The Redcoat History Podcast

The Mini Rorke's Drift You've Never Heard of: Forgotten Sieges of the Basotho Gun War (1880-81)

An important and brutal war that you’ve probably never heard of…

A tribe of well-armed mounted warriors as tough as any in Africa.

A handful of surrounded colonial officials - massively outnumbered and outgunned.

Now if that hasn’t caught your attention then I don’t know what will.

Today we are talking about two sieges and the battles to relieve them during the Basotho Gun War of 1880-81.

Thanks to Cam Simpson. His books can be found via this link - https://amzn.to/47P5yDo

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

 

The First Anglo-Boer War: A full documentary (1880-81)

This episode is a long one - a full and in-depth look at the First Boer War aka the Transvaal Rebellion. It combines a number of my previous episodes into one comprehensive examination of the fighting.

Here are my key sources: Majuba 1881: Ian Castle

A Rain of Lead: Ian Bennet - https://amzn.to/3HbbtaZ

With the Boers in the Transvaal and Orange Free State: C L Norris Newman - https://amzn.to/3Hcaszv

The Transvaal Rebellion: John Laband - https://amzn.to/3NWnox0

The Transvaal War, 1880-81: Lady Bellairs - https://archive.org/details/transvaalwar00belliala/page/n5/mode/2up

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

The Forgotten Revolutionary War Campaign: The Siege of Pensacola 1781 (w/ Josh Provan)

The American revolutionary war. 

Britain versus the 13 colonies. 

The fledgling United States was backed by the French…but did you know that the Spanish also weighed in against the Brits? 

In fact, beginning in 1779, they fought a successful campaign against the redcoats in the area of Louisiana, Missipissi and Florida. 

Today I’m joined by the one and only Joshua Provan who has just written a book about the campaign and the Spanish Siege of Pensacola. 

The book can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/3vc9uQV 

It’s a fascinating story and one I know literally nothing about. 

Sign up for my mailing list via this link:  https://redcoathistory.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bbf2e8d48ae31c86209421a47&id=7846ca3476 

From the Zulu War to the Somme: The incredible career of Tim Lukin

How’s this for a career? - A gentleman ranker who fought in the Zulu war, later chased Boer Commandos across South Africa, commanded the South African Brigade on the Somme and as if that wasn’t enough, the old war horse went on to take charge of an elite division on the western front.

So who was he? Henry Timson “Tim” Lukin - arguably South Africa's greatest ever General.

Special thanks to Cam Simpson for researching and co-writing this episode. His books can be found here: https://amzn.to/3TDsjab 

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 

Fit to Command? British Regimental Leadership in the Peninsular War w/ Steve Brown

The Napoleonic wars - the first Great War. An era that saw the British army come of age.

But how much do you know about the officers at the forefront of the war?

Were they all aristocratic buffoons like Henry Simmerson? Were most commissions and promotions paid for? What sort of training did they receive? And were battalion commanders actually younger and more dynamic than their counterparts in other armies?

Historian Steve Brown joins me on the show today and we are going to busting plenty of myths today…The answers to these questions really surprised me and I think you may be shocked.

Steve's fantastic book "Fit to command" can be purchased on the Helion website or via this Amazon link - https://amzn.to/46kuIJq

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

 

The Mazoe Patrol: A daring rescue in the Rhodesian bush (1896)

A forgotten battle deep in the Rhodesian Bush…

 

A handful of Mounted Police battling over a thousand Shona rebels in a running battle. 

 

Its an epic fight that deserves to be remembered. 

 

Today we are talking about the Mazoe Patrol in what is now known as Zimbabwe. 

 

A special thanks to Cam Simpson who researched and wrote this episode. His books on military history are excellent and can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/3QEWtX9 

 

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

 

Allan Wilson - the Maverick who became a Victorian legend (Shangani Patrol, 1893)

The last stand of the Shangani Patrol on the 4 December 1893. In modern day Zimbabwe…

It is the stuff of legend.

A handful of militiamen surrounded and fighting to the death against an overwheleming force of Matabele warriors. 

The man in command was Major Allan Wilson, a 37-year-old Scotsman. 

He was a true Victorian maverick – a man of many talents.

Over the years historians have made a lot of mistakes about who he was, where he came from and his background before coming to Rhodesia. 

But today, with the help of research conducted by my mate Cam Simpson, we are going to find out the true story. Let’s Learn who he really was and which battles he had fought in previously. 

If you want to learn more about the Shangani Patrol here are some key works:

Pursuit of the King by John O'Reilly - https://amzn.to/47O5Xqj

A TIme to Die by Robert Cary - https://amzn.to/3QAng78 

The Downfall of Lobengula by W A Wills - https://amzn.to/3FXh5VG 

Regimental Colours: What are they and why do they mean so much?

The infantry colours of regiments of the British Army are incredibly important - perhaps even the reason why the British army has always been one of the best in the world.

But what is their significance, and why, for centuries now, have men gone to extraordinary lengths to defend them, performing amazing feats of courage and bravery?

In todays episode I am going to answer all of those questions…share some incredible stories and, at the end, explain why colours still matter to British army regiments.

A special thanks to Dr Chris Brice for researching and co-writing this video.

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 

Up From the Ranks: More interesting than Richard Sharpe?

During the Napoleonic era being promoted from the ranks was more common than most people think. . .But John Shipp was still an exceptional man and managed it twice! This is his story. 

 

Buy Redcoat History Merch: https://redcoathistory.myspreadshop.co.uk 

 

If you are also 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

The Epic Heroism of the Relief of Lucknow: The most VCs awarded in a single day (1857)

The Relief of Lucknow was a key turning point in the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59.

In this episode, you will walk with me across the battlefield and learn how the most Victoria Crosses in a single day were awarded.

Thanks to the guest Josh Provan. You can find here his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinhistoryland5501

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