The Redcoat History Podcast

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 ha…

This episode is part of my new Osprey-sponsored Redcoat Vs... series - here is a link to their books - http://ospreypublishing.com/ In 1845, British redcoats arrived in northern New Zealand expecting a simple colonial campaign. What they found instead was a brutal lesson in Māori warfare. Behind wal…

The British army’s regimental system is uniquely confusing. It’s been the backbone of the British army for centuries. Some would argue it’s the secret to our success. . . But what exactly is it? How did it begin? How has it changed over the centuries and is it still relevant and important for a 21st…

Three more forgotten campaigns… The strange, sprawling, global war fought by British soldiers, sailors, marines and East India Company troops in places most people never associate with the redcoat at all. Today we are heading first to the River Plate, where Britain tries to break into Spanish South …

Today we’re looking at the British Army as it exists now… how it’s organised, why the regimental system looks so baffling to outsiders, and who these regiments and corps actually are. If you’ve ever looked at a list of British army regiments and been totally confused as to what each one does then th…

For more books on this era visit the GOAT of military history books Osprey Publishing - https://ospreypublishing.com Napoleon’s cavalry should have crushed the British - but in Spain during the Peninsular war, a smaller British force kept humiliating them. Why? That’s what we are exploring today. ht…

Today we’re diving into the life of one of the most famous, and in many ways, most controversial, soldiers of the Victorian British Army: Field Marshal Lord Roberts. A man adored by his troops, feared by his enemies… and not without his critics. This isn’t just the story of “Bobs” the hero. It’s the…

Thanks to Osprey Publishing for sponsoring this series 'The British army Vs...'  You can check out all the books mentioned via this link - ospreypublishing.com  In today's episode, we explore how the British Army learned to fight in North America during the French and Indian War, facing a completely…

The Peninsular War saw Britain, Portugal and Spain team up in an unlikely alliance against the might of Napoleon's France. These days the Spanish and the British both think they won the war single-handed...But what is the truth? Was Spain a useless ally or were they actually surprisingly helpful? Le…

Now, When people think of the British Army in the age of Napoleon, they usually picture the big stuff - Waterloo. Salamanca. Lines of redcoats smashing French columns.  But that was only part of the story. Because the British Army of this era was not just fighting set-piece battles in Spain and Belg…

In this episode, we speak with historian Jack Bowsher about his remarkable new book Thunder Run: Meiktila 1945, which tells the extraordinary story of the final battles of the Burma Campaign in the Second World War. While most histories end with the famous victories at Imphal and Kohima, the dramati…

Today we are talking about Spaniards - Spanish Republicans - the defeated side of the Civil War… men who get driven into exile and scattered across Europe. Some end up in British uniform before the fall of France. Some join the Pioneer Corps and then quietly drift into far sharper corners of the war…

The Territorials in WW1 were an important part of the British army, yet they are often forgotten - overshadowed by the Pals battalions of the new army. Well, there is a now new book that examines the vital yet often overlooked contributions of London’s Territorial Force - exploring its unique struc…

Visit Osprey publishing to see their incredible catalogue of military history books - https://www.ospreypublishing.com Britain has a Royal Navy. A Royal Air Force. And yet… a British Army. Not a Royal Army. Why? If you’ve ever tried to find a clear answer, you’ll know how unsatisfying the usual expl…

Mountain guns sound obscure — until you realise they let the British Army haul artillery up goat tracks and into places the enemy thought were safe. In this episode, friend of the show Chris Brice, speaks to a career Royal Artillery officer whose research traces the story from early improvisation to…

Britain’s empire was built on more than famous battles. In this live Redcoat History discussion, I’m joined by Cam Simpson and Jon Pick to explore Britain’s forgotten frontier wars — from the North-West Frontier of India to Moorosi’s Rebellion in southern Africa. We’ll tackle the myths, the real fig…

Canada has a rich military history. Alongside the British they stood toe-to-toe with the Americans in the war of 1812, battled the Boers, shocked the German's on the Western Front in both world wars and proved themselves amongst the world's greatest warrior nations. But do they still have what it ta…

Today I am joined by Dr Chris Brice and the brilliant Daniel Harrington from the Clasps of Courage YouTube channel. Expect honest analysis, good humour, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we make military history content. Have a great Christmas and be sure to buy your gifts here - https://redcoathi…

When we think of 1940, we picture Dunkirk, the fall of France and the BEF racing for the Channel. But behind the headlines were real officers making real decisions — the brigadiers. Too senior to ignore, not quite famous enough to be remembered. In this episode, my friend and part-time co-host Chris…

The RAF Regiment - ask any squaddie and they’ll give you a sneer, a joke, or a tall tale about babysitting airfields. But the truth? The RAF Regiment has been fighting - and dying - in deadly and dangerous places since its formation. But what is the RAF Regiment, what’s the history and what is the u…