The Long Arm of Empire: Naval Brigades from the Crimea to the Boxer Rebellion. by Richard Brooks. xxii plus 330 pages. Published 1999, Constable Press, ISBN 0 09 4788840 5

Richard Brooks' name should not be new to readers of the Heliograph. No, not our esteemed editor and publisher, the other one. This Richard Brooks has written many a wargaming article and has put together a worthy piece of work here, the first modern account of Victorian Naval Brigades ("NB").

This book traces the evolution of NBs from the Crimea and the Mutiny to the Boer war and Boxer Rebellion. He places (briefly) the various campaigns in their overall context and then describes the role of the NB in particular. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the NB and army, and within the NBs themselves (there was some jealousy between the Royal Navy and Royal Marines).

Three chapters (3, 6 & 11) give a useful analysis of the strategy, tactics, uniforms, equipment and rewards of the NBs and these are probably the best sections of the book. The general campaign histories are solid, but lack a little writer's flair. Having said that, if a colonial wargamer cant get some fantastic scenarios from the West African and Chinese narrative, then they aren't trying!

Overall, recommended. Priced at £ 25 in the UK.