Chester's Military Heritage

Explore Chester's military heritage, from Roman times to the present day, in this illustrated guide.

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The ancient walled city of Chester has an illustrious military history dating back to Roman times when a fort, four times the size of anything else in Britannia, was built here. In this book, local authors Adrian and Dawn L. Bridge chronicle the city’s military history across the centuries.

Beginning with the impact of the XXth Legion - Legio Vigesima Valeria Victrix - the authors go on to explore the Dark Ages, Viking, Saxon and medieval eras right through to the twentieth century, with both world wars, and beyond. Chapters focus on themes including local, national and foreign conflicts; military personalities, honours and awards; military units; and buildings and memorials. Both lesser and well-known aspects of the city’s military heritage are featured to present a balanced perspective. In addition, the authors highlight women, as well as men, on the front line and the home front. Famous Chester military heroes such as Bomber Command’s Leonard Cheshire VC and the Korean War’s Kenneth Muir VC feature with lesser-known but equally distinguished local people such as John Dolphin (Head of SOE’s Section IX during the Second World War).

The Cheshire Regiment looms large in any discussion of Chester’s military units. Its origins immediately after the 1688 Glorious Revolution are discussed together with the regiment’s history up to its modern merger with the Mercian Regiment.

Chester’s Military Heritage presents a broad and insightful account of this important aspect of the city’s history.