A retired soldier from Potterne, near Devizes, has produced a definitive work on British Army badges.

Lieutenant Colonel Robin Hodges, 59, recently retired after a 40-year career in the Army, ending as commanding officer of the King’s Regiment.

He is already in print with a history of the Siege of Devizes during the English Civil War but he wanted to write something about modern soldiers.

Lt Col Hodges said: “I took my idea to the Commander in Chief, General Sir Tim Granville-Chapman and when I said I wanted to write a book his eyes glazed over.

“But when I explained it was going to be about Army badges he lit up again. Soldiers are only interested in three things: boots, trenches and badges.”

The Army has 3,003 badges in use, covering every area of military activity from infantry to the cadet force.

British Army Badges, a huge tome with a recommended retail price of £68 – though £35 from Lt Col Hodges – contains the names and photographs of 1,500 soldiers and took Lt Col Hodges 27 months to research and write from the moment he floated the idea to Gen Granville-Chapman until he presented him with a copy of the completed book.

Militaria collecting, according to Lt Col Hodges, is the fourth most popular hobby in Britain after angling, football and religion.

Lt Col Hodges recently gave a lecture on the Siege of Devizes. He is repeating his talk at Wiltshire Heritage Museum at 1pm on March 2. For information ring the museum on (01380) 727369.