T. R. Moreman. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998. Bibliography, Charts, Index, Maps, and Notes. xxiii plus 258 pages. $72.00.

WOW. I read this cover to cover as soon as I got it. What more can I say, this is the best book describing the British battle tactics and their development on the Northwest Frontier I have ever seen. I know the book is pricy, at $72, but if you want to understand when and how warfare in the Northwest Frontier was conducted this is it. This book not only discusses the British and Indian troops but looks at the native tactics as well.

I now have to reconsider my use of various troop types in my games for the period I wish to depict. The only troops that consistantly conduct themselves with the successful tactics for differing situations on the NWF are the Punjab Frontier Force. All other troops were handled as their training dictated-as if they were fighting a European enemy-including the Indian troops not stationed directly on the frontier. British and Indian troops newly posted to the frontier would follow this training doctrine for the first couple of weeks or so and then the units might follow the tactics of the PFF, depending on their COs. They definitely would after about six months. I have never considered this aspect before.

Moreman is not just pulling his analyses and conclusions out of thin air, this a is a very well researched book using few, comparatively speak, secondary sources. Much material not used before coming from private papers, military reports, training manuals and unpublished memoirs only available to researchers in England.

If you have any research interests or gaming in the Northwest Frontier this is a must have book.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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