Born in September, 1942 in London, Ray Westlake joined the Military Historical Society in 1968 and has recently completed twenty years as a member of its Committee. Recognised as an authority on badges and insignia, he was responsible in 1977 for publication of the first ever book dealing with metal shoulder titles.

His second on the same subject is now regarded in collecting circles as the definitive work. A life-long study of the Auxiliary Forces has also provided a number of standard reference works on the Volunteer and Territorial Forces of Great Britain. Ray Westlake is a member of the Western Front Association and now lives in South Wales where he runs a mail order book service, which supplies books on all aspects of British military history.

He has contributed several hundred articles to militaria magazines and society journals. Previous books include: 'Military Shoulder Titles (Infantry - 1997), 'Kitchener's Army - A practical History (1989), The Territorial Force 1914 (1994), British Battalions on the Somme (1994) and British Regiments at Gallipoli (1996).