The Pattern: The 33rd Regiment and the British Infantry Experience During the American Revolution, 1770-1783: 106 (From Reason to Revolution)

Another cracking addition to the Helion series of must have books concerning the AWI. This one covers the famed 33rd Foot known at the time as ‘The Pattern’ hence the book title. After amalgamation they became the Duke of Wellingtons Regiment with the museum located at Bankfield House in Ackroydon, Halifax, which is also worth a look. This book is highly recommended and offers a great insight into the operations of one regiment and the variety of experiences of members of that regiment including time spent in captivity after Yorktown.

Well written, concise, informative and plenty of illustrations.

A very detailed study of a single regiment is used to tell American War of Independence from a British perspective. Although the dateline for the book is 1770 some of the story stretches back to 1759. Colour photographs of reenactors from the recreated 33rd Regiment are used to illustrate the book and along with various black and white illustrations and battle maps.

Author Robbie MacNiven has given us a finely detailed and well written narrative of the ‘History of the 33rd Regiment of Foot and the British Infantry Experience during the American Revolution, 1770-1783’. The Pattern tells the fascinating story of this regiment, one of the most heavily engaged regiments during the war, and with a well deserved reputation of being the best trained regiment in the entire British Army, hence the title ‘The Pattern’.We are treated to a fascinating journey accompanying the regiment as it campaigned from its arrival in 1776, from Long Island, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth in the northern theatre to Camden, Guildford Courthouse and ultimately Yorktown. Many primary sources have been used, including a number of previously unpublished ones. Most engaging is the inclusion of accounts from an officer and an enlisted man, adding these enlightening personal reflections to the narrative.The book is well illustrated with a variety of black and white photographs, either contemporary images, photos of surviving artefacts and some of uniformed re-enactors, maps, and a central spread of eight pages of colour plates. These are primarily more photographs of re-enactors in very authentic looking period uniforms (I’m sure I recognised at one of the ‘models’ and I had to smile when I saw the photographer’s surname is Gage). There is also one specially commissioned painting of a soldier of the regiment on campaign which is very striking.Another great addition (No. 106) to Helion’s from Reason to Revolution series and for enthusiasts of the American Revolutionary War, be they historians, wargamers or just the curious.ISBN 978-1-804511-89-3. Soft back, 266 pages

A very well put together book on the 33rd covering its history during the AWI, some brief info on general British Army training and composition during the period and some some nice photos of recreated kit and equipment. Well recommended.