The Gordon Highlanders: A Concise History

by Trevor Royle

A celebratory account of the long and distinguished history of the Gordons, a British military regiment, this compendium highlights the origins and evolution of this group. Detailing a wide array of battles and service throughout the world—from scrapes in Afghanistan in the 19th century to heroic deeds in both World Wars—this collection is ideal for anyone with an interest in history or the military.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2007

About the author

Trevor Royle is a broadcaster and author specialising in the history of war and empire. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was a member of the Scottish Government’s Advisory Panel for Commemorating the First World War.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royle's volume is a fairly good overview of the history of the Gordons, with bits mixed in to make it a bit more interesting. It tends to focus mostly on units and locations - which battalion was in which location at which point in time, and such. The result is that some of the narrative is dry, as the actual narratives of what the Gordons were actually doing in the various locations tend to be sparse. (That's a necessity in a concise history, as opposed to the Life of a Regiment series about the Gordons which consists of multiple volumes documenting the Gordons' history in more detail.)

That said, it's an excellent introduction for those who want to get an idea of the Gordons' storied history, particularly before doing further research (or after visiting the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, one of the finest military museums one can find anywhere). Winston Churchill rightfully referred to the Gordon Highlanders as "the finest regiment in the world", and Royle's volume gives one a strong narrative about how that reputation was earned.