The British Siege of Delhi 1857 - Documentary

It is the hot summer of 1857. A small besieging British force, massively outnumbered and outgunned by the Sepoys inside the city. . .
Can this ragtag bunch of British soldiers and hastily raised regiments from the Punjab really retake the seat of the Mughal empire?
Can the infamous John Nicholson inspire them to victory and change the course of the rebellion?
Today’s story is fascinating, filled with glory and honour but also brutality and terror.
Stick with me to find out more about the siege of Delhi in 1857.
Amarpal Singh's book "The Siege of Delhi" can be purchased via this link - amzn.to/3OiR6gS
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[@redcoathistory]

It's a fascinating battle and I hope you enjoyed the film. Nicholson has become controversial - what's your thoughts? Please comment. Also don't forget I'l be doing a "Stoming of Delhi - Then and Now" In a couple of weeks too. I think you'll enjoy that.

[@manatarms7652]

John Nicholson is personally my favourite character from this period. Every story about him is interesting and it’s clear from firsthand accounts that he gave off a certain intimidating aura about him that would have been really interesting, if terrifying, to see in real life.

[@Exiide89]

More than 50 million Indians killed by these lowlifes, more than 40 trillion pounds worth wealth looted, sowed seeds of discord among various societies which are killing people to this day, enslaved, brutalised the masses, destroyed their societal structures, religious conversions, stigmatised the cultures of the enslaved cultures through systematic rewriting of their history and scriptures, and look how proud these people trott about it.

[@robertcottam8824]

Opinions change but 'Jahni Nikalsan' still had high reputation in NWFP, 1980s. His memorial above The Grand Trunk Road in The Margalla Hills still stood. I hope it still does. Nicholson, Edwardes, Mackeson and the rest of the political agents were highly respected by the Pathans a hundred and thirty years (at the time) after their deaths. There were 'psychos' of course. (Hodson was mad - no question.) But the bulk of those lads were not only extraordinarily brave but remarkably capable. The frontier was ruled by 'force of will' rather than force.

[@morriganmhor5078]

I just dislike those revisionist "historians". They would be the first to send you to some war and then criticize you "How could you shoot a 17-year-old kid, though it used its kalach against you?"

[@robertcottam8824]

@@morriganmhor5078 An interesting view of the roles and duties of historians.

[@ak9989]

I'm an American from Northern California yet I enjoy British history especially the 18th and 19th century. It's fascinating.

[@redcoathistory]

Welcome! I love it when our cousins from the US watch and comment 👍🏼

[@billyteflon1322]

No doubt. I am from the Cascadian region. I feel the same way. Fascinating time to read about from the red coats perspective.

[@HarborLockRoad]

Yes, and theres so much of it. My own maternal grandfathers line came over to britain in 1066 from normandy, into wales, and finally ireland. He only came here to the states in 1916 after that last rebellion. As cousins to the royals, a lot of my distant relatives and their actions are spread throughout this history. ♥️

[@christianlorentz9981]

Nice to see a fellow fan of that period of British history. Greetings from Marin County

[@coling3957]

Great Britain fought so many conflicts in that period ... as it established its "second empire" in the East .

[@ak9989]

Some of my favorite medals are the Mutiny ones. I have 6 now including a Defense of Lucknow. I found another one in Southern California at a small antique store. Now I'm up to 127 Victorian medals! Been collecting since 1990 and love the history.

[@redcoathistory]

Nice collection!

[@73north]

I have a 2 Clasp ' Lucknow , Defence of Lucknow' to a Private in the 78th Highlanders ( and 'Persia Clasp ' IGS 1854 Medal ) and a Crimean War 3 clasps , Sardinian Crimea Medal and an Indian Mutiny -with ' Lucknow' Clasp 3 medal Group to a Private in the 79thCameron Highlanders ....... bought mid 1990's ( and to appear in Medal News Magazine )

[@caberfeigh396]

Nicholson was a perfect leader for the time and place. He had grit and courage beyond argument.

[@robertcottam8824]

Yep. He did. Sins have been laid at his door but those whom he administered followed him into battle and the grave. He was as hard as nails and 'competent' to boot.

[@Pindi44]

Yes, a perfect leader in British eyes, ie a psychopath like other perfect British leaders: Churchill, Blair, Thatcher, etc.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

You bet. The British murdered every man, woman, child, dog, cat, chicken, cow, pig and buffalo in the city then razed it to the ground. He had the grit and courage to murder children and animals. He was a psychopath crazed with revenge.

[@Deskry]

He reminds me of Blair (Paddy) Mayne. Middle Class Ulsterman, Irish international Rugby player and successor to David Sterling as WW2 commander of the SAS. Nicholson seems to be a Victorian equivalent. He gets a better write-up in Charles Allen's "Soldier Sahibs", although Allen (Plain Tales of the Raj and other tales of Empire) could be described as a little syncophantic of Brit Empire than is now accepted.

[@Deskry]

My use of the word "syncophantic" for Charles Allen's literature on the British Empire, particularly the Raj may not be the appropriate word. However he has been accused since his death of being a whitewasher of the Raj in his writings, not surprising as he is from a generational Anglo Indian family and brought up there himself to a colonial administrator. In brief, although I enjoyed Soldier Sahibs when I read it 20 years ago, my views have changed since with many new books out on these subjects.

[@ccswede]

Enjoy your technique of supplementing the history and the guest’s expert view. Keep up the good work.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - tried to make it feel like a documentary 👍🏼

[@jmccallion2394]

The Royal School in Dungannon, Northern Ireland has a statue of him on their school grounds! He was an old boy of the school!

[@grven4287]

Your channel deserves more viewers and subscribers, mate. great content you have here.👍🏻

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - trying to grow it. Would love to do this for a living one day.

[@suttakadhaidhan4724]

kindly put details about Jallianwala Bagh massacre

[@reynardthefox]

well done... can't wait until the next episode...Nichloson ,in my opinion,is one of those you can't do without in a crisis,and becomes an embarrassment when all is calm again...p

[@ceciljohnrhodes4987]

Once again, a Friday night, a few sherbets and new redcoats video, bloomin marvellous.

[@redcoathistory]

Brilliant - sounds like a top night 👍🏼

[@vorynrosethorn903]

Nicholson was very popular with the people he governed as he lived up to many of the martial ideals of the tribesmen and warrior. He was utterly brutal and merciless (he pushed for rebels to be flayed alive) but this along with his evenhandedness and incorruptible nature in fact gained immeasurable respect among the frontiersmen for whom such traits were virtues. His individualism, which among the British often caused annoyance, was also taken well cultural by the Indians as many British culture habits were alien and if they had been enforced by any besides the British would have been viewed with justified suspicion, Nicholson's preference for judging cases on horseback and concluding them the same day was preferred culturally as it made bribery, trickery and the politics of influence hard to be brought to bare in the case in time, it also made the personality of the judge very apparent by his judgement and in his case the results were reverence, he was exceptionally harsh, difficult to fool, fair, honest and just, the result of this won him many admirers and a large spy network. He marched on Delhi with an escort of mounted tribesmen who considered themselves to own fealty to him like a feudal lord, on top of this he ended up with an exceptional intelligence network and part of it was that natives knew he would act properly with what he was given and remember the favour. There was a biography published on him recently and I recommend it, it goes some why in addressing the controversy. And also the claim that he was a sadistic pedo (the evidence for which is that he like most India hands was not married, and that he once asked for children's toys from friend for a boy who he had settled a legal case by seizing from his family due to sexual abuse and rehomed with a local man of good reputation for charity and kindness and with the consent of both parties (to become father and son), as you can likely tell the claim is undisguised slander).

[@cargumdeu]

Nice detail, noted and appreciated. He once cut a man in half with a sword stroke, he was so powerful. A very close friend of Herbert Edwards, the Hero of Multan, both Bible-bashers and men of action, respected widely for being honourable and fair.

[@coling3957]

heroes from the old days are so routinely slandered by the soy boy academics of today who find manliness to be "toxic" and would shit their pants if ever faced with the situations the people they are slandering faced. thank goodness Britain had men like Nicoholson in the 19th century of we would have declined into a 4th rate nation after the loss of the American colonies.

[@robertcottam8824]

Utterly agree with you - the flaying excepted. Never heard that one. What's your source?

[@robertcottam8824]

@@cargumdeu Heavy cavalry sabres can be devastating...

[@layali1]

Interesting thank you. How does one explain such brutality towards other human beings from someone raised in a christian environnement and who shows signs of being fanatically religious ? The moral contradiction is enormous.

[@swampyankee]

I've read several books on this but you're really bringing it alive for me Chris. Excellent presentation!

[@redcoathistory]

Great thanks for letting me know 👍🏼

[@mikehoare6093]

there´s a piece for the bagpipes called "the siege of delhi", it´s super nice !

[@redcoathistory]

Nice - will look it up! 👍🏼

[@miketaylorID1]

"If practicable..." The most dubiously vague and gentile a phrase ever spoken by a commanding officer. The impact of which completely changed not only a days battle - or three days of battle - but the outcome of an entire war and the fate of a nation (or two nations?) and by extension, by way of 2 world wars, one could argue the whole of western civilization. The most well argued and posited "WHAT IF" of American History.

[@falsouth762]

Ahh yes, Culp's Hill.

[@miketaylorID1]

Visited GB yesterday - the Park Service has the round tops closed for renovation - now maybe Culp's will regain some of the attention it received once upon a time - @@falsouth762

[@macdansav1546]

Great post, thank you. It's amazing to be able to see the sites as they look today. :)

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot

[@rtk3543]

Great stuff, we could do with some British pluck nowadays. I have been to Deli, don't think its changed much since the siege. The Red Fort is well worth a visit, but India as they say is a feast for the senses. Great channel 👍

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

I have actually been to Dehli. I have been all around India. Three trips total 16 months. Love India and would love to go back. But probably too old for the heat. India is two degrees C above baseline eight months out of twelve.

[@pauljenkins6877]

A great series. I can’t wait for the next installment.

[@londonbudgetgardner5205]

The Moguls were long gone. The British dragged in this old man and forced him to be a figurehead. The Moguls had nothing to do with the Sepoy Mutiny. After the Sepoy Mutiny they made him the unfortunate scapegoat and then they retired him to Burma.

[@paulemerson2902]

Brilliant video, thank you for the excellent output you've been doing.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks for watching. Glad you are enjoying the films.

[@coling3957]

very interested, balanced video. i was stationed in Northern Ireland in the early 1990's and would see Nicholson's statue in Lisburn. where it stands in the town centre.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot. Glad you found it interesting and balanced. 👍🏼

[@keithgogarth4060]

Wow still there! In this day and age I expected to be removed😂

[@martinhogg5337]

Great stuff! Truly fascinating and well told!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Martin

[@RkR2001]

Great Video as usual!!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks

[@73north]

I have always found the Indian Mutiny fascinating ( since the mid 1980's ) I have a 2 Clasp ' Lucknow , Defence of Lucknow' to a Private in the 78th Highlanders ( and 'Persia' IGS 1854 Medal ) and a Crimean War 3 clasps and an Indian Mutiny - Lucknow Clasp 3 medal Group to the 79th Highlanders - I think Nicholson was a great Commander , who had confidence that the British could win , and showed extreme bravery at the Storm of Delhi - people are trying to judge him in present day terms , when you needed a ruthless streak to win in India , when heavily outnumbered . I recommend the Great Mutiny by Christopher Hibbert ( Penguin books ) and for the military side - the incomparable Battles of the Indian Mutiny by Herbert Edwardes .( Batsford Books ) The Sikhs ( who were great judges of character ) idolised him , need I say more ??

[@timh3561]

Great stuff. Look forward to the next one.

[@invisibleray6987]

exciting stuff, and on location too....BONUS

[@johnwilson5637]

It should be pointed out that India was controlled by the East India Company, a Company that had a military force said to be larger than that of the British Empire, up until 1875. So it was not, as I've said to many people, the British Army that caused the mutiny, but the greed of the Company.

[@RajuDas-qu1li]

Great! Applauded and appreciated!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot

[@johnstaves1337]

Excellent!!

[@jasonbeckett5445]

An excellent video. Amarpal Singh is a real expert. Would highly recommend all of his books. Thank you

[@notthefbi7932]

Enjoying your channel just subscribed 😁👍

[@redcoathistory]

Welcome to the regiment 👍🏼

[@irish5347]

You gotta wonder about some modern "historians". Using their liberal ideals, even by today's standards, to cast disparagement on historical figures and battles fought well within the norms of society of their time. To be clear, agreeing with this video's point briefly touched upon. Have a good one!

[@user-xq6xu3fo8c]

My ancestors took part in the Indian mutiny at lucknow , my great great grandfather was hanged by British after Ghadar but I still say Nicholson was a great hero for the British We the Indians fought dirty and so did the British no one had the moral high ground

[@reynardthefox]

very good episode,Chris . Thanks

[@redcoathistory]

Great thanks - part 2 of this is now out also. 👍🏼

[@mariadacre9647]

Love it.

[@robengl6553]

Fantastic video. The channel gets better and better.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, Rob.

[@generalbanastretarleton6578]

Another fantastic Video Mr Parkinson. Please keep up the excellent work you do.

[@redcoathistory]

Thankyou so much for that, Sir. Very much appreciated.

[@jon9021]

Excellent episode, and a very informative guest.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it

[@graemer3657]

Great video.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Quite a few of our security staff are Gurkhas. Very polite and efficient guys but i pity anyone trying to break in or cause trouble 😂

[@redcoathistory]

Yes - great blokes. My next film is all about the Gurkhas 👍🏼💪🏼

[@jameswade4097]

Dando on Delhi ridge. [1971] by William Clive. One of most realistic novels i reed [ and i,m old ]

[@redcoathistory]

Oh nice thanks - I will look that up.

[@mudyinsquall]

Awesome! Your guest was fantastic

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks. Yes, Amarpal is a wonderful guy and a great historian

[@BounceBackBelfast]

I grew up near Nicholson childhood home and there's a statue of him during the mutiny in Lisburn city centre

[@nl396]

John Nicholson sounds like an interesting man. I'm gonna have to do some research into him.

[@RkR2001]

Do visit the " Indian army memorial Room" at the Museum of the Royal military Academy SANDHURST . Recently Refurbished with a lot of Old British Indian army Potraits. 2 days back this Unique place was visited by Present COAS INDIAN ARMY Gen Manoj Pande .

[@RkR2001]

Above room Constructed at the Initiative of Gen Claude Auchinleck who was the Last COAS OF BRITISH INDIAN ARMY at time of India independence 1947 with contributions from British government, Indian army and Pakistan army!!

[@jujharsingh5461]

Also make a episode on siegeof arrah

[@banerjeesiddharth05]

Very nice video 📹 👍 👌 👏

[@redcoathistory]

Many many thanks

[@brokenbridge6316]

This must've been a very interesting battle to cover

[@redcoathistory]

Defintely. A fascinating battle and location.

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@redcoathistory---😊😊👍👍

[@cargumdeu]

Nicholson's up there with Ernest Shackleton in my opinion. I suppose the simpleton narrative is to assume that the Siege of Delhi was a fight between white Britons and non-white Indians, but the presence of a great many Baluchi, Waziri and assorted Punjabi tribesmen rather puts paid to that notion. I think an untold story of the Uprising revisionist historians dont want to consider is why quite so much of India didnt rise up against the 'oppressor' when they had the chance.

[@billevans7936]

❤

[@ak9989]

Oh I have a huge original Zulu movie poster that shows British and Zulus fighting. It's about 8 feet long.

[@gary1477]

My ancestor fought in the Crimean War and was sent to India to fight in the Indian Mutiny. He arrived in India after Delhi was taken by the British and the Sikhs. I caught the metro to Cashmere Gate and saw that the walls were made of brick and only about 20' tall. My ancestors were eventually pensioned off after service in the British Army and the East India Company Army. They were then recruited as Pensioner Guards to guard convicts transported from Britain to Western Australia. Transportation of convicts stopped in 1868. My ancestors kept their pensions and were given land in Western Australia.

[@creepy448]

Mutineers having more and heavier Caliber guns? You joking?

[@morriganmhor5078]

They used fortress pieces, not Field guns as mobile British troops.

[@waynenash6008]

I believe there was a sect in northern India who worshipped Nicolson, the British had so many heroes and excellent generals in this period

[@redcoathistory]

Yes that’s true. Fascinating period of history. Thanks and keep in touch

[@Rohilla313]

The Nikkalsainis, yes, correct.

[@xvarshne5239]

He's a deeply INSENSITIVE creature. Eg. He outright refuses to react to the HOMELESS.

[@billballbuster7186]

Can anyone explain why the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 is seen as a high cast Hindu affair, when the mutiny seems to have been triggered by the annexation of the Muslim State of Oudh in 1856. The mutiny was started by Muslim Sowars of the 3rd Native Cavalry at Meerut, followed by the 2nd Native Cavalry at Cawnpore. Delhi was the old Muslim Mogul Capital and Bahadur Shah the appointed leader of the mutiny was the last Mogul Emperor. All the leading figures during the early stages of the mutiny were Muslim apart from Mangal Pandey.

[@anmolmonga1933]

its not. mutiny was in majority supported by the peasantry. It was actually triggered by bEIC giving ownership of land from the peasantry to the tax collector who made the peasantry tenants on their land. The british recruited from the peasantry mainly in bihar region. Hence the mutiny.

[@billballbuster7186]

@@anmolmonga1933Peasantry never owned land thats why the are peasants. In all accounts it was townspeople that later joined the mutineers, then the Hindu princelings.

[@anmolmonga1933]

@@billballbuster7186 Unlike Britain most peasantry in India owned their land close to 60%. The BEIC wanted to replicate the system in Britain hence turning tax collectors to landlords and the peasants into tenant farmers. The majority of Sepoys in BEIC came from peasant communities of Bengal and Bihar. There were a lot of different people who joined the ranks of rebels. Including princes, kings, peasantry, artisans, religious sects of Islam (there was even a fatwa issued against the BEIC; Political Islam of today by some scholars is considered to start from the Sepoy Mutiny; ) and Hinduism (sadhus). My source is Will Durants Last Mughal

[@billballbuster7186]

@@anmolmonga1933 Peasants did not own land as we know it today. They paid taxes for the land which was reduced if the farmed had his own equipment. The land was owned by local lords to whom the tax was paid.

[@anmolmonga1933]

@@billballbuster7186 thats not how the mughal system operated. They did own heriditary lands similar to how we own today. This system continued in Indian even after India's independence(primarily in regions that were autonomous princely states). They had deed to the land ratified by village councils(panchayats). Historically land couldnt be bought and sold. New uncultivated land could only be allocated by the state. State taxed the land by asking 1/3 rd of the harvest it went up and down by 1/6th. These are taxation reform introduced by Sher Shah Suri followed by the mughals but abolished by the british. Most of it is very well documented.

[@londonbudgetgardner5205]

The Sepoys were actual mercenaries initially of the French. The British paid them more and they worked for the British for 100 years They learnt a neat trick: if you attack the women and children , the Indian princes would capitulate. After the British conquered India, the British refused to pay the Sepoys mercenary rates. (Nothing to do with animal fat cartridges) The Sepoys turned on the British and attacked their women and children. All the Indian princes kept out as they had already made good agreements with the British. It literally was a mutiny.

[@mudra5114]

Most Indian princes did not want the return of the Mughals.

[@FiveLiver]

Is this the East India Company's army?

[@redcoathistory]

Well the east India company army had mutinied so the British force was a mix of unit’s including some imperial troops etc.

[@FiveLiver]

@@redcoathistory I look forward to part 2

[@RkR2001]

You guys from the UK would be amused to know that - This is what I heard - the present East India company is owned by an Indian merchant based in London 😮

[@redcoathistory]

Well the prime minister of Britain is of Indian descent 👍🏼

[@RPMZ11]

He's British...no different than an ANZAC or Canadian who comes over and runs a major mining company or Aston Martin F1.

[@anuragpatil4073]

ANZAC ?​@@RPMZ11

[@RkR2001]

The mutineers of course hardly had any Officers ! So military leadership absent.

[@redcoathistory]

Fair point well addressed in the film 👍🏼

[@taraprasadsen7920]

There are others Historian also rather than Amarpal Singh. You are only taking the views and thoughts which are convenient to the British. May be you should have taken views Of some other Indian Hitoricans also rather than showing only one person.

[@zargonfuture4046]

"became controversial recently" yeah love the fact you treaded down that path and promptly stopped watching. 👈

[@redcoathistory]

Well if you stopped watching then you missed out mate.

[@thomascoleman8300]

Dislike poor volume.

[@redcoathistory]

Apologies I will try to do better next time. When I listen on my phone it seems ok, but I appreciate the feedback.

[@drstrangelove4998]

@@redcoathistory volume seems fine on my iPhone.

[@drstrangelove4998]

Dalrymple is a constant critique of the British Empire, almost self hating.

[@user-xq6xu3fo8c]

@@drstrangelove4998he just wants to appease his Indian hosts It’s all business brother