Episodes
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...
Published 11/11/24
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...
Published 11/04/24
Published 11/04/24
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...
Published 10/28/24
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,...
Published 10/21/24
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...
Published 10/07/24
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 -...
Published 09/23/24
#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...
Published 09/16/24
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 -...
Published 09/09/24
Gunboat Diplomacy at Its Best: The Shortest War in History When we think of wars from the 19th century, we often imagine protracted conflicts that dragged on for months or even years. However, one war was so brief that it lasted less time than the first half of a football match (or soccer, for our American friends). The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 holds the record as the shortest war in history, and it's a fascinating tale of imperial power, naval might, and rapid resolution. Thanks to Dr...
Published 09/02/24
The Indian Mutiny of 1857. Known in India these days as the First War of Independence. A bitter hard-fought conflict in the sweltering heat of northern India. It’s a war we’ve covered here on Redcoat History before but it’s a fascinating conflict that saw a small number of redcoats massively outnumbered and surrounded, far from support and short on supplies. It was a war that showed Victorian British society at its best and its worst. I think its a war we should study and remember… Well,...
Published 08/25/24
WW1 - waves of young soldiers walking forward into a storm of steel. Generals - a set of blundering fools - sat safely behind the lines drinking champagne.  The British unwillingness to accept new technology and new tactics. These are the stories we grew up with. That we still see in the popular media.  But what if they are wrong? What if I could explain to you today that the British and Empire armies of the First World War were actually dynamic and forward thinking institutions. And what if...
Published 08/18/24
In this episode, you’re going to hear about 5 men who won a shed load of medals… not just military ones, but Olympic ones too. Buy Redcoat History Merch here - https://bit.ly/redcoatshirts Max Fahler's Substack - https://maxfahler.substack.com/ 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 join the Patreon over at https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory 
Published 08/08/24
Today we are talking about the “Good Americans” - those who stayed loyal to the crown during the American Revolution. Lieutenant General James Robertson, a senior British general in America said that it was always his intention to subdue the bad Americans with the “Good Americans.” Well, he was referring to those brave loyalists - the men who knew right from wrong and respected their King. Special thanks to today's wonderful guest Todd Braisted. His website is...
Published 07/29/24
It’s a WW1 campaign that is largely forgotten. In fact it’s been derided as a sideshow. But was it? Today I am joined by Jake Gasson - https://x.com/JakeGasson1918 - to discuss the Salonika campaign of 1915-1918. At its peak, the British Salonica force or BSF numbered over 200,000 soldiers  - but many senior officers felt this was a huge waste of resources. In today’s episode Jake will talk us through the campaign and then explain why some senior German figures felt that the campaign was in...
Published 07/15/24
Today’s Podcast is all about a forgotten war in the mountains of southern Africa, and it’s about King Moshoeshoe, the most incredible king you’ve never heard of. It’s about how to win when you have no chance. We’ll learn how British soldiers intimidated their enemy by cooking lunch in the middle of a battle, and we’ll see how cattle rustling can get you into a lot of trouble. If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject:...
Published 07/08/24
A special thanks to today's sponsor - Osprey Publishing - The destination for military history books. Here is the link to their website - https://bit.ly/redcoatosprey Britain and Portugal...It’s the longest continuing alliance in global history… and Winston Churchill said it was an alliance “without parallel in world history”. In today’s Podcast we will explore some forgotten conflicts like that of 1762 . . .then we’ll take a look at how the two armies fought side by side in the Peninsular...
Published 07/01/24
This episode is a detailed look at the history of Maori soldiers, especially in the two world wars. German Field marshal Erwin Rommel allegedly said of them, "Give me a Maori Battalion and I will conquer the world." But what is the full history and just how effective were they? let's find out.  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...
Published 06/24/24
His life was straight from the pages of a swashbuckling novel… Some even say he was the inspiration for Harry Flashman… Do you know who it is? It's Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby of the Royal Horse Guards. Built like a brick outhouse, strong as an ox, brave as a lion…I could keep going on but I think let’s get stuck in to today’s interview with John Hawkins. John’s written a two volume history of Burnaby’s life and really knows his stuff. Please sign up for my newsletter and receive your...
Published 06/03/24
In today's episode, I examine which regiment is the oldest in the British army... It's not as straight-forward as you may think.  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 join patreon via https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory 
Published 05/20/24
The 9th Cape Frontier War is almost completely forgotten. But today's guest presenter Cam Simpson has been doing a lot of research on the little known Battle of Umzintzani. It was a desperate fight deep in rural South Africa - it's a fight rich with valour, excitement and tragedy. Cam is the author on numerous books about military history and they can be purchased via this link - https://amzn.to/3WjBkGA  If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive...
Published 05/06/24
Why is the British army (man for man) so damn good and why has it been so effective over the centuries? In today's episode we explore the unique regimental system. 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 may also wish to get early access to my videos, without ads. Therefore you can join my Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
Published 04/29/24
The British redcoats of the American revolution… Often mocked, undervalued or portrayed as red-coated imperial storm troopers with a hatred of freedom loving American rebels. In the last episode, we looked at who they really were, their backgrounds, places of birth and how much training they received. Well today we are joined once more by author Robbie McNiven to find out more about the 33rd regiment of foot during the revolution. There battles, how they performed and why ultimately the...
Published 04/15/24
The British Army of the American revolution. Like most British armies throughout history, they were over-stretched, under resourced and fighting thousands of miles from home against a tough and determined enemy. But what do we really know about these men in the red coats? Were they the proverbial scum of the earth? Was the army their only option to avoid the gutter? Where were they from and how long did had they served? And what about the officers? Were they “foppish dandies, or oafish...
Published 04/08/24
Many VC winners have struggled to cope with their sudden fame and our hero today is one of them. He rose through the ranks to command one of the most famous units of the South African Frontier. He earned a VC fighting the Zulus, served with distinction against the Basothos and then mysteriously disappeared. Today’s story is about an incredible man - but one who remains an enigma. A special thanks to my friend Cam Simpson who researched and co-wrote this epsiode. His books can be found here -...
Published 04/01/24