The redcoats. Possibly the most distinctive soldiers in history. Yes, other nations had red-coated troops. And yes, British soldiers have worn other colours over the centuries. But that bold, brash, unmistakable scarlet has become the enduring image of the British Army—especially the Empire-building kind. Redcoats of the 2/24th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of … Continue reading The Redcoats Are Coming: The Story Behind Britain’s Most Iconic Uniform
The Indian Mutiny of 1857: Why did it happen?
Today’s episode is a brief introduction to why the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 happened. Why did thousands of previously loyal Indian Sepoys turn against their officers, turn against their employer? It was a brutal war, and to be honest, even doing the research for this was depressing. In future episodes, I’ll be looking at some … Continue reading The Indian Mutiny of 1857: Why did it happen?
New Video: The First Anglo-Sikh War – The Battle of Sobraon (with Amarpal Singh)
This is the final instalment of my interview with Sikh Historian Amarpal Singh. He talks us through the final moves of the First Anglo-Sikh War which culminated in the Battle of Sobraon fought on the 10th of February 1846.
The Battle of Plassey and the rise of the East-India Company
In Season 2 we are exploring the Battle of Plassey and the birth of the British Empire in India. It's a fascinating story of intrigue, corruption, and world-changing battles. In the first episode, we examine the siege of the British in Calcutta by the Nawab of Bengal and the subsequent "Blackhole" incident 0f 1756 which … Continue reading The Battle of Plassey and the rise of the East-India Company
In the footsteps of the Raj: The siege of Lucknow
In 2005 I visited Lucknow, the capital of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It's a fascinating city with a rich history, especially for those of us with a passion for British military history. During the Indian Mutiny (aka the first war of Independence) of 1857/58, The battle for the city, particularly the siege of … Continue reading In the footsteps of the Raj: The siege of Lucknow
Indian Mutiny: A walk around Delhi’s Kashmir Gate
The Indian mutiny: The assault at the Kashmir Gate, Delhi. In this video, I take a walk around Delhi's Kashmir gate, scene of heavy fighting during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Two VC's were won on this very spot.
Up from the ranks: Meet the real life Richard Sharpe
Meet the real life Richard Sharpe - John Shipp - who was twice promoted from the ranks.
redcoathistory.com 