THE EMPIRE IS MARCHING: A STUDY OF THE MILITARY EFFORT OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE 1800-1945.

London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1976. 276 pp, 8vo (8 3/4" H). B&w plates. "(A) study of the military strength of Britain and her Empire during the Boer War, First World War and Second World War. Dr Barclay evaluates the contributions of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, and the changing roles played by the colonies during times of crisis. He explains British attitudes to colonial troops - Australian indiscipline and New Zealand thoroughness - and the lack of diplomacy on the part of British military leaders when dealing with their colonial counterparts. After the South Africa War the British government should have seen clearly the advantages of an Empire Military Force, but reports on empire defence from eminent naval officers such as Fanshawe and Jellicoe were repeatedly ignored. The colonies themselves all reacted differently to the threat of war. Australia was often at odds with New Zealand - the former worried about defending her own vulnerable coastline, the latter primarily concerned to maintain friendly relationships with Britain; Canada was slow to become involved - but Canadian troops were a stirring sight, well-disciplined fighting men who obeyed their superiors without question; South Africa made little contribution to the war effort, although her Prime Minister, Jan Smuts, gained great favour with the British Government by always agreeing, in principle, to every new plan put forward by the British. Dr Barclay has written an outstanding account of the achievements of the British Empire during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, using a vast number of published and unpublished sources." Previous owner's place, date and signature in ink on free front endpaper; light edge wear; tiny bump on top edge of front board; light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket has been price-clipped, has light to moderate edge wear with some tiny chips/tears at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, light rubbing, light edge wrinkling at top edge and bottom of spine.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good -/Good.