The 12 Greatest Cavalry Charges in British History – And Why They Mattered
There was a reason cavalry dominated battlefields for centuries. And today, we’re covering 12 of the greatest British cavalry charges in history—from the glorious to the reckless.
Stick around to the end to hear which one is my personal favourite.
What do you think? What did I miss? Salamanca could have been there, but as I am covering that battle in a few weeks it didn't seem right to include it.
Thanks to Chris Brice for co-writing this episode.
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30:09
The War of Jenkins’ Ear: Britain’s Forgotten Military Disaster (1739 –1748)
A war started over a severed ear? You’d think it was a joke - until thousands of British soldiers died in the Caribbean heat, not all from battle, but from blundering leadership, tropical disease, and incompetence.
In this episode of Redcoat History, naval historian Tom Golding-Lee joins us to unpack one of Britain’s most catastrophic—and largely forgotten—campaigns: the expedition to Cartagena in 1741.
This is a story of ambition, hubris, and total military meltdown.
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Tom's Twitter account is - https://x.com/tdgnavalhistory
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1:23:29
Why British Soldiers Wore Red – And Why It Had to Change
Why Did the British Army Wear Red?
The red coat—bold, iconic, and unmistakably British. For nearly two centuries it was more than just for parade. . . it was the battlefield uniform of the British soldier. Feared by enemies, and loved by commanders.
In this episode, I dig into the origins of the red coat, why it was chosen, and what made it stick. It’s the uniform that gave this channel its name, so it’s about time we gave it a proper look.
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10:51
Slim’s Secret Weapon: The Forgotten SOE Campaign in Burma
The SOE’s secret war in Burma is one of the most overlooked chapters of WWII. In this episode, historian Richard Duckett uncovers the remarkable story of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock—a jungle-hardened guerrilla leader who fought the Japanese with a force of locals deep behind enemy lines. Denied medals and buried by bureaucracy, their story is only now being told.
Lt. Colonel Peacock's Grandson Duncan also joined us in this episode.
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41:36
Greenjackets vs Napoleon’s Hordes | The Battles of Barba del Puerco & the Coa
Thanks to today's sponsor Osprey Publishing. They have tonnes of relevant books include a number of brilliant new releases.
Please follow this link to check out their catalogue and also support my show https://bit.ly/Ospreypublishing
In this episode, we walk the battlefields of Barba del Puerco and the Combat on the Coa, two early engagements in the Peninsular War where the Rifles and the Light Division cemented their reputation as elite troops.
Using first-hand accounts, military analysis, and on-location footage, we explore:
How the Rifles came to be
What made the Baker Rifle so revolutionary
Why their training under men like Sir John Moore changed the game
And how they stood firm in the face of overwhelming French assaults
This is the real story behind Richard Sharpe’s old regiment — not fiction, but fact. These were the battles where the myth began.
🗺 Locations Featured:
Barba del Puerco (March 1810)
• River Coa, near Almeida (July 1810)
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The podcast for military history geeks and people with a passion for good stories. We focus on British and Commonwealth military history from the birth of the redcoat era through to modern warfare.
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