The Incredible Story of British Cavalry and The Battle for Syria (1941)

[@mithridateseupator3492]

As a side note, the other British cavalry forces that were involved in the Syrian campaign of 1941 were the Trans Jordanian Frontier Force (an imperial force separate from Emir Abdullah’s Arab Legion commanded by Glubb Pasha) and the Druze Legion. The latter force being raised just for the Syrian campaign. Both these units operated mostly as the yeomanry units did, in reconnaissance and flanking roles.

[@gw2058]

There were also Australian mounted troops in Syria called the "Kelly Gang" made up from an assortment of 70 or so men mainly from C Squadron, 6th Division Cavalry (normally with Bren Gun carriers), they rode on captured horses in the Syrian campaign. It was the only Australian horsed cavalry unit to operate in action during the war.

[@redcoathistory]

Hi mate - they are discussed at length in the film. . . .

[@gw2058]

@@redcoathistory Thanks I caught up 😳, there were also Australian ski troops trained in Lebanon for use during the winter of 41/42. Love your work 👍

[@oldmanriver1955]

Also a Polish Cavalry Regt wearing British uniform and using 1908 cavalry swords and rifles/mgs. Made up of Poles who escaped or had the training before. There are pictures of them insitu. My father's company., B Coy 2nd/33rd confronted mounted Shaphi cavalry scouts and then a dismounted charge by a cavalry unit in June/July.

[@raycollishaw673]

Australian ski troops are currently involved in the occupation of Whistler, BC.

[@Antmann71]

​@@raycollishaw673lol..

[@NickButler-p5x]

Really interesting edition, everyday is a school day, I was certainly not aware of the use of mounted troops in this theatre. Well done another blinder!

[@V.B.Squire]

Wow this story should be a ten part drama, the bond with the horses would make a gut punching finale

[@astridvallati4762]

During the Australian advance, a Young Sabra, Moshe Dayan, was scouting out front of yhe Aussies, and:was hit by MG fire, stricking his binoculars, and:the Impact shattered his Orbit ( eye socket) also destroying hos Eye. He was succesfully evacuated rearward to a field hospital,but the extensive bone damage left him unable to use a Glass Eye. So he wore his sugnature DARK eyepatch for the rest of his life. A Soldier's Soldier.

[@rule3036]

Thanks for sharing the story of Moshe Dyan's eye loss.

[@rule3036]

Cpl Spencers dash and his poor horse is proper stuff, forget all your modern tacticool bearded tatooed " special forces" bullshittery.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

The part about having to turn their horses in got me, especially when paired with the visuals.

[@markaxworthy2508]

Very interesting. I have ordered the book. On a technical point, Syria and Palestine were not French and British colonies. They were League of Nations Mandates.

[@seanlander9321]

Australia captured them.

[@patrickporter1864]

That might have been the legal position but the de facto position was that of a colony.

[@seanlander9321]

@@patrickporter1864 Yes, same as Australia had Papua New Guinea, which it made its territory after WWI.

[@vonsprague7913]

Once again an absolute tour de force Chris. Where on earth do you find these experts on obscure topics! Bravo to you both. Excellent video length and please more WW2 coverage as you do it so well.

[@redcoathistory]

Brilliant- thanks a lot for the comment and kind words.

[@martinhogg5337]

Excellent talk! Very interesting to hear of this largely forgotten campaign.

[@rextroop1941]

There is a poem written by Australian light horseman who had to leave their mounts after the 1st world war called 'Farewell old war horse' its a wonderful poem.

[@RailfanDownunder]

Superb ...... as an aside, several Light Horse regiments in Australia were still horse-mounted during WW2 and some saw service patrolling the North West coastline

[@FranciscoPreira]

Superb content mate, another great video indeed, this one was really fantastic, did not knew about the role of Brit Cavalry in WW2, you're the man bro. As much as I know Portugal was the last european country, to use cavalry units in a combattant role, from 1967 to 1974, if I am not mistaken, in our Colonial Wars, those units fought in Angola, although there was also a desire to form such kind of units to send to Moçambique, but that never came true. Again congrats bro, you're the man.

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

Nope, look up Gray Scouts in the Rhodesian Armies ORBAT, they were still operational up until 1980.

[@FranciscoPreira]

@@ardshielcomplex8917 indeed mate but the Grey Scouts were from an African country, and by the way, that unit was inspired in the portuguese "Dragões de Angola" the cavalry unit that fought there. Best regards.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Brother. Glad you enjoyed it. Great info re. Portuguese army - will have to look them up.

[@FranciscoPreira]

@@redcoathistory I have some info on those chaps, somewhere, when I discover where it is I will sent it to you, best regards.

[@welshwarrior5263]

Excellent. I will buy this book and look forward to reading it.

[@webster169]

Great video of a campaign I have never heard of, will definitely be reading the book.

[@johnhudghton3535]

Yes, I do enjoy you covering WW2 stories, especially the niche, more obscure ones. This was a lovely balance between the operational and the personal. Nice to see the humanity of the battle hardened troops be expressed in the care for their belived mounts. Thankbyou for an entertaining and informative collaborative production delivered so well.

[@71vette68]

I'm enjoying your videos, and hoping you can find time to do one on the Battle of New Orleans, it deserves more attention then I can find on youtube.

[@dave88272]

excellent have ordered book the photos really were an incredible find

[@jameswebb4593]

1975 the British Army disbanded its Company of Mules in Hong Kong , that had been on active duty for 25 years The Thai Army had a regiment of Mules after 2000 , because I saw them grazing in Chiang Mai

[@chriswarburtonbrown1566]

Fascinating. My grandfather joined the TA in January 1939 as it rapidly expanded. He never rode a horse though, he spent the war fixing engines.

[@chiron14pl]

Although photos exist of US mounted soldiers in Afghanistan, I think they were mostly donkeys and used purely for transport. I don't think any units actually engaged in mounted combat, but would love to learn more to fill in the gap from your story in WWII to present day. Horses, as the Brits found out, can be the most appropriate mode of travel in some terrains, thx for the good video

[@awuma]

In the 1980's campaign against the Soviets, the Mujahedin used horses. Poland's current Foreign Minister, formerly Defence Minister and possibly future President, Radek Sikorski, rode and fought with them, as a war correspondent. There are pictures of him mounted and carrying an AK-47. He wrote a book about it, "Prochy Świętych: Afganistan Czas Wojny", English edition titled "Dust of the Saints" (Paragon House, 1990).

[@99IronDuke]

the Soviets used large numbers of horse cavalry in WWII, the German's had a single horse cavalry division and the Italians also used horse cavalry and even made a, successful, sabre charge on the eastern front.

[@andrewholloway3986]

I would love to find out more about the role of the North Somerset Yeomanry in this campaign as my late father served in the regiment during WWII.

[@NSYresearch]

There are a couple of books about the NSY in WW2. The Last Ride by Kathleen Cowels. A Hot Tim of It by Peter Forrester. Both available on ebay ath the moment.

[@NSYresearch]

As an amature historian studying the NSY for many years I'd love to know more about your grandfather and his time with the regiment.

[@Caratacus1]

Love the early WW2 stuff - so many untold stories like this one. If you follow WW2 on KZbin then you'll get 1944 fatigue very quickly. This stuff is like gold dust. Maybe the East Africa and Keren campaign next...

[@vorynrosethorn903]

The use of cavalry in the Russian civil war is a fascinating subject and I recommend looking into it. Likewise recent scholarship on cavalry in WW1 is decisively breaking the old narratives, cavalry remained highly relevant and media optics had more to do with them being replaced than the reality of their usefulness.

[@River.E.M]

I recommend The Marquess of Anglesey's History of The British Cavalry, his 4 last volumes which cover ww1. Any suggestions for The Russian Civil War or Polish-Soviet War?

[@awuma]

More importantly for the West, Poland defeated the Russian Bolsheviks on 1920 and stopped Trotsky's march into Europe, using a lot of cavalry in addition to infantry, artillery and aircraft manned by volunteers, especially American. The Polish supreme leader, Marshal Piłsudski, during and after WWI and in the 1920 war, was riding his beloved little chestnut mare, Kasztanka (Chestnut). He appeared on her at parades for several years afterward. It is interesting that the quintessential dictatorial Man on Horseback rode a small and rather gun shy mare who obeyed only him.

[@peterclarke1535]

Pete Clarke, The Cheshire Yeomanry are now C Squadron ( Cheshire Yeomanry ) the Queens own Yeomanry. A reserve light cavalry unit. The Cheshire Yeomanry badges are still worn on the number 2s. Met quite a few of the wartime Yeoman weird to think they went to war on horses and yes they could sink the odd pint, Litani is the Squadron day, Once a Cheshire Yeoman always a Yeoman.

[@garyhowell8607]

Another exceptional documentary

[@davidknight2220]

Brilliant I read about the Sherwood Rangers but never heard the full details of the campaign

[@johnfisk811]

Thank you for that as an ex Yeomanry trooper. It may be illustrative to note that they were trained as mounted infantry with a sword charge very much as last ‘get ‘im Kev’ resort. Operating as riflemen with the support of their Hotchkiss Portative machine guns which they had retained since the beginning of the Great War. Back in history they were a local mobile force acting as aid to the Magistrates in riots etc. whatever their pretensions as hard charging cavalry. The troops back then were commonly minor tradesmen and tenants and labourers of the rural middle classes which rendered them as reliable. In the Great War they were very successful as mounted infantry especially in 1918 and operated as an all arms force with horse artillery field guns as part of the team so could advance at speed and meet the enemy with machine gun and artillery fire whilst the riflemen advanced on foot. Being on the scene sometimes hours before foot infantry could arrive. All part of the professional all arms team which was the 1918 BEF to exploit small gaps opened by infantry supported by artillery and advancing to seize tactically useful territory and holding it until new or re supplied foot infantry passed through them to continue their advance.

[@tomcampbell3284]

What an amazing story, thank you.

[@reynardthefox]

a great story...love horses and sabres

[@chriscookesuffolk]

Yet another great video thanks Chris

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.

[@CurtisWebb-en5kh]

This kicks ass Gracias Amigo.

[@Gareth769]

My late grandfather mentioned his early experience in North Africa/middle east with the rasc driving trucks which carried horse feed

[@OSRgrumbler]

An interesting video. Thanks Chris and Johnathan. I’d like to see WW2 content but don’t forget about the Napoleonic period. 😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks - don't worry lots more Napoleonic and Victorian stories in the works

[@philipsmith7913]

Fascinating and, at least to me, an unknown deployment.

[@axelmacdonald6422]

SRY started off on horses then - redirected to coastal defence in Tobruk then mechanised for El Al. Interesting early days!

[@Graybaggins]

great video. thanks.

[@redcoathistory]

You are welcome!

[@benwilson6145]

Thank you

[@albion1962]

Really interesting. Bought the book.

[@redcoathistory]

Brilliant - Hope you enjoy it!

[@flashgordon6670]

I knew nothing at all about the Second World War in Syria, thanks. Question: What was the last ever battle or military action that British soldiers wore redcoats?

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - I also learned a lot. I should make a video about that - off the top of my head it was Sudan - Battle of Gennis - but I could be wrong.

[@stephencuffel4932]

Close captions turned the "yeomanry" into the "urinary", I swear, try it but each time you'll get something different and wrong. Can't handle the accents any better than this West Coast American. Excellent video, don't have to get every word to find it interesting.

[@vernongoodey5096]

I have a pair of WW1 cavalry spurs, must be worth a bit?

[@PAWPERSO]

Might be worth more to the Regiment who once issued them?

[@eddierudolph8702]

Another book to add to my list

[@chiron14pl]

The Household Division still has the two mounted regiments, though their role is ceremonial not combat [they are trained in mechanized warfare, so their ceremonial role is rotated with real soldiering]

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

A brilliant story guys

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate!

[@ChelseaPensioner-DJW]

The LRDG were the first in the desert to think outside of the box. There was also a few attacks made by sea similar to Commandos, but strangely the Army formed the 'Army Special Boat Section' who were the precursor to the present day SBS (Special Boat Squadron). Watch the TV series Rogue Heroes for the SAS and the Guy Ritchie film The Department of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Sea of Sand (released in the US as Desert Patrol) is a 1958 rough depiction of the LRDG.

[@zsoltbocsi7546]

Great story

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Skipper.17]

45:00 same thing happened at the end of the First World War. Horsemen knowing their horses were going to be handed over and sold or shot. I know the Australians had a hard time of it with their whalers that they had bought over with them from Australia at the beginning of the war and that many of them went through the entire war with that same horse.

[@tikaroa]

interesting talk

[@deogiriyadav8399]

Don't read or watch any video just go blank for this historical movie.... I m 10000% sure u didn't know about this historical events Movie name Sardar udham 2021

[@astridvallati4762]

After the Vichy surrender, some Australian troops eere trained as Ski troops for possible use in the Balkans and Greece...Photos exist late 41-early 42. Lebanon.

[@redcoathistory]

That's fascinating - I didn't know that. Thanks

[@garywheeley5108]

I read somewhere the last cavalry charge was in burma lead by someone called sandeman ?🤔

[@jonathanwashington876]

It was: 1942. But not mentioned here as that was technically the Indian Army.

[@SnoopReddogg]

Pretty sure the RAAF Airfield Defence Regiment ( or whatever the Wingnuts call themselves) were patrolling Tindel Airbase in the Northern Territory on horses in the mid 90s.

[@rextroop1941]

I feel like in a modern mechanized war, it would be harder to track scouts mounted on horses than scouts in vehicles because its harder to spot hoof prints than tread marks. Also all they'd need is ammunition, food and water for both the horses and the riders. And some medical supplies

[@redcoathistory]

I agree - I feel cavalry will be back. . .

[@River.E.M]

​@@redcoathistoryimagine cossacks in The Ukraine

[@River.E.M]

Well the yanks did use them in Afghanistan within this century. I've also read a few things about Sudanese tribesmen charging police forces on horseback.

[@steven.ghodgson765]

it never crossed my mind that we still had cavalry but now t you can see why they did.

[@user-uy3bj9ue5c]

A meek gentle animal like a horse should never be use for people squabbles.

[@patrickporter1864]

Horses meek gentle.

[@Skipper.17]

I think the reason why this battle is forgotten is that the allies didn’t want it to be known that we were fighting the French which were supposed to be our allies.

[@River.E.M]

Yes, makes sense

[@gerardhogan3]

Its a myth the Australian horses were all walers in the Sth African and WW1. The Army specification for purchasing horse flesh does not use the word waler. Waler is a shortened word version of New South Wales. What people call a waler these days looks nothing like the type of horse chosen by Army. Its also wrong to say many horses lasted the whole war. There is story of a mare from Nth west Queensland called Gunner I think, and this story is at Tank musuem Puckapunyal. Who apparently last four years. She was stuffed at the end. Inactually on the station she came from. Fort Constantin. FC3 brand. Referring to photographs it appears the horses had clumper cross with thoroughbred which was a common style of horse breeding around the 1900s and before.

[@billballbuster7186]

Not Cavalry, they were mounted infantry and were some if the last British units to be mechanized. A few Cavalry Regiments recieved armoured cars in 1939-40 in the UK. Most other units used 15cwt Trucks and Horses for transport, including the 1st Cavalry Division in Palestine. The 11th Hussars received armoured cars in 1936, but the majority soldiered on with trucks and horses until 1942. Horses were still being used for patrol in Kosovo and Bosnia by British tank regiments in 1995-2002.

[@jonathanwashington876]

Nope. Cavalry. Cavalry role. Cavalry equipment.

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

Mounted Infantry / Cavalry are much the same thing, as were the Dragoons from earlier times; being adaptable to both roles. The Australian Light Horse regiments that charged at Beersheba in 1917 were deployed as Mounted Infantry but were routinely used in Cavalry actions, ref the Battle of Samakh; post Beersheba.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@ardshielcomplex8917 The Australian Light horse were not equipped for traditional Cavalry role, no sabres or lances. They used their bayonets, which was far from ideal. Their intended role was to fight dismounted with a standard .303 Lee Enfield.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@jonathanwashington876 Cavalry is just a traditional name for soldiers which fought from horseback with lance or sabre. If they had rifles they were supposed to fight dismounted as Infantry.

[@River.E.M]

No. They had swords, were designated as cavalry, and acted as cavalry.

[@Abbale]

All this sacrifice with no gain for us.

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

"They even had sabres" I wonder how many wanted spears/ lances.

[@neilmason1394]

In fact two Regular Cavalry Regiments were only mechanised in 1940 and 1941; they were also based in Palestine.

[@Volsigg]

I’ve watched a few of your videos. I’m subscribed. I really like this video. It reminds me of my own family history with the British Army. Their heartbreaking moments were in the First World War . All where they had to see their horses taken to the abattoir. Such a waste such a cruel end. After they giventheir all. Soldiers are just as expendable triage they call it who they decide will live and who they decide will die. 💀 Industrial warfare four generations of my family have fought for the British Army . All over the world I would’ve followed, but I was in a serious road traffic accident when I was 15 that sort of ending my dancing career . I don’t intend this as some form of self pity just the fact we just have to get on with it don’t we .

[@dewetmaartens359]

Advert after advert after advert makes this impossible for me to listen to.

[@chrismccartney8668]

An uncle was a butchers boy with an boys Interest in Crystal sets and motorcycles he volunteered for RAF and become Flight engineer he was killed over Germany.

[@rex-y7v]

Sorry to be picky but the thumbnail shows mounted infantry not cavalry, the infantry used horses to cover the rough terrain and dismounted to fight. The Anzac units in WW1 mid east were all mounted infantary.

[@jonathanwashington876]

They are definitely cavalry. Cheshire Yeomanry to be precise. With swords as well as rifles.

[@rex-y7v]

@@jonathanwashington876 Thanks for the reply, it seems we are both right. Between the wars the Cheshire and Shropshire Yeomanry amalgamated to become 10th Bn Kings Own Shropshire light infantry (mounted). They were designated a cavalry regt but used as mounted infantry during 1942 before becoming a signals regiment.

[@River.E.M]

A.L.H. acted as cavalry and pretty much were cavalry. The era simply made dismounted action a necessary thing on some occasions

[@rex-y7v]

@@River.E.M Along with the New Zealand Mounted rifle brigade and the Camel corp they were Infantrymen who fought dismounted with long rifles and not carbines. They did cavalry things like scouting and screening but nowhere are any of the regiments referred to as cavalry....just mounted troops. The Tasmanian and West Australian light horse were referered to as mounted infantry

[@NSYresearch]

From the Boer war reforms all the Yeomanry units were trained as mounted infantry primarily, but retained the cavalry skills of horsemanship and sword drill. Many yeomanry regiments were dismounted during WW1 and fought as infantry or artillery. My own study of the North Somerset Yeo. shows the were dismounted in 1917 after serving as mounted and dismounted infantry. After its re-establishment in 1920 they continued as mounted infantry until its service in Syria as in this video.

[@charlottewalsh1030]

So so so many, Aussie soldiers ! Lost in Middle East ? Hope all that come….. now,? peacefully ,etc . Know how many lives have been sacrificed! Thousands,, light horse in ww1 .

[@andrewcombe8907]

There are photos of Australian troops on skis and in white suits patrolling the mountains of Lebanon.

[@Davey-Boyd]

They have ski resorts in the mountains of Lebanon even today

[@andrewsarantakes639]

Make the British Army Great Again

[@markwagstaff7209]

Unfortunately similar shenanigans are taking place today the cavalry are losing their tanks and turned into infantry the yoemanry are receiving their tanks 😠😡

[@Alastair-v8u]

Too much waffle!

[@redcoathistory]

Maybe eat less then, all that syrup can't be good for you, Sir.

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

Herman Fegelein the SS Officer shown in the movie Downfall and Hitler's Liason Officer for the SS commanded a cavalry division SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer in WW2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Fegelein?wprov=sfla1