Rorke’s Drift – one of the most famous battles ever fought by the British army. Today we meet Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead (pronounced Brumhead) – The man played by Michael Cain in the film Zulu. But who was Bromhead? What had he done in his career before the battle and what happened to him afterwards?
Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Talavera – Fact or Purely Fiction?
In the latest video installment of the Redcoat History Podcast I talk to Marcus Cribb (manager of Apsley House) all about the first Richard Sharpe book "Sharpe's Eagle". We follow the plot of the novel and explain which bits are true and which bits do not conform to the actual history of the Battle of … Continue reading Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Talavera – Fact or Purely Fiction?
The VC Heroes of Rorke’s Drift, Part 1: John Chard
Who were the 11 men who won the Victoria Cross during the epic battle for Rorke's Drift? What was their background and what happened to them after the battle? This is the first in a series of films where I will be answering those questions. Today we talk about the man who commanded the defence … Continue reading The VC Heroes of Rorke’s Drift, Part 1: John Chard
The Basotho Gun War – video
In the latest Five-minute Friday video (OK OK I know it's not five minutes!) I examine the Basotho Gun War of 1880-1881. It is a conflict almost forgotten by history but it is an incredibly important war as it is the reason that the small Kingdom of Lesotho is not part of South Africa. Watch … Continue reading The Basotho Gun War – video
A Lion in the Trenches. The Life of Captain Pollard VC, MC (and Bar) and DCM – video.
If you follow my blog you may have read an article about Captain A. O. Pollard of the Honourable Artillery Company. I am slightly obsessed by his excellent autobiography "Fire-eater". It is the antithesis of most books about the Great War. In it he focuses on the glory, the fun and the camaraderie of life … Continue reading A Lion in the Trenches. The Life of Captain Pollard VC, MC (and Bar) and DCM – video.
John Shipp: A real-life Richard Sharpe (video)
Welcome to the first of my new "5 minute Friday" strand. In this first episode I am talking about the remarkable John Shipp...His story is absolutely amazing. During the Napoleonic era being promoted from the ranks was more common than most people think. . .But Shipp was still an exceptional man and managed it twice. … Continue reading John Shipp: A real-life Richard Sharpe (video)
Rogues with rifles: The 5/60th in the Peninsular War (an interview with author Rob Griffith)
Today my latest podcast episode dropped. It's a deep dive into the background and history of the 5/60th Rifles in the Peninsular War...I think of this unit as the British Foreign Legion, they really are a fascinating outfit. Please listen and subscribe for more British military history content. https://youtu.be/HhC9CatM6z8
In the footsteps of the Jameson Raid of 1895/96
In the latest Redcoat History Battlefield tour video, 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.
Book Review: True Soldier Gentleman by Adrian Goldsworthy
Today’s Napoleonic fiction read is a belter – True Soldier Gentleman by a writer and academic called Adrian Goldsworthy. It’s about officers in the Peninsular war – so is it another Richard Sharpe clone? Well, let’s have a look. The book opens in Madrid in 1808 as we meet a young ex-pat English artist, William … Continue reading Book Review: True Soldier Gentleman by Adrian Goldsworthy
The Military Geek’s Guide To…The Peninsular War, Volume One: The Battles of Vimeiro, Corunna and Talavera.
My new book is available for pre-order from Amazon. Soon there will be an Apple books version and a paperback. Here is the blurb for the book: "This is the first in Christian Parkinson's series on the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 – arguably the British army’s greatest campaign. It is a tale of raw human … Continue reading The Military Geek’s Guide To…The Peninsular War, Volume One: The Battles of Vimeiro, Corunna and Talavera.
