Episodit
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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 me a coffee and help support the channel via https://ko-fi.com/redcoathistory or sign up for my patreon over at patreon.com/redcoathistory
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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 free eBook on the Battle of Isandlwana - https://redcoathistory.com/2021/10/27/free-book-the-military-history-geeks-guide-to-the-anglo-zulu-war/
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Puuttuva jakso?
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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
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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 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 our Patreon page over at https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
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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
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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 Americans won the war.
The 33rd were arguably Britians most elite regiment of the era…not including the Foot Guards of course…and they fought in almost every major battle of the revolution.
Robbie's book on the regiment can be purchased via this link - https://amzn.to/3J8TgvA
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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 brutes”? Or were they well-motivated and experienced soldiers doing the best for their men?
Well today I am joined by author and historian Robbie MacNiven to discover the answers to all of these questions and more.
Robbie has written a book about the 33rd Foot on campaign during the revolution - it’s called the Pattern and I’ve posted a link below.
https://amzn.to/4cH2WLo
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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 - https://amzn.to/3TmTXGt
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
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Beards...currently (March 2024) there aren't many jobs in the British army that allow beards...But Pioneer Sergeant is one of them.
But what is their story? Why are they allowed beards and what is the history of this important role?
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/
Sign up for the Patreon account to watch the videos ad free and weeks before they appear on YouTube https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
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Henry Hook VC has been called the most famous private soldier in British military history.
Does the name ring a bell? I’m sure it does - he was the bad lad in the film Zulu.
We’ve spoken about him before on the show but today we are going deep, learning more about his life and about the actions that lead to his Victoria Cross at the Defence of Rorke’s Drift.
We have a brilliant interview today with well-known historian Neil Thornton.
Neil is the author of numerous military history books. His latest details the life of Hooky. . . Who was he really? Was he tea-total? Did his wife think he was dead and marry another man? And most importantly of all…what really happened inside the hospital during that horrific fight on the 22nd January 1879?
The book can purchased via this link - https://amzn.to/4a0VWqN
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Today I am joined by Matthew Taylor to discuss The Corps of Colonial Marines…Escaped black American slaves who joined the British cause during the War of 1812.
The unit was a force multiplier - men who knew the battlefields like the back of their hand and were very highly motivated.
Not only were they an important part of the British war effort but their descendants still make up a unique ethnic group in the Caribbean.
Stay tuned till the end to find out about the survivors of the unit who continued to fight the Americans under the union flag - even after the war was over.
Matt's book can be pre-ordered via this link - https://amzn.to/3T7iD79 He also has a launch event taking place at the NAM on the 6th April - https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/black-redcoats-corps-colonial-marines
To support the show please consider joining the Patreon over at https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory - it costs just $5 a month and you receive all episodes and YouTube videos early and with no ads.
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The Sepoys on the Western Front…often praised - sometimes derided.
Were they lions in the trenches or did they fail the big test against the Germans?
Were they terrified by artillery, did a huge number deliberately wound themselves, and could they operate without command and control from their British officers?
These are all thorny questions and ones which we will be examining closely today.
To discuss the topic I am joined by friend of the show David Snape.
He has written a book called A Tiger Loose on an Ice Floe - all about the Ferozepore Brigade on the Western Front in 1914-15.
If you want to buy a discounted copy of the book then please follow this link put in the discount code SNAPE5 at checkout.
You can also sign up for my free mailing list over www.redcoathistory.com/newsletter - when you do so you will receive a free copy of my eBook about the Battle of Isandlwana.
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The British Army - those famous redcoats, cavalrymen and green clad riflemen - became surprisingly adept at fighting small wars of empire during the Victorian Era.
We won war after war and battled enemies from across the globe.
But it wasn’t all one way traffic.
Yes, I know it’s painful but there were quite a few defeats for the British army.
Today we are looking at five times the British army were defeated during the Victorian era.
You might be able to guess some of them in advance but stay tuned till the end to discover which defeat we consider to be the worst and why they were all worse than you think.
Thanks to Chris Brice for co-writing this episode. His books can be found via this link - https://amzn.to/49y094U
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Samurai vs Redcoat. In this episode we examine the multiple times that bayonet and Katana battled during the 1860s. It includes the bombardment of Kagoshima and also the Shimonoseki campaign.
This is the story behind James Clavell’s Gaijin: a tale of samurai, imperialism, politics, war and gunboat diplomacy in the Wild East.
This podcast also sees the first American earn the Victoria Cross and the ancient rule of the Japanese Shoguns come to an end.
Thanks to Joshua Provan for researching and writing the script. His YouTube channel can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresinhistoryland5501
His book Wild East is available via this link - https://amzn.to/3un24KU
Sign up my mailing list to receive your free eBook about the Battle of Isandlwana:
http://bit.ly/redcoathistory
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1895-95.
In the latest Redcoat History Battlefield tour episode, we walk in the footsteps of Leander Starr Jameson and his troops as they try and enter Johannesburg and overthrow the Afrikaner government.
It's a fascinating tale - with a number of interesting and hard to find sites that are well worth a visit.
Please join the Patreon page for early access to content and no ads. https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory
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Imagine being a senior officer who has never seen service or completed any training. In fact your only qualification is a fat wallet.
To our modern sensibilities and belief in meritocracy it sounds mental. But was it? Today we are looking at the British army’s purchase system - what was it? How did it work and did it lead to an army commanded by rich nit-wits?
Thanks to Dr Chris Brice for researching and co-writing today's episode. His books can be found here: https://amzn.to/3HmTi2d
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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
- Näytä enemmän