HISTORIAN David Strong has researched and collated the most expansive account of one of Aldershot’s most important and influential businesses, Gale & Polden.

Gale & Polden was a naval and military printers and publishers founded in 1866 by James Gale in Old Brompton. The business moved to a London office in 1892 and settled in a new factory in Aldershot, then a large British Army base, in 1893 as an incorporated firm.

The company later became part of the Purnell Group and merged with the Hazel Sun to become the British Printing Corporation and ceased in November 1981 .

The company played a highly significant role in the Farnham and particularly the Aldershot town community, outside of its national role in keeping the Army and Navy in the public eye for nearly a century.

Employing around 400 people it was the largest company Aldershot had homed, providing jobs to many in the area.

The company also supported many local charities and social events and also became the first publisher of the Aldershot News adding to its historical significance in the area.

David Strong, an 87-year-old ex-banker and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of bankers, has lived in Aldershot for the last 43 years.

He undertook compulsory national service in the Army (with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps) and upon completion was passed to the Army Reserve (AER and TA), continuing his career in the Army until 1988 with a total of 34 years service.

Throughout his time in the Army and living in Aldershot, he became acquainted with historian and military sales manager of Gale & Polden, Lt Col Howard N Cole, from 1946 to 1960, and the company’s director, Patrick Folds.

With a life-long interest in military history and being one of the founding members of the Aldershot Military Museum, Mr Strong spent two years gathering information from various archives - an arduous task as the company had kept no official archive of its own.

His book, ‘The Story of Gale & Polden’, uses a selection of Gale & Polden publications which highlight numerous important national and international British regimental events.

Mr Strong believed it important that such a book should be written not only as a permanent account of the Gale & Polden publishers but also to serve as a useful reference book for military historians.

After all, the company was nationally recognised for its recording of British and Empire regimental history.

Mr Strong’s self-published book experienced great success in its initial print run. All 150 copies were sold, despite his printer advising him to print only 100. Due to such success, Mr Strong is planning on printing more.

Copies of his book can be ordered by contacting the author directly on 01252 320073 or email davidand

[email protected]. Alternatively contact the Aldershot Military Museum.