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