The Redcoat History Podcast

Arthur Connolly was a British cavalry officer, explorer and intelligence agent who travelled thousands of miles across Russia, Persia and Central Asia during the growing 19th-century rivalry between Britain and Russia.

In this episode I speak to historian and author David Mould about Connolly’s extraordinary life, his journeys in disguise, his intelligence work, his attempts to build alliances in Central Asia and the remarkable mission that would eventually take him to Bukhara.

We also explore the origins of the term “The Great Game”, the disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War, the unfortunate Charles Stoddart, and the strange world of spies, soldiers and diplomats operating on the edges of the British Empire.

David’s new book is Arthur Connolly: Victorian Spy, published by Blackwater Press https://www.blackwaterpress.com/product/arthur-conolly-victorian-spy/ 

The famous Boer War - 1899 - 1902. It’s a conflict that has one of the most familiar and depressing stories in British military history.

The Boers we’re told were deadly marksmen, brilliant horsemen and natural soldiers - while the British Army blundered from one disaster to another until sheer numbers finally proved decisive.

But what if that story is not quite true?

Let’s not forget for example that the early part of the war also saw British victories at Talana Hill, Elandslaagte, Belmont, Graspan and Modder River.

And according to my guest today, historian and author Chris Ash, much of what we think we know about the conflict has been shaped by myth, politics and selective memory.

In this chat Chris will lay out his views on all of the myths - did we stumble from one defeat to another and were the Boers the super soldiers that we are lead to believe?

Now, it’s fair to say that Chris has some very strong views, but that is exactly why I wanted to sit down with him. On this channel I love to encourage debate and break away from the accepted opinions. If you disagree with what he says then feel free to comment but please be sure to supply sources for any counter argument.

Chris's website and blog can be found here - https://www.chrisash.co.za/ 

So, who were these men in redcoats - the lower ranks - that fought Britain’s wars across the globe?

They marched across Europe and thrashed the French, overcame huge odds in India and stood to-to-toe with the fiercest opponents on earth.

But despite their courage and ability to endure any hardship - society and, sometimes, even their own officers held them in low regard - to say the least.

Today we are going to examine their backgrounds, how they were recruited, their training, their love for booze and of course we will ask were they really the scum of the earth?

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.

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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 walls of sharpened timber, hidden trenches, loopholes, underground shelters and cleverly designed pā fortifications, Māori warriors showed the British Army that courage and bayonets were not enough. In this episode of Redcoat Vs..., we look at the Flagstaff War which is also known as Hōne Heke’s War or the Northern War. We examine the fighting at Kororāreka, Ōhaeawai and Ruapekapeka, the strengths and weaknesses of the redcoats, the brilliance of Māori pā design, and the hard lessons the British learned in New Zealand.

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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 century military force?

Stay tuned to the end to find out my thoughts on that.

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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 America through Montevideo and Buenos Aires with some courage, some skill, and quite a lot of  misplaced optimism

Then we go to Mauritius, or Isle de France, a French base in the Indian Ocean where Napoleon’s ships were making life deeply unpleasant for British trade.

And finally, we end up in Java, where a British expeditionary force lands in the East Indies to take on a Dutch colony that had effectively become part of Napoleon’s empire.

Three campaigns. Three continents. Three very different stories.

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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 this is the episode for you.

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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.

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 full picture. The victories. The ambition. The rivalries. And the uncomfortable questions that still hang over his reputation.

Now, I didn’t actually conduct this interview myself - credit where it’s due. This one was brilliantly handled by my mate Chris Brice, who sits down with historian Rodney Atwood to really get into the weeds on Roberts’ life and career.

Rodney’s book The Life of Field Marshal Lord Roberts is available https://amzn.to/4eyglsG 

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