Best redcoathistory Podcasts (2025)

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Why British Soldiers Wore Red – And Why It Had to Change 10:51

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1d ago10:51

10:51

Why Did the British Army Wear Red? The red coat—bold, iconic, and unmistakably British. For nearly two centuries it was more than just for parade. . . it was the battlefield uniform of the British soldier. Feared by enemies, and loved by commanders. In this episode, I dig into the origins of the red coat, why it was chosen, and what made it stick. …

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Slim’s Secret Weapon: The Forgotten SOE Campaign in Burma 41:36

19d ago41:36

41:36

The SOE’s secret war in Burma is one of the most overlooked chapters of WWII. In this episode, historian Richard Duckett uncovers the remarkable story of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock—a jungle-hardened guerrilla leader who fought the Japanese with a force of locals deep behind enemy lines. Denied medals and buried by bureaucracy, their story is only now b…

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Greenjackets vs Napoleon’s Hordes | The Battles of Barba del Puerco & the Coa 27:43

1M ago27:43

27:43

Thanks to today's sponsor Osprey Publishing. They have tonnes of relevant books include a number of brilliant new releases. Please follow this link to check out their catalogue and also support my show https://bit.ly/Ospreypublishing In this episode, we walk the battlefields of Barba del Puerco and the Combat on the Coa, two early engagements in th…

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The Forgotten War on the Edge of Empire: Waziristan 1937 (w/Jon Pick) 1:05:52

2M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most under-appreciated but fascinating corners of British military history: the Waziristan campaign of 1936–1937. It’s a tale of Gurkhas, armoured cars, tribal lashkars, and the infamous Faqir of Ipi—all set against the harsh, unforgiving terrain between British India and Afghanistan. Jon Pick and I …

1
A Very Fine Regiment: The 47th Foot in the American Revolution 43:02

2M ago43:02

43:02

The American War of Independence . . . A war that is viewed through the prism of American myth making and Hollywood movies. This month is the 250th anniversary of the first clashes of that war. It's a fascinating and misunderstood conflict and I'm sure the next few years will see us bombarded with the old cliches and myths thrown out time after tim…

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Montgomery: Genius or Glory Hunter? The Truth About Normandy 52:39

2M ago52:39

52:39

Montgomery—was he the genius who won the Normandy campaign or a glory-hunting general who held the Allies back? The debate rages on. In this episode, we dig into one of the most controversial figures of World War II with military historian Andrew Harrison, author of Caen, Cobra and Confusion: Monty's Normandy Legacy Revisited. Published by Barnthor…

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Britain vs Persia: A Forgotten Victorian Beatdown (1856-57) 14:38

2M ago14:38

14:38

Did you know that between the Crimean war and the Indian Mutiny, Britain was busy invading Iran (then Persia) and giving it a proper Victorian thrashing? 🔹 Cavalry charges smashing enemy squares 🔹 Brutal naval bombardments 🔹 Heroic last stands and a few Victoria Crosses thrown in for good measure This is the Anglo-Persian War of 1856-57, a forgotte…

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The Most Decorated British Tank Crew of WW1: Fray Bentos 14:20

3M ago14:20

14:20

Have you seen that monstrosity of a film Fury? The one with Brad Pitt. Well, imagine that, but in WW1 with a British tank in the mud of Passchendaele. And yes, unlike the American film, our story today is 100 percent true. Special thanks to Neil Thornton for researching and co-writing this script, his publishing company is excellent with lots of mi…

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Fighting Mac: The Mysterious Life (and Death) of Britain’s Toughest Victorian Soldier 20:09

4M ago20:09

20:09

Hector Macdonald—"Fighting Mac"—was a true legend of the British Army. Rising from humble beginnings to the rank of Major General, he fought in Afghanistan, Africa, and the Boer War, earning a reputation as one of the toughest soldiers of his time. But his meteoric rise ended in scandal, conspiracy, and a tragic downfall. Some even believe he faked…

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Behind the Red Beret: The Making of Britain’s 6th Airborne Division (WW2) 1:09:23

5M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

In this in-depth episode, historian and author Andy Wheale guides us through the remarkable story of Britain’s 6th Airborne Division in WW2. Discover how Major-General Richard Gale built and led this elite force—overcoming logistical hurdles with the RAF, hand-picking the men behind the iconic red beret, and forging a division that nearly got “re-r…

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Napoleonic Wars: How British Regiments Were Organised (w/ Steve Brown) 1:11:17

6M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

The British army of the Napoleonic wars - probably the most effective force we’ve ever deployed. Time and time again our small expeditionary army took on and beat the mighty French. But what was our secret? Well today, we are looking at one important aspect - the British regiment. . . how were our infantry and cavalry units organised? What is a tro…

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Samurai vs Tanks: British armour in the Burma campaign (w/ Jack Bowsher) 1:34:10

6M ago1:34:10

1:34:10

WW2 - The war in Burma. The forgotten 14th Army struggling against Japanese "super soldiers" deep in the jungle. But did you know there was another, completely overlooked aspect to the campaign -Tanks. Yep, the British and allied troops did deploy them and they proved to be incredibly effective. Today we are exploring the forgotten role that tanks …

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The Incredible Story of Britain's Last County Regiment 31:37

7M ago31:37

31:37

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 ket…

1
WW2's Forgotten British Cavalry and The Battle for Syria (1941) 59:09

7M ago59:09

59:09

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 194…

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Ambush!: How the Boers First Took on the British Empire (1842) 11:37

7M ago11:37

11:37

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 …

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Overshadowed by Dunkirk: The Untold Story of the Lothians at St. Valery (1940) 44:10

8M ago44:10

44:10

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,…

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The FORGOTTEN Gallipoli Story - 6 VCs Earned Before Breakfast 15:55

8M ago15:55

15:55

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 gen…

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The Forlorn Hope - The Most Dangerous Job in History 20:34

9M ago20:34

20:34

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 suicid…

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Arnhem: The LEGENDARY British Para Who Fought the SS with an Umbrella 19:16

9M ago19:16

19:16

#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 …

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The Battles That Made Wellington a Legend (But Almost Ended His Career) 50:44

9M ago50:44

50:44

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! Toda…

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How Britain Won the Shortest War in History... 21:02

9M ago21:02

21:02

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 h…

1
Last Stand at Lucknow - INCREDIBLE Story of Survival Against the Odds (w/ Eva Chatterji) 47:32

10M ago47:32

47:32

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…

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WW1: Britain's Forgotten Stormtroopers 14:38

10M ago14:38

14:38

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 exp…

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Olympic Warriors: Incredible Olympians who Fought for their Country 20:00

10M ago20:00

20:00

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…

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Meet the 'Good Americans': Loyalists Who Defied the Revolution! 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 47:08

10M ago47:08

47:08

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 …

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Salonika: The WW1 sideshow that may have won the war... 53:37

11M ago53:37

53:37

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 re…

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When Redcoats faced the "Cossacks of Africa" (Lesotho, 1852) 24:31

11M ago24:31

24:31

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 ge…

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The fascinating story of Britain and our oldest ally 22:18

11M ago22:18

22:18

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…

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The History of New Zealand's Incredible Maori Soldiers 20:39

12M ago20:39

20:39

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…

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The Bravest Man in England - The Life and Death of Colonel Fred Burnaby 45:29

1y ago45:29

45:29

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…

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The Incredible Story of the British Army's Oldest Regiment 10:53

1y ago10:53

10:53

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…

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Unearthing the Forgotten Battle of Umzintzani (1877) 1:07:08

1y ago1:07:08

1:07:08

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 …

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For the Honour of the Regiment! The British army's unique regimental system 10:59

1y ago10:59

10:59

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 ear…

1
American Revolution: An Elite Regiment at War 38:06

1y ago38:06

38:06

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 Ro…

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American Revolution: Who were the Redcoats? 52:27

1y ago52:27

52:27

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…

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Zulu War: Did this Victoria Cross Hero Fake His Own Death? Captain Cecil D’Arcy VC 18:08

1y ago18:08

18:08

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 …

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Who are Britain’s elite bearded pioneer sergeants? 8:55

1y ago8:55

8:55

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…

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Private Henry Hook VC - the true story behind the "bad lad" of Zulu 1:04:21

1y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

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 Rork…

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Colonial Marines: The escaped American Slaves who fought for Britain during the War of 1812 1:24:57

1y ago1:24:57

1:24:57

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…

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Indians in the Trenches: The Indian Corps on the Western Front 1914-15 1:38:59

1+ y ago1:38:59

1:38:59

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 on…

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Disaster!:The worst British defeats of the Victorian era... 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

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…

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Redcoats versus Samurais: The story of British troops in Japan during the 1860s 16:41

1+ y ago16:41

16:41

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 …

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The Jameson Raid: Prelude to the 2nd Anglo-Boer War (walking the battlefield) 16:54

1+ y ago16:54

16:54

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…

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Purchase: The Fascinating Story of How British Officers Bought and Sold Commissions 17:08

1+ y ago17:08

17:08

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 ri…

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The Mini Rorke's Drift You've Never Heard of: Forgotten Sieges of the Basotho Gun War (1880-81) 1:13:06

1+ y ago1:13:06

1:13:06

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 th…

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The First Anglo-Boer War: A full documentary (1880-81) 54:08

1+ y ago54:08

54:08

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 Fre…

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The Forgotten Revolutionary War Campaign: The Siege of Pensacola 1781 (w/ Josh Provan) 1:08:26

1+ y ago1:08:26

1:08:26

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…

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From the Zulu War to the Somme: The incredible career of Tim Lukin 14:33

1+ y ago14:33

14:33

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'…

1
Fit to Command? British Regimental Leadership in the Peninsular War w/ Steve Brown 54:02

1+ y ago54:02

54:02

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 youn…

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The Mazoe Patrol: A daring rescue in the Rhodesian bush (1896) 11:45

1+ y ago11:45

11:45

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 mili…

Redcoathistory Podcasts