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Admiral Thomas Cochrane, was the inspiration for C.S. Forester’s naval hero Horatio Hornblower or Patrick O’Brian’s, Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crow in the film, “Master and Commander”).

Largely forgotten to the general public, yet he was one of the Royal Navy’s most audacious and feared commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, known to his enemies as the wolf of the sea and El Diablo (the devil).

In a rollercoaster career, he didn’t just fight in the Royal Navy but also in the navies of Chile, Brazil and Greece in their wars of independence too.

An engineer, who worked with the father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and whose inventions are still used today; he eloped with a woman 20 years his junior and was humiliatingly thrown out of parliament and stripped of his knighthood after being convicted of serious fraud.

He ended his days, honour restored and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

The life of Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane (Lord Cochrane / Earl Dundonald) is one heck of a story!

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On the 22nd January 1879 in South Africa, the British suffered the greatest defeat ever inflicted upon them by a native African army - when a force of 1,500 was annihilated by the Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu war.

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Chelmsford was quick to lay the blame for the defeat at Isandlwana on anyone but himself.

Equally it could not be the fault of the redecorated infantry.

So rather than Pullene being held to account for spreading his troops out too thinly 3 myths were planted as to who was to blame.

NNC collapsed at crucial moment

Durnford didn’t take command

Commisariat delayed ammo supply but quibbling and screwdrivers.

Not only do these myths obscure Chelmsford culpability in dividing his force and Pulleine’s decision to spread his line too thinly and not create any entrenched positions.

It ignores something more important.

That they British had been out manoeuvred and out fought by an enemy with spears and shields.

The Zulus had successfully fooled Chelmsford into dividing their force. They had moved 25,000 undetected to the north. They then delivered a horns of the buffalo attack over a 4 mile front and despite one of the horns going behind the mountain they had timed the devastating attack perfectly.

Finally, despite the withering fire laid down by the experienced British redcoats, the Zulu warriors had held their nerve and pressed home their attack, inspired by the Chief Biyela.

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Between 1814-1816, the British and the Gurkhas fought a vicious bloody war - the Anglo Nepalese War.

It was the only time they ever fought each other.

The bravery shown by both sides built a mutual respect and a 200 year tradition of Gurkhas serving in the British Army began.

It continues to this day.

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The Empire Windrush  brought 800 Caribbean immigrants to Britain in 1948.
But have you heard the whole story about this ship?
German Naval Vessel, British troopship and Holocaust vessel...

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The HMS Birkenhead disaster occurred off the coast of South Africa in 1852.

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A British troopship sank after hitting rocks and over 600 soldiers and sailors were cast into the shark infested waters on a dark February night.

Scores were attacked and killed by Great White Sharks.

Just 193 - a third -  survived.

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The Battle of Khambula, fought on the 29th March 1879, was the turning point in the Anglo-Zulu War.

After three defeats the British finally turned the tide against an enemy that they had severely underestimated to their cost.

It marked the beginning of the end for  Zulu independence.

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The Bantam battalions of the British (& Canadian) army during the First World War were made up from men below the normal height requirement of 5’3.

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Over 30,000 pint-sized warriors volunteered, including a corporal who was just 4’9 and I will share his story later in this episode. I will also tell you about a bantam war poet, and another bantam who would make a huge impact on Britain after the war.
 
They made up in courage and aggression what they lacked in height. Each one, described in a poem as : “A pocket Hercules”

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The battle of Hlobane was the third (& final) defeat the British suffered during the Zulu War in 1879.

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Over 90 white and 100 African troops were killed in a defeat that could have ended in complete disaster.

Once more the Zulus proved they were worthy adversaries.

Having said that, the battle of Hlobane was a disaster of the British own making.
Poor scouting by the commander, Sir Evelyn Wood, meant that Colonel Redvers Buller was effectively attacking the Zulus mountain stronghold blind.

That poor scouting also failed to spot a Zulu army numbering over 20,000 approaching the British.

In many respects, the defeat could have been a lot worse.

5 Victoria Crosses were awarded for acts of bravery during a terryfinig restreat off the mountain down a 150 foot steep rock face.

The battle of hlobane was the third victory for the Zulus in this war.
It was also to be their last.

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”The Cockleshell Heroes” was released in 1955, , and tells the story of a daring raid by British commandos using kayaks to attack German ships.
It starred Jose Ferrer, Trevor Howard, Christopher Lee, Anthony Newley, and David Lodge.

It was actually based upon a real historic event during World War 2, Operation Frankton, when British commandos really did use kayaks to conduct a sabotage attack on German ships in the French port of Bordeaux in December 1942.

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William Coltman volunteered to join the British Army in 1915.
But once on the Western Front, the deeply religious Coltman realised that he couldn't bring himself to kill another man.
So he volunteered to become a stretcher bearer, going out into no mans land to rescue the wounded.

For the rest of the war he risked his life again and again to help the wounded.
For his bravery he was awarded the Victoria Cross..and also 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 2 Military Medals, making him the most decorated "other rank" British soldier in WW1.

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