Goff Lumley's first volume (published by MLRS) looked at Regiments and Mergers in the British Army 1907-2007. Thanks to his extensive knowledge he has now undertaken the compiling and writing of a set of books dealing with the British Army from 1660 to 2008, once more illustrated with his superb cap badge drawings. However this book is much more than the title says: he has put together in this first volume a genealogical history of the regular element British Army in a very concise yet clear compass. Other authors have tried and failed to come up with his simple yet comprehensive treatment of what is a very complex subject. Already well reviewed the book seems set to become a 'must have' for all historians of the British Army since the Restoration. It is augmented with jacket drawings of facings and form from the eighteenth century and a colonel's listing which existed before the line numbering system was introduced.