Sir Evelyn Wood - Victoria Cross Recipient Trampled By A Giraffe

[@t.wcharles2171]

Dysentery, fever, bullet wounds, broken bones, pneumonia, typhoid, starvation, trees, tigers, giraffe hooves, and a nail above his heart, and a horse bite. The man must have been made of teflon

[@TheHistoryChap]

You couldn't make it up!

[@theimmortalgrenadier3851]

And died at 81 years old!

[@Wotsitorlabart]

​@@TheHistoryChap And 'face ache'!

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

​@@TheHistoryChapEven though you lifted it almost word for word from Wikipedia, I think that can be forgiven as it is clear from the smile you are clearly wearing during many of the sections comprising your roistering tale of derring-do, huge personalities and foreign adventures - that you hold your subject in great affection. I feel I can speak fairly generally that the roistering gallop through an incredible career that just wouldn't - couldn't - happen like that today, enunciated in your burnished silvery tones, is considerably more interesting than the entry on line, although I think perhaps more could have been made of his traits and quirks, not to mention his hilariously rackety family which was far from conventional!😏 T

[@johnstewartrichards5922]

Imagine he might have been cautious around Elephants…

[@Johnny-Thunder]

I knew of him as the British commander at Hlobane and Kambula but I didn't know how eventful the rest of his life was. Thanks for the video!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Yes, I first came across him via the Zulu War. Interestingly he had hope to command in the 2nd Boer War rather than Buller but having negotiated the peace treaty back in 1881 he was considered by some (ie. Wolseley) to be compromised.

[@anthonyfmoss]

Well, the phrase: "they don't make them like they used to", has never been as true as in his case!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Chuckling and totally agree. Thanks for watching.

[@lordthompson3868]

They need to make a movie or TV series about this dude, it would awesome!

[@Antonnick]

Forget it! He was not a US American.

[@martinhogg5337]

Fantastic story! You couldn’t make it up! The man was unbreakable!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Yes, it is pretty amazing

[@fredazcarate4818]

This is classical example of a Mans Man. To say that this fellow had brass would be an understatement. Bravo Sir. May I have more please!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching

[@theimmortalgrenadier3851]

Just Lovely! A very grand video about my favorite Victorian Era British General, Chris! Cheers!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@11buster1000]

Brilliant mate. I know you don't do Australian, but the last general to be knighted in the feild, Sir John Monash might be interested interesting.

[@Katmando376]

Yes, a real hero made of steel. Thank you, Chris, for another great video.

[@davidnewzealand6807]

What a remarkable man, and tremendous career. Thank you Chris for sharing. 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@tedmustard2798]

Many thanks for another history gem. As per my previous comments on your Ashanti Ring videos, I married into the Colley family. None of them pronounce their surname "Coley" (as in fish), rather it's "Colley" (as in the dog).

[@andrewsteele7663]

Thank you, Chris, another brilliant telling, and I was truly gobsmacked by the number of injuries and maladies he sustained. Keep up the good work, and thanks again. Cheers

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure thanks for watching

[@Frank_Nemo]

Very interesting in itself and also helps to put this late Victorian period in context. The presentation these days is really very, very good.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you very much

[@auldflyer]

Excellent and enthusiastic presentation of the life of a long forgotten (by most) great British soldier. Such a great pity that the expoiits of many such great men and women are not mentioned in the curriculum of U.K. schools today for without hero's such as Evelyn Wood example, it's hardly surprising that so many of school leavers fail in life....................

[@neilward9932]

Ah! but they can name all the irrelevant Kardashians , and call each other by the correct pronouns !

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@ProtestantSamurai53]

Can we appreciate that this man always seemed to have some minor blunders in combat. He lead charges from the front, but he occasionally lost footing his fell face first in a ditch. He stabbed a sepoy one, got his sword stuck. During the Zulu Anglo War, he fired a rifle at a Zulu too soon bcuz it was hot, hit him any way. This guy was just jammy as all get out. But man hope i can be half as brave as him.

[@janlindtner305]

Good to hear from you again Chris. I hope you will take up the New Zealand wars soon. Kind regards, Jan.👍👍👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

I will be looking at those sometime next year. Really do need some help with some of the pronunciations.

[@janlindtner305]

@@TheHistoryChap Me too😄👍👍👍

[@nathanappleby5342]

Another good video, Chris! Definitely as good as and better than the entry on Wood by The History Guy. Wood indeed had quite the life just like Sir Christopher Lee except didn't accumulate so many injuries from his career in the military. He was quite the soldier from so many ailments and battle wounds he just kept pressing on, one of the best generals in the British Army in the Victorian era. Despite his sycophantism, he managed to reach senior positions in the British Army by his abilities as a general if not the very top. Another injury he had was a cross pressed into his chest from another accident. One of his best known soldierly feats was at the Kambula he killed a Zulu chief at 250 yards, a feat British soldiers rarely achieved at the time. It is amazing that his face recovered from the giraffe smash and he grew a beard reduced later to a mustache. It was too bad relations between him and Wolseley strained in the later years, Wood was one of his best commanders.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to comment and for your support

[@allandavis8201]

I’m a veteran of the British armed forces and live very close to Aldershot, and General Wood VC has at least one road named after him, so seeing your documentary I think 💭 that it makes sense to find out about the man himself and not just a road sign on the side of the road. I will say thanks for sharing your research and knowledge with us now as I am sure it is going to be interesting and informative given the title involving the General and a giraffe 🦒. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇦 Sorry but I just had to say that when it comes down to the officer Corp within the British military we used to say that the rank of Sgt-WO was the best rank and best mess because it was the only rank and mess you couldn’t buy your way into, obviously that isn’t true today but the sentiment remained the same as the vast majority of officers went to private schools, university and had a higher standard of education, equivalent in some ways to buying a commission, but obviously that was the way things worked in that era, buying a commission was akin to buying a house or horse, if you were of noble stock, not necessarily with a title, and had the money you could one second be a civilian and the next a commissioned officer. But us lowly Sgt’s had to start at the bottom and WORK to become a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) and to this day the pride of attaining the rank has not changed, and is still the most important rank in our military. Sorry for the rant, I just hate hearing how our original officer Corp could be as thick as two short planks, not have a military bone in their body, no nothing of tactics or weapons and could still be an officer, whilst the real military minds are or were seen as mere pheasants not worth the air they breathed. I know I go on a bit but I have to say that in my 24 years service there weren’t many ‘Ruperts’ that I disliked serving under and with, but the best of them were always the ones who rose through the ranks and really earned their Commissions. Despite my dislike of officers who bought their way up the promotion ladder I have to say that General Wood was a real military man whose service and dedication to all ranks was incredible, add in the litany of accidents and injuries etc and you have a man that deserves respect and remembrance.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to write. You’re very in-depth comment.

[@edwinsalau150]

Very good! Enjoyed this presentation thanks! Helluva man!👮‍♀️🇺🇸👍

[@jon9021]

What an absolutely amazing man. Now that was a life!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Indeed, it was

[@ProtestantSamurai53]

Always a good day when you upload a video!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Been a mad week with both internet and emails going down. Technology and a historian...what could possibly go wrong?

[@paulpurves484]

An amazing man who lived an incredible life, thanks for the video.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@johnwigington2434]

Brilliant...what a Man! Thanks for this. I originally found out about him in the fantastic book. " the washing of the spears" thank again.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching

[@peterbarker3433]

Once again, Chris, a wonderful account of a true British hero. (I wonder if any of his peers nicknamed him "Lucky?")

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

Whew! Quite a chap! Well done! Enjoyed that!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure

[@davidwoods7720]

Thank you so Much Chris. At least he was not trampled by an Elelphant

[@Lassisvulgaris]

In that case, poor elephant....

[@petermaas4455]

Lots of episodes to come. Thanks so much

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support.

[@DeeplyStill]

What a fantastic story you tell. Many thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@saadkhan1128]

Excellent episode as always could you do an episode on the Pushtoon brothers who served in the first world war and one got the iron cross and the other the victoria cross.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the suggestion. Might be one for my members channel.

[@jamesbishop4635]

Nice one Chris. Sounds interesting. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@asya9493]

What a story, thank you !

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gordonpeden6234]

Sounds like something from Monty Python, or "Ripping Yarns" Great story, well told.

[@JesusSanchez-ul2ex]

Great story great job again Thanks Blessings

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Another interesting & enjoyable story, well done.

[@andyblyth923]

What a remarkable career he was certainly a character,but again I had never heard a thing about him

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent video 📹 A man dedicated to service .

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching

[@robinwhitebeam3955]

Wonderful life, well told, thank you.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@andyblyth923]

Another hidden gem 🎉

[@elgappa8693]

Another day, another historical bangers from our prime source of british military history

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support

[@reynardthefox]

a great episode,as usual. Thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Thank you.

[@DarrenMarsh-kx8hd]

What an incredible man, they most certainly don't make 'em like that any more.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Indeed, they don’t

[@charlesxix]

Thanks for an other great video, really interesting.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Fortunately for the Giraffe, the incident happened a century before she would have been suspected of KGB Connections.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Ha ha

[@stephencook7555]

What a man!

[@BlueBaron3339]

The lengthy catalog of Wood's injuries, and the description of them, seemed a creation of Monte Python! That they were real left me stunned in astonishment. 😧

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video

[@catdude5567]

His last words were "my greatest regret in life was not getting a re-match with that giraffe."

[@TheHistoryChap]

Ha ha

[@jayturner3397]

Fascinating 😊 thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jayturner3397]

@@TheHistoryChap always a pleasure, never a chore..

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Very good story, and the camel trampling is definitely more than i thought it would be, and because of that he wheezed for the rest if his long life. Wow it sounds like his life was out to kill him all of the time...lol. absolutely a great story from a fabulous story teller.

[@samrodian919]

It was a giraffe not a camel !

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

@@samrodian919 damn you're right, I did say camel but yes I meant giraffe. Can't help it, I'm a yank across the pond

[@ludwigderzanker9767]

Thank you Chris, your'e right, in the 19.century were born real men! Interesting and entertaining your video and I'm waiting for the next one. Meanwhile I follow your track on the older videos. All the best Ludwig

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@peter4Flags]

definitely deserves a drink 👍 Thank you

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you too!

[@LeslieDevoe]

Very interesting, he certainly was killable. I enjoyed it, looking forward to the appendage installment.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Trampled by a...Giraffe.....Why didn't MacDonald-Fraser nick that and have it happen to Flashman? You really can't make this stuff up, the Victorian era got truly strange at times. But Evelyn wood, he takes the biscuit, the bloke was damn-nigh indestructable.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I couldn't agree more. And you are right, it must be the only scrape Flashman didn't get into!

[@petermaas4455]

He indeed did, but doesn’t want to talk about it 😂

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

@@petermaas4455 ha ha ha!

[@johnhudghton3535]

Compare and contrast then and today. Our culture and psyche has been seriously undermined. Can you imagine what his generation would say ( if they could) about the absolute nonsense being fed to young people today? Thank you for another inspiring and well presented video.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to share your comments

[@darrengrant-lloyd190]

😂😂😂 Reminds me of an anecdotal story I heard about Spike Milligan's children complaining that they were "bord" one afternoon "BORED"!! he exclaimed and then put them one the front bonnet of his car and drive them around!! 😂😂😂 I am more than certain that Sir Evelyn Wood DID suffer from boredom and did everything he could to control his affliction!! 😂😂😂

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for sharing

[@jonmeek3879]

Excellent video

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you very much!

[@chancevonfreund9145]

What a brave man! He would have been a fantastic leader in any either of the Great Wars 🇬🇧!

[@talpark8796]

well, it's good that he wasn't struck by a non-''metal nail'' 😆 thx for the upload, Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure thanks for watching

[@russbarker2727]

What a life this man had. Almost in places a bit of a comedy. A biography would be a fascinating read. On a slightly different note, did the Crimea affect the troops sent to New Zealand during the Maori wars?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Not sure about that last point

[@goddam9925]

Amazing thank you !!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@sirfox950]

The 73rd was not the black watch, that's the 42nd. Great video regardless, this man lived more in a decade than all of our lives combined

[@markfisher8206]

Wasn’t the 73 the Second battalion of the black Watch after the reorg of 1881?

[@sirfox950]

@@markfisher8206 I just looked it up and the 42nd got amalgamated with the 73rd, but kept the name Black Watch. So I think you are right, thanks.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to comment

[@aaronclack2705]

Would love a video on David Stirling, love ur videos

[@TheHistoryChap]

Quite a few books cover him, so whilst I’d like to tell the story he will be for the Dan Wine list

[@nelsin1925]

Cheers!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Indeed!

[@jhnshep]

@13:54 Eugénie, les larmes aux yeux, nous venons pour dire adieu, one of first songs I learned in the french foreign legion, the empress convinced the emperor to send the legion to Mexico where it won some it's first battle honours including Cameron, at a BBQ or fire pit it has to be the first song sung.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for sharing

[@dennismckown4951]

surviving all those injuries and accidents, you might say this gentleman was very lucky

[@TheHistoryChap]

Very lucky or as hard as nails

[@joeritchie4554]

What an interesting life and history

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching

[@bullettube9863]

If General Wood were alive today I would advise him to buy a lottery ticket! What a fascinating story, about a fascinating man,,,,,,,,,,,as usual!

[@TheHistoryChap]

I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@stevebowman421]

Must be something in the water around Braintree, my old man was from there, he could put up with anything.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Essex water!

[@jayfelsberg1931]

One of the more entertaining parts of Donald Morris' "Washing of the Spears" was his description of the litany of health woes suffered by Wood. How he survived to fight in the Zulu War is quite remarkable, let alone the rest f his career.

[@jayfelsberg1931]

I'll bet he was hoot wearing the Cherrypickers' "pantaloons of cherry."

[@jayfelsberg1931]

He would have looked equally snazzy in the blue and gold of the 17th. Flashman bragged that he got himself and Willie the unfortunate German prniceling because the regiment had a "flashy" rigout.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@brendanhaley3668]

These days he woukd be pulled aside and wuestioned if he is deliberately hurting himself to get sent home... and the amount of workplace injury correspondence would drive ainjury Management officers mad!

[@nilsbrown7996]

“I am the very model of a modern…🎶🎶”..😁

[@TheHistoryChap]

Written, about Sir Garnet Wolseley

[@ToddDunning]

Oh come on this happens to us all every now and then

[@alanwood7373]

I don't know how true it is, but he's a distant family member. So I'm told by my grandfather. Bravo sir.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Just watch out for giraffes!

[@leehighland5435]

The greatest General, is General Anesthetic. His an old geezer with medals who holds your hand while your having an operation and tells you it's going to be alright.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts

[@chuckabutty888]

Talk about a "Boys Own" adventurer, his history would make a cracking film but who would play the part? Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure

[@michealgillman7418]

What a man...compared to the youth of today...they have no idea what life is!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

I don’t know, I reckon my son is pretty cool

[@EdMcF1]

It would be only slightly more striking a tale if he had been trampled by a giraffe that was a VC recipient.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Chuckling away here on a rainy evening!

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Rumor has it that the Giraffe was awarded the Iron Cross posthumusly.

[@sasapetrovic1084]

One explanation please. When 73rd becoame 42nd?

[@chrispbacon4519]

Those Victorian soldiers endured such incredible hardship and kept their enthusiasm for service because they were able to be so proud of their country, a country which very few can be proud of as it is in the 21st Century. I'm proud of what it was and those who emulate its former values.

[@Aramis419]

To adapt a line from Kipling: “He’s a better man than me!” If I so much as stub my toe, I’m down and out, let alone having a giant quadruped trample face into the ground.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Physically he was an incredible man

[@Fittafella27]

Not sure if being trampled by a giraffe would make a soldier more desirable to me 😂

[@edmundbeaton1255]

Thank you for another intersting video! Living near Braintree myself am intersted if you knew which village he was born in? No problem if not. I didn't know someone who had been brought up so close had gone on to do so much!

[@johnyoung663]

He was born in Cressing.

[@edmundbeaton1255]

@@johnyoung663 Thank you!

[@andrewsema359]

He lived a full life. Pity he didn’t get a VC for that giraffe 🦒 trampling.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I guess a fine line between bravery and stupidity -:)

[@mktf5582]

This guy was the predecessor to Adrian de Wiart LOL, please do Richard Guyon the British general in Hungarian revolution 1840s,and Guillermo Miller Latin American wars of Independence.

[@TheHistoryChap]

One of those gentleman is on my list for a story before Christmas.

[@francescomarzorati3993]

He needs that drink indeed!!! 😂

[@TheHistoryChap]

I think so

[@stevenblack7928]

Very interesting, thank God the KZbin Algorithm did something useful today

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeremiah1059]

Had to be tough. Poor chaps' name was Evelyn.

[@TheHistoryChap]

🤣

[@StevenKeery]

This story gave me a chuckle. I wonder if the nurse in the Crimea was beating him for lying in his bed all day? Tough old fellow, though I do think the NHS would be broke today, if it had to cope with many like him. Lol

[@xltrt]

Has The History Chap ever made videos of the American Revolution War against England?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Not yet, but they will be coming. Watch this space or subscribe to my channel.

[@xltrt]

@@TheHistoryChap Ok thank you. I think all of your videos are excellent!

[@HootOwl513]

Is this the guy they wrote that musical for? Pirates of Penzance. He seems the Very Model of a Modern Field Marshal.

[@TheHistoryChap]

It was actually written about Sir Garnet Wolseley

[@HootOwl513]

@@TheHistoryChap I do enjoy Gilbert and Sullivan. I know much more about theatre than Brit. Generals. I will look up Sir Garnet. Cheers.

[@mairiconnell6282]

Where was Staff College at that time. Was it at RMA Sandhurst? Garnet Wolsey looks like a Nth Korean Officer which his medals. lol The Empress Eugenie is she buried at Farnbourgh Abbey? Or am I completely off the chart?

[@TheHistoryChap]

I believe it was at Camberley.

[@mairiconnell6282]

@@TheHistoryChap Thank you 🙏

[@nirnman]

I don't know where I have heard it but I thought that Lord Chelmsford before he inherited his title was also trampled by a giraffe now I wonder if was I confusing him with Sir Evelyn Wood I think I had seen a "Punch" (?) cartoon depicting this have I been mistaken or did it happen to both Officers?

[@TheHistoryChap]

I think you were confused

[@nirnman]

@@TheHistoryChap After your post I thought I might be but had vaguely remembered seeing a "PUNCH" cartoon depicting this but attached to Lord Chelmsford's name and as happening when he was in Africa (on safari) while still Viscount Thesigertans for the clarification

[@KlingonGamerYT]

this guy deserves a statue unlike the lionesses lol probably has one

[@TheHistoryChap]

I think a pub named after you is much better!

[@jayfelsberg1931]

They sent Wood to a fever swamp (Ashanti War) and he DIDN'T catch everything under the sun?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Not everything!

[@Ceilliau]

My God we have become so weak! You will struggle to find a man with that level of fortitude nowadays!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to comment

[@davidarchibald50]

Trampled by a giraffe indeed, such carelessness, another tall story!🤣 Thanks THG, I just love your yarns, if only when I was a lad I had such great teachers of history I may never have done medicine...but that is another story.

[@TheHistoryChap]

If only I had to listen to my dad, I might have become a history teacher!

[@DeeplyStill]

Would be a nice touch if you included a caption to identify the pictures you use?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for the suggestion

[@jeffsmith2022]

Chris, I think that it may be fair to say that Sir Eveleyn was full of vast amounts of 'piss and vinegar' as we say in the States...Not a bad thing for an officer in his position...

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing

[@Anaris10]

A Boy named Sue had to be tough too! Right, Evelyn?.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Chuckling

[@ladymeghenderson9337]

Well I don't know whether this chap was a glutton for punishment or just plain accident prone, but either way he achieved a lot and good on him.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I get to the feeling that he was probably a bit gung ho. In this day and age, he would be skydiving, bungeejumping, and diving with sharks!

[@ladymeghenderson9337]

@@TheHistoryChap what did he do for an encore