Jul 21, 2026 · 25 min
The British army officer has one of the most impressive, but also most polarising, reputations in military history. On the one hand, he is the calm, polished gentleman. Sword in hand, Chin up. Standing in the smoke while the men around him look at him for courage and inspiration. On the other hand, he is also seen as the chinless aristocrat. The idiot in a fancy uniform - A man who may know exactly which fork to use at dinner, but not necessarily which direction the enemy is attacking from. But which image reflects the reality? In this episode we will explore the history of British army commissions…examine the brave warriors who lead us to incredible victories and look at the bizarre stories of children with commissions, rich fools, petty tyrants, and men who had absolutely no business being trusted with soldiers’ lives. Join my patreon here to help support the study of British military history and get early access to my videos and podcasts - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory