Some changes will be happening!

Hello Everyone,

We are in the process of improving our website to make it easy for customers to navigate it so expect to see some nice improvements over the next week. Our next stock update is also happening this week so keep an eye on our website for some new and in some cases very rare unit history books.

There are also some big things planned for 2009 including many reprints of rare and hard to find Australian unit history books.

And as always, if you are chasing a particular unit history book, please send us an email and we will chase it down for you at no extra cost leaving you time to do things such as the Christmas shopping.

Glenn and the Team at Regimental Books.

Books, Books and even more Books!

Hello everyone,

Our stock lists have been updated with some very nice World War 1 and World War 2 titles over the last week or 2.  Some of which are now very scarce and collectable so check them out.

We are also always looking to buy Australian unit history books so if you are after some pocket money or extra money for the Christmas shopping and have some unit history books for sale, drop us a line and we will offer you great prices!

Regimental Books Staff

October 31st - We remember the Charge at Beersheba

Hi Everyone,

October 31st marks an important day in Australian military history - The Battle of Beersheba took place on 31st October 1917, as part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign during World War I. The Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade, under Brigadier General William Grant, charged more than four miles at the Turkish trenches, overran them and captured the wells at Beersheba.

The 4th Light Horse Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General William Grant, contained the 4th (Victorian), 11th (Queensland and South Australia) and 12th (New South Wales) Light Horse Regiments. The 11th was dispersed but the 4th and 12th were quickly ready to make the charge.

The regiments commenced the charge at 4.30pm, the 12th on the left and the 4th on the right. They advanced by squadrons (ie., 3 waves) with about 500 yards between squadrons. The 11th Regiment and the 5th Mounted Brigade followed more slowly to the rear and the British 7th Mounted Brigade, which was attached to the Desert Mounted Corps headquarters, also approached from the south.

The Turkish defenders opened fire with shrapnel from long range but it was ineffective against the widely spaced horsemen. Machine guns that opened fire were quickly destroyed by a battery of horse artillery. When the line of horsemen got within range of the Turkish riflemen in the trenches, they started to take casualties but the defenders failed to allow for the speed of their approach so once they were within half a mile of the trenches, the defenders’ bullets started passing overhead as they forgot to adjust their sights.

The light horsemen jumped the front trenches and dismounted behind the line where they fixed bayonets and engaged the Turks who were in many cases so demoralised that they quickly surrendered. One Australian who was dazed after having his horse shot from under him, recovered to find his five attackers with their hands up, waiting to be taken prisoner.

The later waves continued through the town which the Turks were abandoning in a panic. The charge was finally halted on the far (north west) side of Beersheba where the light horsemen encountered more Turkish defences. Isolated resistance in the town continued for a little while but by nightfall, the remainder of the garrison had been captured. The Turks had attempted to torch some buildings and blow up the railway but the majority of the wells (15 out of 17) were captured intact. Also, a heavy rainfall left temporary pools of water on the ground, allowing the horses to drink.

In the capture of Beersheba, the 4th Light Horse Brigade took 38 officers and 700 other ranks prisoner as well as four field guns. In the two regiments, only 31 men were killed (including two officers) and only 36 men wounded (including eight officers).

For those interested in the charge, it is mentioned in several Light Horse unit histories from World War 1. Check out our stocklist here for the list of titles.

And remember, if you are chasing a particular unit history, drop us an email or give us a call.

Regimental Books Staff

21st Battalion A.I.F. book now in stock!

Hi Everyone,

Regimental Books is proud to present our newest reprint: “The Story of the Twenty-First” by A.R.Macneil. A limited edition reprint of an extremely rare and sought after unit history. Now in stock and available for $40.

Please contact us if you wish to purchase a copy - limited to 100 numbered copies.

Stay tuned for forthcoming reprints of other rare and sought after Australian unit history books.

Regimental Books Staff

Back to normal business with plenty of new books!!!

Hi Guys,

Glenn is back from his leave and we have plenty of new titles in stock! Check out our stock lists for many new and in many cases rare unit history titles.

Thank you to everyone who purchased books in Glenn’s absence - your patience is appreciated and your books will be dispatched in the next day or two.

Happy Reading!

Regimental Books Staff

An Important Announcement!

Hello Everyone,

Glenn and his family are off to holidays for 4 weeks from 6th September to the 6th October.  During this time, Regimental Books will continue to receive and answer inquiries etc however please note that any books sold during this period WILL NOT BE SHIPPED UNTIL 7th October  (when Glenn is back and is able to post them). Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Happy Reading,

Regimental Books Staff

1st Edition or Reprint? A choice for Australian Military historians.

Regimental Books is dedicated to preserving the history of those Australian battalions and regiments that served in conflicts involving Australians:  from Pre-federation, through the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and to the present day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We have a wide range of books available in a range of prices reflecting differences in editions and quality: from very scarce 1st editions for the collector to cheaper reprints for family historians and those with a budget in mind.

People buy our books for many reasons - often because a relative served in a particular campaign or regiment. Many of our books were once owned by Returned Servicemen - these books carry a particular significance as there is something special about turning the same pages an old soldier once turned. Some books are even signed and/or inscribed by servicemen, highlighting things of personal significance or correcting things they believed to be in error. It also enhances the value of a book if there is a serviceman’s inscription there and makes for interesting research.

Many first edition unit histories are now very rare; indeed some were only published in print runs of no more than 300-400. As many of the First World War books were published over 80 years ago, quality first edition copies are now hard to find and much sought after by both collectors and family historians alike. Many Second World War books are also starting to become hard to find with many published over 50 years ago.

First Editions or Reprints? – A much asked question.

Many of the First World War AIF unit histories have been reprinted in the 1980s and 1990s by John Burridge. They are of very good quality and most were only produced in limited quantities (200) so that they retain their value. Some of these are now becoming very sought after and prices are now nearly as expensive as some 1st editions.

Many people collect first editions but make do with a reprint to “plug that gap” until a 1st edition turns up, which in some cases can be many years!

First editions have also been previously owned by soldiers who served in the AIF, thus increasing desirability and also making them a worthwhile investment for some.

Regimental Books has a selection of many 1st editions for the collector and cheaper reprints for those who may prefer a cheaper alternative.  Some of our more desirable (and very rare) 1st edition  First World War unit histories include:

Left to Right:
12th Battalion, 14th Battalion, 40th Battalion, 9th Light Horse, 10th Light Horse

If you are interested in collecting unit history books, please give us a call or drop us an email and we will be glad to assist in growing your collection and even letting you know what books have been published and when!

We are always delighted to receive inquiries and we offer a book finding service for that hard to find Australian unit history book. And remember to check out our stocklists which are updated regularly.

Happy reading!

Regimental Books Staff

The Battle of Long Tan and Vietnam veterans remembered - 18th August

Hello everyone,

Monday the 18th of August marks an important milestone in Australian military history - 42 years since Delta Company, 6th Battalion (The Royal Australian Regiment) fought in the Battle of Long Tan - arguably Australia’s most famous battle of the Vietnam War. This date also commemorates Vietnam Veteran’s Day and recognises their contribution to Australia’s involvement in Vietnam.

Regimental Books has most of the Australian Vietnam War unit histories in stock, including some scarce (and getting rarer and more sought after by the day) battalion unit histories. Whether you are a family historian or an avid collector, please check out out Vietnam War unit histories in stock.

Our lists are constantly being updated and if you are chasing a book we don’t have in stock, drop us an email and we’ll try and track a copy down for you.

Regimental Books Staff

Bone Man of Kokoda - An extraordinary story of Kokichi Nishimura

Kokichi Nishimura was a member of the 2nd battalion, 144th Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army. In 1942 he fought along every foot of Kokoda as the Japanese attempted to take Port Moresby. He was the only man from his company to survive the campaign. As he was evacuated to safety he made a promise that one day he would return to his comrades and bring them home to Japan for proper burial.

After the war, Nishimura prospered. But under the surface, the driving ambition of his life was to fulfil his promise. In 1979, he shocked his family by returning to New Guinea to search for the remains of Japanese soldiers. For the next 25 years, Nishimura lived alone along the Kokoda Track. Armed only with a metal detector, a mattock and a shovel, he searched for his dead comrades. Over the years he found hundreds of them – some he was able to identify and return their bones to their families; others were unknown, and their remains were sent to Japan’s official shrine for its war dead in Tokyo.

In 2005 Nishimura, now in his mid-eighties and seriously ill, was forced to return to Japan. His story is an incredible adventure that gives us a radically different viewpoint on a battle that has become part of our national myth. Nishimura’s life and quest above all offer a poignant reminder of the futility of war.

On sale now at a great price of $30!

And don’t forget to check out our stocklists - updated regularly!

Regimental Book Staff

Cycling to War - a great new release!

Hello and Greetings!

Stocks are in of Ron Austin’s new unit history book: CYCLING TO WAR: The History of the AIF/NZ Cyclists Corps 1916 - 1919. We are now taking orders for both the standard edition and the numbered limited edition in a slip case.

As usual, please contact us if you are after a copy.