WW2 - The war in Burma. The forgotten 14th Army struggling against Japanese "super soldiers" deep in the jungle.

But did you know there was another, completely overlooked aspect to the campaign -Tanks.

Yep, the British and allied troops did deploy them and they proved to be incredibly effective.

Today we are exploring the forgotten role that tanks played in the jungle and on the Indian and Burmese plains.

These are stories that will shock you - a sword fight inside a British tank, the logistics of deploying armour in the mountains above the clouds, and the incredible tale of the 'Thunder Run to Meiktila,' - a battle that set the tone for the use of armour and all-arms tactics through to the present day.

By the way here is the link to Jack's book - https://www.chiselbury.co.uk/bookstore/p/forgotten-armour-tank-warfare-in-burma-by-jack-bowsher and the discount code at checkout is REDCOAT20.

My patreon page is here - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory

Today on the podcast we are looking at the history of the Royal Yorkshire Regiment…a unit that can trace its roots back to 1685.

We’ll discuss the antecedent regiments that came together to form the modern regiment, look at their battle honours and important dates and then examine the role of the regiment in today’s modern British army.

Put the kettle on guys, cause this is a film for the true military history geek - we are going down another historical rabbit hole and it may take some time.

Please support the show and sign up for my Patreon page. When you sign up you get early access to my podcasts and videos - https://www.patreon.com/c/RedcoatHistory

I bet like me you thought tanks and armoured vehicles had replaced Britain’s horse mounted cavalry after WW1.

Well, we were wrong.

Imagine this: in 1939, Britain still had a number of cavalry regiments that hadn’t been mechanised. . . They still rode horses and carried sabres.

These were territorials with no real place in modern warfare, yet by 1941, they were riding into battle in Syria, leading patrols, swimming rivers under aircraft attack, and somehow rewriting the book on cavalry warfare.

They were actually incredibly important.

Today, we ate joined by the brilliant —Jonathan Washington, former Yeomanry soldier himself and author of “FIGHTING VICHY FROM HORSEBACK” - It’s a cracking book All about A Division that Wasn't Meant to Fight - Britain’s 1st Cavalry Division in World War II.

Here is the link to buy his book - https://amzn.to/4hlkBun

And here is the link to my newsletter - http://bit.ly/redcoathistory

The 23rd of May 1842…Ring a bell? Probably not…unless you are a massive military history geek like me.

Well, it was the date of the Battle of Congella - the first time that British redcoats and Boer farmers went toe to toe.

It wasn’t a big battle but it was an important one and is almost completely forgotten - until now.

Join me in this episode as I explore the long forgotten battelfields.

If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/

If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via https://ko-fi.com/redcoathistory

or

www.patreon.com/redcoathistory

While the world remembers Dunkirk, the story of the Lothians and Border Yeomanry has faded into the shadows. These brave men from southern Scotland fought a desperate retreat across France, making their final stand at St. Valery, only to be left behind as the 'miracle' of Dunkirk unfolded miles away.

Join us as we uncover their forgotten sacrifice, with insights from Andrew Karsgaard, the author of a cracking new book who has brought this incredible story back to life. A tale of courage, comradeship, and a battle lost to history.

Andrew's book can be purchased on Amazon via this link - https://amzn.to/3Yaoaeb

Sign up for my mailing list here - https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/

Six Victoria Crosses were won by 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers on the first day of the Gallipoli campaign.

This is the story of those incredible men and their actions.

If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/

If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via https://ko-fi.com/redcoathistory or sign up for the Patreon and get early access to my videos here - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory

Do you love military history? Then this is the podcast for you.

The Forlorn Hope. Brave lads who volunteered for near-suicidal missions, such as first into the breach of a siege. Their name is mainly synonymous with the Napoleonic Wars. But what is the history of the Forlorn Hope?

Who were they?

How did armies find enough volunteers for such suicidal missions?

James Mace co-wrote this episode and he writes fantastic fiction books that can be found here - https://amzn.to/4cJZ8be

and here - https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Mace/author/B002BMES4O?

If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: https://redcoathistory.com/newsletter/

Further Reading: Peter Snow - To War with Wellington - https://amzn.to/3yT8aF4

Richard Holmes - Redcoat - https://amzn.to/4e7g8Jr

Private Wheeler - Letters from the Peninsular - https://amzn.to/3z3qFqg

#Arnhem80 - 80 years ago this week, the 1st Airborne Division was dropped into Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden.

While history often recalls the chaos and tragedy of the battle, one man’s bizarre bravery stands out: Major Allison Digby Tatham Warter, a British officer so eccentric that he carried an umbrella into battle. This is his story - brought to life in a script written by my good friend Neil Thornton.

If you would like to get hold of Neil's excellent book then here is the link to purchase it - https://amzn.to/3MJgE4A

For more content like this join my patreon - https://www.patreon.com/RedcoatHistory

And buy your military history merch here - https://redcoathistory.myspreadshop.co.uk/

or https://www.redbubble.com/people/RedcoatHistory/shop?asc=u