Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
The British army of the Napoleonic wars - probably the most effective force we’ve ever deployed. Time and time again our small expeditionary army took on and beat the mighty French.
But what was our secret? Well today, we are looking at one important aspect - the British regiment. . . how were our infantry and cavalry units organised? What is a troop? A squadron? A company and a platoon? What was different about the elite flank companies? In this episode I am joined by the incredible historian Steve Brown.
His latest book can be pre-ordered here - https://amzn.to/4imBup6
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
You can also get early, ad-free access to my videos and podcasts by joining my patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Samurai vs Tanks: British armour in the Burma campaign (w/ Jack Bowsher)
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
WW2 - The war in Burma. The forgotten 14th Army struggling against Japanese "super soldiers" deep in the jungle.
But did you know there was another, completely overlooked aspect to the campaign -Tanks.
Yep, the British and allied troops did deploy them and they proved to be incredibly effective.
Today we are exploring the forgotten role that tanks played in the jungle and on the Indian and Burmese plains.
These are stories that will shock you - a sword fight inside a British tank, the logistics of deploying armour in the mountains above the clouds, and the incredible tale of the 'Thunder Run to Meiktila,' - a battle that set the tone for the use of armour and all-arms tactics through to the present day.
By the way here is the link to Jack's book - https://www.chiselbury.co.uk/bookstore/p/forgotten-armour-tank-warfare-in-burma-by-jack-bowsher and the discount code at checkout is REDCOAT20.
My patreon page is here - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
Monday Nov 11, 2024
The Incredible Story of Britain's Last County Regiment
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Today on the podcast we are looking at the history of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment…a unit that can trace its roots back to 1685.
We’ll discuss the antecedent regiments that came together to form the modern regiment, look at their battle honours and important dates and then examine the role of the regiment in today’s modern British army.
Put the kettle on guys, cause this is a film for the true military history geek - we are going down another historical rabbit hole and it may take some time.
Please support the show and sign up for my Patreon page. When you sign up you get early access to my podcasts and videos - https://www.patreon.com/c/RedcoatHistory
Monday Nov 04, 2024
WW2's Forgotten British Cavalry and The Battle for Syria (1941)
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
I bet like me you thought tanks and armoured vehicles had replaced Britain’s horse mounted cavalry after WW1.
Well, we were wrong.
Imagine this: in 1939, Britain still had a number of cavalry regiments that hadn’t been mechanised. . . They still rode horses and carried sabres.
These were territorials with no real place in modern warfare, yet by 1941, they were riding into battle in Syria, leading patrols, swimming rivers under aircraft attack, and somehow rewriting the book on cavalry warfare.
They were actually incredibly important.
Today, we ate joined by the brilliant —Jonathan Washington, former Yeomanry soldier himself and author of “FIGHTING VICHY FROM HORSEBACK” - It’s a cracking book All about A Division that Wasn't Meant to Fight - Britain’s 1st Cavalry Division in World War II.
Here is the link to buy his book - https://amzn.to/4hlkBun
And here is the link to my newsletter - http://bit.ly/redcoathistory
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Ambush!: How the Boers First Took on the British Empire (1842)
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
The 23rd of May 1842…Ring a bell? Probably not…unless you are a massive military history geek like me.
Well, it was the date of the Battle of Congella - the first time that British redcoats and Boer farmers went toe to toe.
It wasn’t a big battle but it was an important one and is almost completely forgotten - until now.
Join me in this episode as I explore the long forgotten battelfields.
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via https://ko-fi.com/redcoathistory
or
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
While the world remembers Dunkirk, the story of the Lothians and Border Yeomanry has faded into the shadows. These brave men from southern Scotland fought a desperate retreat across France, making their final stand at St. Valery, only to be left behind as the 'miracle' of Dunkirk unfolded miles away.
Join us as we uncover their forgotten sacrifice, with insights from Andrew Karsgaard, the author of a cracking new book who has brought this incredible story back to life. A tale of courage, comradeship, and a battle lost to history.
Andrew's book can be purchased on Amazon via this link - https://amzn.to/3Yaoaeb
Sign up for my mailing list here - https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
Monday Oct 07, 2024
The FORGOTTEN Gallipoli Story - 6 VCs Earned Before Breakfast
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Six Victoria Crosses were won by 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on the first day of the Gallipoli campaign.
This is the story of those incredible men and their actions.
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via https://ko-fi.com/redcoathistory or sign up for the Patreon and get early access to my videos here - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
Monday Sep 23, 2024
The Forlorn Hope - The Most Dangerous Job in History
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Do you love military history? Then this is the podcast for you.
The Forlorn Hope. Brave lads who volunteered for near-suicidal missions, such as first into the breach of a siege. Their name is mainly synonymous with the Napoleonic Wars. But what is the history of the Forlorn Hope?
Who were they?
How did armies find enough volunteers for such suicidal missions?
James Mace co-wrote this episode and he writes fantastic fiction books that can be found here - https://amzn.to/4cJZ8be
and here - https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Mace/author/B002BMES4O?
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
Further Reading: Peter Snow - To War with Wellington - https://amzn.to/3yT8aF4
Richard Holmes - Redcoat - https://amzn.to/4e7g8Jr
Private Wheeler - Letters from the Peninsular - https://amzn.to/3z3qFqg
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Arnhem: The LEGENDARY British Para Who Fought the SS with an Umbrella
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Monday Sep 16, 2024
#Arnhem80 - 80 years ago this week, the 1st Airborne Division was dropped into Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden.
While history often recalls the chaos and tragedy of the battle, one man’s bizarre bravery stands out: Major Allison Digby Tatham Warter, a British officer so eccentric that he carried an umbrella into battle. This is his story - brought to life in a script written by my good friend Neil Thornton.
If you would like to get hold of Neil's excellent book then here is the link to purchase it - https://amzn.to/3MJgE4A
For more content like this join my patreon - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
And buy your military history merch here - https://redcoathistory.myspreadshop.co.uk/
or https://www.redbubble.com/people/RedcoatHistory/shop?asc=u
Monday Sep 09, 2024
The Battles That Made Wellington a Legend (But Almost Ended His Career)
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Today, we're diving deep into one of the most dramatic and overlooked chapters of the Peninsular War. We’re focusing on Wellington's first taste of battle against the mighty French army —the gritty and fiercely fought battles of Rolica and Vimeiro in 1808.These Two clashes set the stage for a legendary career and changed the course of history!
Today I'm joined by Rob Griffith.He’s an acclaimed historian and the author of "So Just and Glorious a Cause: Britain and the Liberation of Portugal - Rolica and Vimeiro, 1808." His book can be purchased via this link - https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/so-just-and-glorious-a-cause-britain-and-the-liberation-of-portugal-rolica-and-vimeiro-1808.php?
Use the discount code RHP15 at checkout to receive 15% off.