The need for such a small island to defend itself bravely and skilfully has given rise in Britain to one of the greatest military traditions of any country in the world. Experts and enthusiasts in the field of military history and culture examine 40 military figures, events and wartime objects that shaped and inspired Britain's politics, social activity and even entertainment. Pioneering leaders like Alfred the Great and Boadicea sit alongside the spectacular bravery of the Spanish Armada's defeat and the Charge of the Light Brigade, and the pride and motivation given to soldiers by figures such as Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill. Whether triumph, disaster or send-up of the situation, British Military Greats celebrates the central importance of the forces and wartime activity to Britain's identity.