The Redcoat History Podcast

The British cavalry of the Napoleonic wars has often been criticised, including by the Duke of Wellington himself who accused them of "galloping at everything". But was the criticism fair? How were they organised? How were they recruited? Did they perform well? In the latest episode of the Redcoat History Podcast I talk with Marcus Cribb (manager of Apsley House) to try and answer all of these questions.

If you enjoy the episode please subscribe and leave a comment to hep the Redcoat History Podcast to grow. 

Marcus can be found on twitter as @mcribbhistory 

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It's Spring 1809 and Sir Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington) has returned to Portugal to continue the campaign against the French invaders. In this important episode, we see Wellington at his most decisive as he sends his army across the Douro River to throw the French out of northern Portugal at the 2nd Battle of Oporto.

In this episode of the Redcoat History Podcast, myself and Joshua Provan (adventuresinhistoryland.com) discuss The Duke of Wellington's early life when he was still known as Sir Arthur Wellesley. 

 

Where did he go to school? Was he a good junior officer? How did he perform in India? Josh answers all of these questions and many, many more.

 

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In this episode my good friend Rob from the excellent Britishmuzzleloader YouTube channel tells me all about the history, development and use of the Brown Bess Musket (used by the bulk of the British army during the Peninsular War and beyond). 

"Brown Bess" is a nickname for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore flintlock Musket and its derivatives. Ever wondered where the name came from or why the weapon was in use for so long? Then have a listen and find out. 

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It's December 1808 as we join the British army after their small but impressive victory at the Battle of Sahagun. With the might of Napoleon's Grande Armee streaming towards him, Sir John Moore is forced to retreat through northern Spain to the coast. Will the British Expeditionary Force be caught and destroyed in the snow? Will discipline break down? Or, can Sir John Moore steer them to one final victory before they escape? This month's episode is a long, hard look at one of the most famous campaigns in British military history. So, take off your pack, place your musket by your side and pour yourself a stiff drink - you are going to need it. 

1808 - In the latest installment of The Redcoat History Podcast we meet Sir John Moore and follow the British Expeditionary Force as it advances into Spain to challenge the mighty Napoleon himself. We charge at the battle of Sahagun alongside the 15th Hussars in what the historian Charles Oman considered the greatest cavalry action of the Peninsular War.

Will Moore prove himself a great General or will the army be defeated and embarrassed once more?

By the way, for those of you like my podcasts about the Anglo-Zulu War, you will be pleased to discover that my new book is now available on Amazon as a Kindle download. Here is the link: https://amzn.to/3elkI7X

In the second part of my deep dive into the Peninsular war of 1808-1814, we follow Sir Arthur Wellesley and his small expeditionary force as they tackle Portugal's French occupiers. We examine the battle of Vimeiro - can Wellesley prove his mettle against "Boney's invincibles" or will he and his men be pushed back into the sea? 

Welcome to a new season of The Redcoat History Podcast. In season three we will be taking a deep dive into the Peninsular war – Yes, that’s right, think Richard Sharpe and the South Essex. It is a conflict that saw the Duke of Wellington rise to fame and the development of arguably the greatest and most successful British army to ever take the field.

In this, the first, episode we meet Sir Arthur Wellesley (soon to become the Duke of Wellington) and have ringside seats as he takes on the all-conquering French army at Rolica...Will he emerge victoriously or will the British be thrown back into the Atlantic ocean? 

To stay up to date with all the episodes and to get your free ebook about the Martini-Henry rifle please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter - https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/

In today's show, a small force of British and Indian Redcoats take on the might of the Nawab of Bengal. Is it finally curtains for Clive of India or is it just the beginning? Join me as we take a deep dive into this incredibly important historical battle - The battle of Plassey, which marks the beginning of the British Empire in India. 

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If you are on Instagram you can link up with me there also where I am @redcoathistory 

India – 1756. Calcutta is lost. The British have been defeated and have been forced to retreat in disgrace.  

But inspired by the horror of the infamous Blackhole of Calcutta incident they are now full of a righteous desire for revenge.

After a series of internal squabbles Command of the expedition to retake Calcutta is given to a man named Robert Clive, a man who will play a big part in today’s episode and a man whose legacy is still with us.

But who is he and what was his background?

Find out in this episode as the thin red line of heroes takes on the huge army of the Nawab of Bengal, a drunk Sailor captures a fort single-handed and the British suffer heavy losses as they battle the French in a brutal artillery fight at Chandernagor. It's rip-roaring stuff.