated in America's longest war. Vietnam Special Forces veteran Gordon L Rottman examines the different types of infantry battalions and the units that supported them, their training and organisation down to platoon level. Aspects of the US Army's conventional and unconventional warfare doctrine are also addressed, along with a discussion of how replacements were trained and integrated into units. Among other areas of the US Army's involvement covered are individual and crew-served weapons, artillery, armoured fighting vehicles, transport, logistics, the complex chain of command, and combat operations. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 34 - 1st printing. "The Roman Army: the Civil Wars 88-31 BC!" By Nic Fields. The Roman Legions were the most highly organized troops of the ancient world, but the process of turning the Legions into the professional force that built an empire, was no small feat. Focusing on the organisational changes in the Roman Army during the Civil Wars, Nic Fields examines the role played by Caius Marius and his far-reaching reforms. With the nuts and bolts detail that readers demand from the Battle Orders series, this is an intriguing description of how the Roman army grew, modernised, rebelled and finally helped build an empire, complete with full organisational charts, photographs and detailed maps. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $25.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "Balaclava 1854!" By John Sweetman. The port of Balaclava was crucial in maintaining the supply lines for the Allied siege of Sevastapol. The Russian attack in October 1854 therefore posed a major threat to the survival of the Allied cause. This book examines in detail the crucial battle of Balaclava, including: the attack on the redoubts; the action of the thin red line in which an assortment of about 700 British troops, some invalids, were abandoned by their Turkish allies; the subsequent charge of the Heavy Brigade; and the most famous part of the battle: the infamous charge of the Light Brigade. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 7 - 1st printing. "Alexander 334-323 BC!" By John Warry. Alexander of Macedonia was undoubtedly one of the greatest generals of all time. This book, by John Warry, an expert on the warfare of the Classical world, examines the principle battles of Alexander's campaigns in detail. The battles of the Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, Hydaspes and the difficult siege of Tyre are all discussed at length. These careful studies shed light on Macedonian tactics: in particular the combination of armoured infantry phalanx with fast-moving cavalry. The men and equipment of both Alexander and his Persian enemies are also examined, providing a comprehensive insight into Alexander's life and military actions. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 7 - 2nd and later printings. "Alexander 334-323 BC!" By John Warry. Alexander of Macedonia was undoubtedly one of the greatest generals of all time. This book, by John Warry, an expert on the warfare of the Classical world, examines the principle battles of Alexander's campaigns in detail. The battles of the Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela, Hydaspes and the difficult siege of Tyre are all discussed at length. These careful studies shed light on Macedonian tactics: in particular the combination of armoured infantry phalanx with fast-moving cavalry. The men and equipment of both Alexander and his Persian enemies are also examined, providing a comprehensive insight into Alexander's life and military actions. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 8 - 1st printing. "Gallipoli 1915!" By Philip Haythornthwaite. The Gallipoli expedition of 1915, the brainchild of Winston Churchill, was designed to knock the Turkish Empire out of the First World War and open a supply route to Russia. The campaign is characterised by the military incompetence of the higher commands, particularly the Allies. However, in spite of this, Gallipoli deserves to be, and is, also remembered for the heroism and resourcefulness of both the British army and the men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. This book details the battles, hardships and eventual evacuation that these men had to go through, in this comprehensive guide to the Gallipoli landings. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 12 - 2nd and later printings. "Culloden 1746!" By Peter Harrington. Culloden marked the end of the last and greatest of the Jacobite adventures - the '45 Rebellion - in which the Highland clans challenged the power of the Hanoverian King of England. It was at Culloden that Charles Edward Stuart's army was finally defeated. His tired Highlanders had little chance against the steady infantry and heavy artillery fire of the English. Peter Harrington examines all aspects of the battle, including its background, the earlier Highlander victories, the men and commanders of both sides, and the massacre that took place in its aftermath. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Regular Edition - Volume 13 - 2nd and later printings. "Hastings 1066!" By Christopher Gravett. Very few battles of the medieval period can be regarded as decisive but Hastings was certainly one of them. Fought on 14th October 1066 between Duke William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson, king of England, the outcome irrevocably changed the course of English history. William's victory was largely due to the tactical superiority of his forces: not only did he possess infantry and cavalry, but also a significant number of archers or crossbowmen, to whose withering fire the English could make little reply. The eventual death of King Harold prompted an English collapse - the successful outcome ensuring William's accession to the English throne. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 20 - 2nd and later printings. " Jena 1806!" By David Chandler. Forewarned of Prussia's intention to declare war on France, Napoleon decided to strike first with a bold advance from Wurzburg into Saxony. On 14 October the double battle was fought: Napoleon with 96,000 men and 120 guns engaged and heavily defeated Prince Hohenlohe and General Ruchel. The decisive engagement was fought further north where Marshal Davout with 27,000 men and 40 guns routed the main Prussian army under Frederick William IV and the Duke of Brunswick. This title examines these two battles, Jena and Auerstadt in detail, showing clearly the swiftness with which Napoleon dealt Prussia's military machine a severe blow. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 22 - 1st printing. "Qadesh 1300 BC!" By Mark Healy. The earliest battle in history which can be reconstructed in detail, Qadesh pitted the two great warriors of the age against each other, Muwatallish of Hatti and the great warrior-Pharaoh Rameses II. With the Hittites gaining the initial advantage, all seemed lost until Rameses himself led his personal followers into the fray. However, in spite of the appearance of Egyptian reinforcements, the bravery of the pharaoh and the tactically superior showing of the Egyptian chariotry, the dislocation of his army frustrated the Pharaoh's wider strategic aspirations. Mark Healy recounts the course of this key battle, which could so easily have gone either way. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 23 - 1st printing. " Khartoum 1885!" By Donald Featherstone. Early in 1881 unrest in the Sudan began to crystallise around Mohammed Ibn Ahmed el-Sayyid Abdullah. Proclaiming himself the long-expected Madhi, the Guided One of the Prophet, he preached that the Sudan was to be purged of its Egyptian oppressors. Drawn in by the Egyptian failure to deal with the situation, the British sent General Gordon to organise an evacuation. On reaching Khartoum however, General Gordon believed, incorrectly, that the Madhi could be reasoned with. Instead of negotiating, the Madhi besieged the town for 317 days. This title looks in particular, although not exclusively, at the battles fought by the British columns sent to relieve Khartoum. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 27 - 1st printing. " Tel El-Kebir 1882!" By Donald Featherstone. In 1881, the Egyptian army mutinied against the Khedive of Egypt and forced him to appoint Said Ahmed Arabi as Minister of War. In March 1882, Arabi was made a Pasha and from this time on acted as a dictator. Arabi demanded that the foreigners be driven out of Egypt and called for the massacre of Christians. This prompted an armed British response, first in the form of a naval bombardment of Alexandria, and then as an expeditionary force under Lieutenant-General Wolseley. This book explores the entire campaign, including Sir Wolseley's 'textbook' operation that was planned and executed with masterly competence. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.

Volume 29 - 2nd and later printings. " Omdurman 1898!" By Donald Featherstone. This volume tells the story of the conquest of the Dervish Empire, culminating at Omdurman: one of the great desert battles in the imperial drama of the Victorian era. This dramatic conflict witnessed hordes of native warriors set against British discipline and firepower, gunboats on the Nile, a dramatic cavalry charge and Kitchener, the Sirdar, as conqueror. This books explores the events, weaponry and leaders of both sides, and accompanying illustrations and colourful graphics bring the whole campaign vividly to life. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Volume 37 - 2nd and later printings. " Boston 1775!" By Brendan Morrissey. The British assault on Breed's Hill and the burning of Charlestown were the first major battles of the American Revolution; after the events at Boston there was no turning back. This detailed text by Brendan Morrissey explores the opposing commanders and forces involved, whilst describing how the sparks at Lexington and Concord ignited the smouldering resentment of the Colonists into the flame of a rebellion. Colonist militia were pitted against British Redcoats in a series of struggles which led the British to evacuate Boston and to George Washington taking command of the fledgling American army. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $19.95.