Martin J Brayley is a professional photographer and author, specializing in works on uniforms and militaria.  He served in the armed forces for 24 years, and has a keen interest in all aspects of military history, particularly the uniforms and equipment of the 20th century.  He is also a dedicated military researcher and collector and a regular contributor to the French magazine Militaria.  He had had many books published by Crowood including The World War II Tommy - British Army Uniforms, Europe 1939-45 and Khaki Drill and Jungle Green - British Tropical Uniforms 1939-45.

Modern Body Armour traces the development of individual ballistic protection from the multi-layer silk garments and metal plates used during World War One and through to the Korean War and Vietnam, to the state-of-the-art amour currently used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contents include the Chemico Shield and Infanterie Panzer of World War One, USAAF aviator's amour of World War Two, the Korean War M1951 and M1952A, and the IOTV and USMC Scaleable Plate Carrier currently used by US forces. This work illustrates all of the primary amour patterns in use with the world's major nations from 1914 to the present day. The volume is a companion to the author's Camouflage Uniforms and Tin Hats to Composite Helmets that together provide a concise reference to the combat soldier's equipment over the last 100 years.