Rifles

In a breathtaking work of narrative history, Mark Urban traces the story of the 95th Rifles, the toughest and dealiest sharpshooters in Wellington's army.

Rifles follows the fortunes of the individual soldiers in a legendary regiment, drawing upon many new sources to recreate an extraordinary story of immense hardship, bravery and comradeship - and an experience which will change the nature of warfare for ever.

As part of the Light Division created to act as the advance guard of Wellington's army, the 95th Rifles are the first into battle and the last out. Fighting, thieving and raping their way across Europe, they are clearly no ordinary troops. The 95th are in fact the first British soldiers to take aim at their targets, to take cover when being shot at, to move tactically by fire and manoeuvre. And by the end of a six-year campaign they have not only proved themselves the toughest fighters in the army, they have also - at huge personal cost - created the modern notion of the infantryman.