One Hundred Years of
The Legion of Frontiersmen
A new book about the history of the Legion of Frontiersmen
by Geoffrey A. Pocock
Now published and available, One Hundred Years of the Legion of Frontiersmen is a handsome casebound crown quarto volume with approximately 100 b/w illustrations and has a recommended retail price of £25. The book is now available direct from the publishers. Please visit www.phillimore.co.uk or telephone them on 01243 787636 from within the U.K. or +44 1243 787636 from outside the U.K. All major credit and debit cards accepted. This is the extraordinary story of the Legion of Frontiersmen, a band of patriots and adventurers, whose exploits throughout Britain and the Commonwealth in the hour of need cover the last hundred years. Formed in 1904 by Roger Pocock to be ‘the eyes and ears of the Empire’, the Frontiersmen came close to becoming the official British intelligence gathering and counter-intelligence organisation. Their unwavering patriotism shines throughout their century of adventure: the Legion’s Manchester troop were the first British in action in 1914, fighting with the Belgian army before Britain declared war; frontiersmen served between 1915 and 1917 in East Africa, winning many decorations, including a V.C. Frontiersmen from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the outposts of Empire rushed to serve the mother country and some 9,000 lost their lives in the First World War.
Between the wars, the Frontiersman’s distinctive uniform of Stetson hat, shoulder chains and riding breeches was a familiar sight on civic occasions, while in the Second World War the Legion saw action in all the Services. The Legion attracted many well-known figures. Prince Louis of Battenberg was a founder-member, while his grand-daughter, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma continues the family link as its Patron. Geoffrey Pocock has brilliantly captured the spirit of this uniquely British organisation. His account, benefiting from much previously unpublished material, describes their successes and failures, their outstanding achievements and their errors of judgement. This book, with contributions from the Countess Mountbatten of Burma and Sir Patrick Moore, is the first to recount the history of this eccentric group of adventurers, fighters and, above all, patriots.
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