It is traditional at this point to thank all those who have helped the author in his or her arduous task of writing the manuscript. Firstly, I should like to thank my supervisor, Professor Edward Spiers of the University of Leeds, for his encouragement and enthusiasm for over two years during the writing of my thesis. Secondly I would also like to thank my partner Andrew Mason for the maps and also for his patience, cups of tea, a shoulder to cry on, and help on innumerable research trips. Thanks are also due to my brother, Paul Dawson, for his expert advice on all things equine.
I would also like to thank the staff at Huddersfield, Leeds, Manchester, Stockport and Wakefield libraries for access to microfilm copies of newspapers and answering innumerable questions; and also staff at Flintshire Record Office, Herefordshire Record Office, Lincolnshire Archives and the National Army Museum.