The Surprising Secret Behind the British Army's Success

[@redcoathistory]

Hay guys... thanks for watching...And thanks to today's sponsor - War Thunder. Use this like to sign up and support the channel - playwt.link/redcoathistory - when you do so you can take command of over 2500 tanks, planes, choppers and ships from 10 major nations including Britain and the USA. Enjoy!

[@iatsd]

Someone needs to read the most recent edition of Paddy Griffith - Forward into Battle :)

[@normanberg9940]

What made them successful was scheming alliances. Certainly not their fighting prowess. I cannot think of a single example in all of history where England defeated her peer enemies by herself. Oh and please don't bring up Agincourt because you ultimately LOST the 100 years war.

[@fortnex9972]

Dude , you explained how regiments worked and some insights. But you never explained why the were "better". Maybe is having mascots? Or chatting during anthem? Prove they were better than romans and then explain why

[@Banedragon]

one assumes it was because they had eddard stark leading them against Napoleon

[@thetruthhurts7675]

The OLDEST continually serving regiment in the British army, and the English army is the Coldstream guards. They were founded in 1650. However you probably mean the Kings Body Guard of the Yeoman of the Guard formed in 1485. Today they are NOT a part of the army, and are purely ceremonial, they do things like the opening of Parliamnet. . I am EX Royal Navy by the way.

[@MrDaveNorton]

My Dad was a member of the Royal Australian Artillery during the 50’s as a part of National Service. The Regimental mascot was a British Bulldog with the rank of Sergeant Major. But was busted to private after lifting his leg on the Colonel during a parade.

[@mike-cl7pb]

🤣😂🤣😆 love it

[@Joe-jv5mm]

Should have been Promoted too General ⭐ for Piss up's

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

LOL 😂😂😂

[@philtreman9944]

Now that's what I call soldiering - courtesy of Sharpe .

[@Travio247]

It's because the colonel was inspecting the privates

[@DiscoDashco]

First video watched on this channel, and I already appreciate it. I’m a Veteran of the U.S.A.F. myself, yet still interested with all sorts of world military history, and a profound respect for everything British troops had to endure during the world wars. Seeing just how different traditions and dress, customs and courtesies of the Royal Army over the years has developed is a great source of personal fascination, and how they differ from American forces is always fun to learn about. Greetings from Austin, Texas!

[@shecksthesheckler423]

No one fights for the country, it's the Regiment, the colours and your mates, the country benefits accordingly

[@nickwilkinson5849]

So true.

[@julianjames2899]

Lol right up until you walk on the grass and the Sergeant Major reminds you who's grass that is

[@davehopkin9502]

No you fight for your mates, the section, you wont let them down, that ripples all the way up

[@paulleach3612]

Meh, when I joined up it was little more than a drinking club with great travel and sports options - with a healthy pension after retiring.

[@kristiannoel4866]

@@julianjames2899 same with the parade square and Adaire Walk or Who dares Walk when I went to ATR Pirbright. LOL!

[@jkwacker8225]

As a Canadian our military structure was naturally a carbon copy of the British way. I love the British regimental system. Especially how every regiment has a name, not a number, how many named after and have members from certain cities or other geographical areas. Unit pride and esprit de corps lie at the regimental level. I could really care less what division or brigade I’m in. I’ve also had Americans compliment us with just how damn cool some of are unit names are. You don’t get that with numbers.

[@V.B.Squire]

It must be interesting as Canadians can make an even more realistic comparison between Canadian and American systems.

[@neilpk70]

First time I saw a Loyal Edmonton Regiment cap badge I wondered "What's that coyote doing there?" Later I learned who Lestock was. And what the windmills meant.

[@poil8351]

Mind you canada also has some french military traditions as well.

[@julianjames2899]

I agree. I've been with the Royal Canadian Dragoons for 14 years now and that cap badge on our black beret is what separates us at a glance. Sadly our oldest units who have Scarlett uniforms have to rely on non profit organizations to supply us with the snappy red uniforms as the CAF and public funds don't cover them

[@Zajuts149]

The British Army did have regimental numbers. After 1751,IIRC. The county names came after the American Revolution, I believe. Still, making multiple battalions as needed of a storied regiment and making the battalion a part of a brigade is a superior system. During the Napoleonic Wars, most British regiments had less than 3 battalions. Austrian regiments had nominally 4(their system was one of the most bonkers ones), and the French had 3 battalion regiments with a training battalion in barracks. Towards the end, when Napoleon needed more troops, he found it more effective to raise additional battalions from existing regiments than raising entirely new regiments. This is the way the British Army would operate in WWI and WWII.

[@darthpaul490]

As a former soldier in the RRW( ROYAL REGIMENT OF WALES) I can inform that lance corporal gwillam Jenkins does NOT get saluted as he is an N.C.O, just a lance corporal, you only salute the commissioned officers, not the Non-commissioned officers

[@johnnewton2949]

I can't stop laughing at the idea of a lance corporal Jenkins. I suspect there's also another thing the British Army had more than any other, was a great sense of humour. My Grandad was in the Cheshires and my dad in the RAMC. They both enjoyed a bloody good laugh.

[@richardmayo6616]

As a young Territorial I did a 2 week attachment to Demo Battalion (then 1 RRW), when I arrived the Regimental Mascot was in jail having been seen crapping on the parade ground by the RSM!

[@mike-cl7pb]

Yes as former RWF the sames true of Billy the Regimental goat

[@darthpaul490]

@richardmayo6616 that was because a lanny (land rover) backfired and it startled him. Lol was that at Warminster by any chance?

[@keithad6485]

Surely you are aware there is one exception with saluting a Lance Corporal - if he is awarded the Victoria Cross. The officer salutes first no matter what rank.

[@crazylegz324]

As an American with a British mother, British history is muuuuuch longer full of stories of men and women keeping their composure in the face of danger. I feel a standard has been set. Anytime I feel fear creeping in I think about that. To me it’s a privilege to be British, but it’s also a responsibility.

[@DestinyAwaits19]

Americans got more balls than the British. So what you said is obviously a bunch of horse shit.

[@danhobart4009]

Nah, its typically more a case of warcrimes against civilians. All the way from the 100 years war up untill today.

[@rossco___]

“To me it’s a privilege to be British, but it’s also a responsibility”. What an absolutely beautiful statement. Wonderfully thought provoking.

[@danallen3947]

you clearly are of british stock with a statement like that

[@islander1939]

All Britons need to aspire to have a mindset like that! @crazylegz324 salute to you my friend 🇬🇧🇺🇲

[@Rohilla313]

Indian here. My native land was never at any time ruled by more than about 300,000 soldiers, civil servants and administrators and I think British prowess on the battlefield had much to do with this. The reputation of the Tommies and Redcoats for toughness played a major part in keeping the huge subcontinent under British rule, and it was a well earned reputation. That's quite an achievement when you consider Punjab is roughly the size of England.

[@DaveBloke-tg5wv]

The Indian troops were very well loved and respected, great fighters and not forgotten, despite the far left anti Western media blanket ban on such praise from us. Peace and love from England.

[@V1king92]

I’m a serving soldier in the Royal Anglian regiment , my regiment fought in the battle of minden and to this day we celebrate the battle honour on the 1st August and wear minden flowers in our headdress and have a big parade

[@pipes9878]

My family history is 20th Foot, Later Lancashire fusiliers. I was the 1st non fusilier in about 200 years.

[@owensomers8572]

Splitter! 🤩

[@ViktoriousDead]

You failed the line

[@colincampbell2153]

Which in 1968 on the amalgamation of 4 Fusilier Regiments. The Lancashire Fusiliers became the 4th Battalion. Which was scrapped before I joined up in 1976. I would have been a Lancashire Fusilier, but seved in 3rd Battalion RRF. Now sadly, successive governments have cut the RRF to 1st Bn - regular and 5th - Territorial Bn.

[@darrenreslis594]

You mean that you actually tried at school? ;)

[@studentaviator3756]

Congrats on getting advertising, your channel deserves the recognition.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - it's a one off for now but I'm hoping we can do more and use the money to help make more videos and get to more battelfields. The more I can spread these forgotten stories the happier I'll be. Thanks for watching and supporting.

[@solreaver83]

Aussie here. I've always looked at it as the professional army, standardisation. Either the cutting edge of military technology or very fast to adopt the military technologies and strategies of their peers. A long history of tradition and colonial warfare developed successful strategies, practices and as you said the esprit de corps. These all spread the influence of the empire, created great wealth and generated the scientific era of Britain at it height.

[@caeserromero3013]

Soldiers of the Queen by Leslie Stuart 1898: Britons once did loyally declaim About the way we rul'd the waves Ev'ry Briton's song was just the same, When singing of our soldier braves. All the world had heard it wonder'd why we sang, And some have learn'd the reason why But we're forgetting it, And we're letting it Fade away and gradually die, Fade away and gradually die. So when we say that England's master, Remember who has made her so It's the Soldiers of the Queen, my lads Who've been my lads, Who're seen my lads, In the fight for England's glory, lads, When we've had to show them what we mean: And when we say we've always won, And when they ask us how it's done, We'll proudly point to ev'ry one of England's soldiers of the Queen!

[@anthonydonnelly8419]

Tea, making tea under fire, that's what made the British military great...

[@WNH3]

I suspect you are correct, Chris: voluntary service + focus on regimental tradition = outstanding soldiers. It's been often said that soldiers fight for the men at their sides, so localizing a regiment will capitalize on that, reminding them not to be the one that breaks the chain of historic service.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - yep, agree 100 percent.

[@chrissouthgate4554]

The ultimate expression of that in the British army would be the Pal's Battalions of WWI. Which was OK unless you had a bad day, in which case you could wind up with streets with every other house in mourning! The true ultimate expression of fighting for the man at you side would be the Theban Sacred Band, but that is a whole other story.

[@windalfalatar333]

Thank you, sir. King's College London War Studies graduate here, thanking you for every video you produce, consumed with ravishing hunger upon release.

[@Lollygagger-k4p]

No matter the nuts-n-bolts that make the British so effective, as an American, I'm just glad they're on our side. That includes all the British Commonwealth and former as well. In WW2, the Germans respected the British the most. It's probably true that the British won more battles with pitifully outnumnbered units than any other Army on earth.

[@david-spliso1928]

Fortunately it was that respect that largely let the Expeditionary Force retreat via Dunkirk.

[@dhowe5180]

For a time, Hitler maintained a fantasy that the UK would side with the nazis against the Soviet Union, overlooking all the messy details about the holocaust. Fortunately he was wrong and the moral clarity of the British and Winston Churchill were the seeds of hitlers eventual defeat

[@HowlinWilf13]

Easy to forget how old some of the British regiments are. Maybe 10 years ago, I saw a newspaper article describing how digging the foundations for a new development on Wall Street, New York had revealed some British military archaeology - brass buttons from the 28th Regiment of Foot (the 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment - another old county regiment with some unique distinctions, including the 'back badge' won in 1801 at the Battle of Alexandria against the French, and the 'US Presidential Unit Citation' won 150 years later in 1951 at the Battle of the Imjin River in Korea against the Chinese). Great video!

[@ViktoriousDead]

I see a thumbnail with LT sharpe, and naturally I clicked the video. That’s my style sir.

[@knoll9812]

Is that you Harper?☘️

[@Azraiel213]

Sounds like damn snivelling Simmerson to me, ​@@knoll9812!

[@nickdougan394]

@@knoll9812 No, that's Simmerson! (Lt Col, utter cowardly bounder, as played by the marvellous Michael Cochrane.)

[@welshwarrior5263]

Our regimental goat got treated better than the soldiers in the Battalion. Great info again mate. Thank you.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - thought you might enjoy this one! Any stories you'd like me to look into?

[@StDavidpipes]

Interesting!

[@cesaravegah3787]

The goat was better behaved I bet 😂

[@welshwarrior5263]

@@cesaravegah3787 LOL. Definitely, but we didn't crap on the parade square. 😁

[@paulday6775]

​@@welshwarrior5263😂😂😂😂😂😂👍

[@ryanziegler1410]

Great video, and also I appreciated the reference to the Seven Years War! One of my favorite periods of British history.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, Ryan. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@michaelsnyder3871]

@@redcoathistory I believe that the roses were, in fact, adopted as a field sign, the British facing the possibility of engaging red-coated Irish or Swiss regiments in French service which could lead to blue on blue events unless there was some way to immediately tell the difference between British and French regiments dressed in red.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

@@michaelsnyder3871 Spot on. Wonder if the Hanoverians plucked roses too, as they were in the same column as the British and also wore red.

[@floriangeyer3454]

The "sevret" is 1.Volunteers 2.Drill 3.More drill 4.Experience

[@buckplug2423]

Not just drill either - the British were, and still are, the best trained troops when it comes to marksmanship. This was especially significant in the 19th century.

[@barryjenkins6137]

it was of course the same with the Navy back then, Nelson etc would drill their gun crews relentlessly until they were a well-oiled machine capable of outfiring the French 2 shots to 1

[@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont]

1.1 Assemble a huge European coalition 1.2 Let it do 80 % of the hard work 1.3 During the last year of the war, land and plant the Union Jack flag to proclaim yourself the winner

[@widsof7862]

I think you missed humour, the goat getting demoted is hilarious and the ability to use humour in adversity seems a part of the traditional mindset.

[@FranciscoPreira]

What I like about the brit Army is the traditions that you guys maintain in your regiments, just superb. Thanks for sharing.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate. Glad you found this interesting.

[@reynardthefox]

Cheers,Chris my family were Redcoats for years and I remain... incredibly proud

[@danallen3947]

god bless you you beautiful british person

[@littlealbioner9538]

I think you missed one major point in the county/regiment discussion, and that is of language, or more specically dialect. Until the advent of radio the dialects were very strong in each region, so that a persion from norforlk would have difficulty understanding a yorkshire man etc.

[@ScreamingTc]

To be fair, with how thick some people's accents are, it's still an issue from time to time. I had to translate between a Yorkshire lad I know and some American friends when they were visiting, a few years back. It was fucking hilarious.

[@keithgogarth4060]

I was a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, a Minden regiment. The regiment never celebrated the battle as it was just one of many, instead we celebrated Saint David’s day

[@matty741]

I was a member of the Royal Engineers for 13 years. As part of 26 armoured engineer Regt we went to Estonia as part of the advanced forward presence. We were on the tour with the royal Welsh and got to meet their goat, goat major and drum majors. It was a really good tour. During our time there in 2018 we marked the battle depicted in the film Zulu as it was the royal Welsh in the film with the highest ranking officer there being part of our engineer Sqn, 30 Sqn. The Sqn emblem is still a Zulu shield with an obscure 30 as part of the shield's design. It was really interesting throughout my career moving to all the different units learning more and more of the corps history. Anyway, you have a new subscriber, thanks for the vid now I'm probably going to be in a black hole of your videos for the day. 😂

[@redcoathistory]

Nice one mate. Appreciate hearing about your own story and interests and I hope you enjoy the other videos. Take care and do keep in touch.

[@catholicmilitantUSA]

oh so THAT'S why Lance Cpl Jones in the first episode of Dad's Army says "them Fuzzy Wuzzies, they was the only ones that could break the British Square," it was a reference to this battle where the Scots had their square broken! In that episode he says he joined the Army as a drummer-boy in 1884. As a kid I would try to trace the campaigns and battles the main cast of Dad's Army fought in (Wilson, Hodges, Square and Godfrey in their respective WW1 campaigns for example)

[@alandowning1320]

…a poor benighted heathen, but a first-class fighting man: Kipling's tribute to the Fuzzy Wuzzy

[@indigohammer5732]

"We sloshed you with Martinis, an' it wasn't 'ardly fair; But for all the odds agin' you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square."

[@scottmasson3336]

Private Fraser was in the Royal Navy.

[@wargey3431]

@@scottmasson3336private godfery well actually his actor Arnold Ridley got I believe the MM the photo of Private Charles Godfrey receiving it in the movie was actually a photo of Ridley receiving it

[@IAmTanker]

According to a curator of the Royal Welsh museum in Brecon the tradition of regimental goats for the Welsh Regiments actually dates to the Crimean war where a soldier who was holding onto a baby goat to keep warm fell asleep while on watch and was woken up just in time to see an advancing Russian force and managed to wake his fellows in time to repel the attack. But the history of the goats is long and filled with names and titles that overlap. So confusion is abound. As for saluting it... I'm not sure, It's actually a teacher of mine who was/is in the Royal Welsh (he was regular but has moved to the reserves) so I will ask him if lower ranks need to salute the goat.

[@arthurgiles379]

One would never salute a human lance corporal, as they’re not commissioned (unless they won the VC but that’s another story). Maybe the goat has special privileges though…

[@IAmTanker]

@@arthurgiles379 That was my line of thought.

[@darthpaul490]

I never had to salute him. It was gwillam IV when I was in....don't know what number he is now. He had a TV and a radio to listen to 24/7 and endless supply of food lol

[@IAmTanker]

@@darthpaul490 Thank you for the answer, or at least an answer. No doubt some new guys have been told they need to salute the goat simply to mess with them. And it's Shenkins IV? Which is weird because there's been like fifteen Shenkins, but that changed and all the numbers reset when the regiments amalgamated. As far as I know, anyway. Met Shenkins myself a few times, once during the opening of the remembrance garden in Cardiff Castle, and another few times at Maindee barracks at various visits.

[@darthpaul490]

@IAmTanker Jenkins....gwilym Jenkins lance corporal, I'm sure it was gwilym the IV When I was in but that was mid to late 90s also can't remember his whole service number but I do remember it consisted of 2441 somewhere cos we were the 24th/41st of foot. Also the goat major was the only one in the battalion who could have a beard back then too. Gwell angau na chywllydd

[@robertwalker1742]

In Durham city centre the statue has a message from Field Marshal Montgomery, There are many regiments like the Durhams, but I know of none better.

[@lesjames5191]

Montgomery also said, you can always rely on the Durham light infantry.

[@stuartmunro2474]

I think there are probably many factors, but units suffering British weather and cuisine at the same time will be united against adversity together to a degree even Sparta might have envied.

[@rwentfordable]

The food is incredible in the UK. I agree, it's worth fighting for.

[@stevetheduck1425]

The Mess at my base was tried by a famous writer of good eating guides, Egon Ronay. He gave us four out of five stars.

[@andrewhinson4323]

As an american I can only say: “How dare you! And also, I love your national pride! Cheers from across the pond and God bless you!”

[@paulvernon4160]

When I was in the royal Warwickshire fusiliers or regimental mascot was an Indian black buck called Bobby (looked a bit like a goat)and he had the rank of Lance corporal(from memory) I think it's fairly common

[@kelvinogden4073]

As an ex Grenadier, REME and Rifles I really enjoy your channel. Any chance you could do a video on the bands of the British Army? Thanks

[@swampyankee]

Absolutely agree to your reasoning that man to man a smaller force will have better people. I served in the US Coast Guard, at the time the total number of personnel was 35,000, smaller than the New York City police department. The Coast Guard was and is able to be more selective than other branches of the US military.

[@ViktoriousDead]

LOL

[@darrenreslis594]

I have been around enough American servicemen to know that this is going to attract incoming from the Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy. I think that Space Force might keep quiet :)

[@1337flite]

The Honorable Artillery Company is the oldest unit in the British Army as well as being a London Livery company it is a ceremonial artillery unit as well as a TA Surveillance and Target Aquisition unit. I think they also play a strategic/deep recon role - like 21/23 SAS. Fascinating history and unit. My Australian cavalry regiment has(d) a mascot a wedgeteail eagle, who also had a regimental number and was promoted and demoted (flew AWOL) a number of times. 5 RAR - 5th Battallion Royal Australian Regiment had a tiger Quintus and 1 Armored Regt had a leopard Paratus (the regi motto) in the days they had leopard tanks. In the Aussie army we have unit spirit, but the regiments are somewhat replaced by Corps. I.e. their is no Regimental depot - training is done at corp schools, as is some types of administration - but each unit has spirit similar to. Brit regiments and each unit has it's own colours/guidon/banner. So for us the Corp undertakes some of role of the Regiment and the unit also plays some of that role. Our system is probably not quite as strong as the Brit system, but works fiarly well. From the outside the Brit system seems to be dying - from what I understand many regiments are essentailly companies/squadrons/battaerries now. E.g. the Household Cavalry Regt has the Life Gaurd and the Bluse and Royals at squadron strength.

[@dulls8475]

Our system is being dismantled by the woke.

[@japhfo]

Well, that stirred things up... Anyway, a couple of points. Tracing the 'Minden Rose' tradition is like trying to grasp smoke. 'Minden' as an official honorary distinction ( one of the earliest) was awarded retrospectively in 1801 (timing and reasons unclear) and, tradition states, was accompanied by the granting of a laurel wreath to be borne on the colours of the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 37th & 51st Regts. From as early as the Peninsula, the 20th Regt of Foot appears to have maintained a tradition of commemorating Minden but as late as the Crimea this consisted of a laurel sprig in the cap. By the 1890s however, there is reference to the 20th (by then Lancs Fusiliers) and 12th (Suffolks) sporting roses on Minden Day. The wider custom seems to have grown up in the C20th, although in 1916 the KOSBs denied all knowledge of the custom and the Royal Welch Fusiliers have never worn one. Even today it seems unclear where these roses were on August 1st, 1759. Were they in 'rose gardens', in hedgerows, or on 'the heath', and really, did 6 battalions all pass through the same identical band of vegetation? It is interesting that the Lancs Fusiliers, Hampshire Regt & King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry all had other rose traditions in their legacy. Secondly, ahem: the square at Tamai in 1884 was not broken. The Major General ordered the Black Watch to charge, but failed to give the same order to the Yorks and Lancs, thus opening a gap in the front face of the square as the Highlanders moved forward, allowing a force of Sudanese to charge in and briefly cause havoc. As at Quatre Bras, with immense courage and discipline, after a savage fight the square was closed up and the enemy repelled. Naturally, men of the 42nd later resented suggestions that there was any other version of events, and folk did love to pull on the sporrans of the "insufferably proud" Black Watch. So it goes.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot - this is great info and just the sort of informed and helpful comment that makes this channel worth while.

[@japhfo]

Footnote: it seems the 20th and 12th took the brunt of the fire with the heaviest csaualties recorded, being on the left of the first and second lines respectively, which might explain their more long standing custom.

[@paddy1952]

My dad was a British soldier who landed at Salerno in Sept 1943, and fought till the end. He said that the discipline was strict, and he'd rather face Gerry than his RSM.

[@jamiekelly7280]

My grandad was captured at Salerno, POW till the end of the war, him and a few blokes, shared a cat, they we're that hungry, White privilege in action!

[@paddy1952]

@@jamiekelly7280 According to Mum, my dad's closest mate died at Salerno. It was apparently quite the fight. Dad never spoke much about it.

[@mortyjhones4068]

What made the British line units so effective was the Live fire training that we did, we was the only country at the time that spent the cash on training troops to shoot with actual powder. The french and spanish used black sand and the rushens never bothered reliing on the fact that most of there pesanty was reliant on Firearms for hunting.

[@BertPreast]

Ask an English rifleman if he fought for any political cause. He doesn't give a shit for any of that. He fights for his own self esteem, for his mates, and for the abstract yet all important honour of his regiment. He is a part of it, and that fucking matters.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Haha ... I am Navy ( American). I am 100% disabled United States veteran complete with the disabled veteran tags on my truck... ... But up until this video, I had no idea what the word "Regiment" meant. To me that's always just been one of those things army people say. Now I'm better educated. Thank you.

[@redcoathistory]

Nice! Glad I could help, Sir. Thanks for watching

[@ChullsterOG]

9:16 As a lancs man, this put a big stupid grin on my face.

[@coops1964]

And legend has it that on the way through England to the battle of Crecy, lads from Blackburn and Burnley fought each other.

[@martinjf467]

One name my regiment had was Wolfe's Own. Sadly the County Regiment "family" concept was to backfire in WW1 when whole streets were in morning after the first day of the Somme, particularly Accrington. The comment about inter-county rivalry made me smile - in my old TA battalion it wasn't inter-county rivalry but inter-town rivalry - D Coy (Blackburn) had serious issues with Burnley!

[@AndrewD8Red]

I do like the irony that one of the strengths of the British Army is that famously British phrase: "Esprit de Corps."

[@coops1964]

But England used to own half of what is now France?

[@AndrewD8Red]

@@coops1964 At the height of English occupation of France, we controlled about 20% of their country. Heck of a long way off "half" but it's still a nice thing to remind French people every once in a while! Of course they then tend to ask me who won The Hundred Years War...

[@beachcomber1able]

​@@AndrewD8RedThe English never got rid of the Normans after 1066. Did the French cast that up to you as well?

[@AndrewD8Red]

@@beachcomber1able Actually, it was the English plan all along to, erm, invite William and his Stormin' Normans into England to take over. ... We thought it was the best way to unify the country. Yes. Totally deliberate.

[@philm3509]

Who says that saying came from a French man. We spoke French after the Norman invasion. Lots of our words came from the French language, as does their English. Our history is intertwined in culture, history and language. Same with German so what your pondering is nonessential and irrelevant.

[@zulubeatz1]

It's the section. It's unbreakable. Buddy system and personal initiative. I was watching a documentary about the first world war recently and there were regiments mentioned that have disappeared. One tradition that stood out to me is the strange ribbon worn by the Royal Welch Fusiliers on the base of the neck, which apparently goes back to when soldiers wore their hair in plaits . I think they still do it today ?

[@kooperuranus1503]

I think the US Army lost this when they allowed the NCOs to leave the Regiment; stripes used to stay in the Regiment if you left you went back to a jr enlisted. Units lost their identity when you have troops in a unit for a short amount of time.

[@exharkhun5605]

"Esprit de corps" is something so uniquely British that they had to give it a French name just to be able to explain it to Johnny Foreigner.

[@philm3509]

Yet after the Norman invasion resulted in us speaking French and as a result adopted many French words. So nothing to do with what you say, rather an outcome of our evolution in language.

[@exharkhun5605]

​@@philm3509 Your personal evolution has probably more to do with the Saxon settlement of Britain as you seem to have adopted a distinctively German sense of humor. 😁😜❤

[@philm3509]

@@exharkhun5605 I'll take that like a badge of honour.

[@agentwash1]

As I recall, the Coldstream Guards is the eldest chronologically, however they sided with the parliamentaries and it was the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry and where Charles II's guards when he restored the Monarchy. So when the Crowns army was re-established (quietly stealing the format of Cromwells new model army) the Life Guards where acknowledged as the most senior. Since they where with the crown from exile.

[@redcoathistory]

You'll enjoy next week's video...

[@poil8351]

Well technically the scots gurads are older but were part of the kingdom of Scotland.

[@poil8351]

And the oldest units of the british army are the yeoman of the guard and the honourable artillery company.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@poil8351 And the Royal Scots are even older, but they were raised to serve with the Garlic Chompers in the 30 Years War.

[@Avid_Fan]

​@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15tand they weren't part of the British army, so moot point.

[@whiskywhippet]

I was only in the TA for a year ( 2 Wessex C Company ) but took great pride in the Brandywine flash under my cap badge that commemorated a battle from 1777. 2 Wessex originated from The Berkshire’s.

[@willtobias5280]

Best joke I ever heard, (from the horse's mouth) "Two Paratroopers walk into a pub. They're surrounded by members of the Black Watch. When asked what they'll have, The Para says "I'll have 2 pints of Broken Square thanks".. Mayhem erupts

[@wargey3431]

What’s the only 2 things that fall out of the sky Bird shit and paratroopers

[@willtobias5280]

@@wargey3431 LOL

[@seanfair1975]

1st time on this channel ive always love military history not surprising seeing as my dads family is RN and my mum's is Army (so Army/Navy day at Twickenham is fun)it also helps that im born and raised in Pompey and will deffo be subscribing

[@jon9021]

Ex QOH (senior light cavalry regiment in the British Army..1685), always proud of my regiment! God Save the King!

[@alloydog613]

@6:30 44th East Essex Regiment's last stand at Gandamak, 13 January 1842.

[@giorgipiorgi]

Us Brits always punch above our weight 💪🇬🇧

[@derin111]

That might have been true in the past. Today, considering the level of indolence and obesity in this country, I’d say opposite is true! We punch well BELOW our weight! 😂 Too recent generations have rested on the laurels and glories of previous generations. The arrogant belief that simply by virtue of being born British automatically confers some God-given superiority over other nations. If it ever did, it doesn’t now. It is in great measure that attitude and failure to recognise how the changes and to adapt to it that has caused Britain’s steady decline. Some don’t even acknowledge the decline, let alone do anything about it. Others, who do recognise it, are often all too ready to blame someone else: “the EU” and hence we end up in the catastrophe of Brexit, “the Immigrants” even though we now have labour shortages. They never blame themselves. We need to stop believing: “we Brits aways punch above our weight”….simply because we say so!

[@giorgipiorgi]

@@derin111 You sound fun

[@Avid_Fan]

I'm a "Briton", not a "Brit".

[@garagenigel]

​@@Avid_FanWelsh then?

[@garagenigel]

​@@derin111cough! Our young men and women in the British armed forces have been the busiest they have ever been over the last 25 years! Certainly busier than the "cold war warriors" living their lives on the lash in Germany all of their careers!

[@danforbes4513]

they get the goats from llandudno. its a wellsh thing. im from wales and yes the goats have a name rank number. they are payed you see so they have to have a number rank

[@aussie807]

“The ability to fire 3 rounds a minute!”

[@PaulVickers-n6k]

My Dad side of family served with the Sherwood Foresters

[@Cats3141]

If at all, was any significant aspect inherited from the Romans? My 5th Great Grandfather was in the British Army during the 1750s then later he was in the Continental Army, he was undefeated.

[@Stannington]

In the movie The Way Ahead (1944), Officer David Niven gave his platoon a quiet bollocking by listing the regiment's battle honours, what they did and how they did it. He said the regiment hadn't been disgraced yet, but now the current recruits were in it

[@nickdougan394]

I have to admit I'd never heard the "broken square" jibe about the Black Watch. On the other hand I did hear many about their affection for the sheep they'd been raised to protect.

[@hotmechanic222]

Another great video, keep up the good work, loving the channel!!

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks, will do! Very much appreciated. Are there other topics you'd like to see me cover in the future?

[@adamengland7110]

In around 2014 a private from the Royal Anglian Regiment broke into my block in Bulford Barracks on Minden Day and shat in the communal kitchen cupboard. He put it down to regimental tradition

[@gmansard641]

I worked with the Royal Navy when I was stationed in tne British Indian Ocean Territory while in the USN. They used to joke that we didn't have any traditions, we were too young and borrowed them from the British anyway.

[@Zajuts149]

An interesting aspect of regimental titles is that over time, they sometimes become honorary. Until the end of the Napoleonic Wars, there were only 3 'fusilier' regiments in the British Army, the 7th(Royal), the 21st(North British/Royal Scots) and the 23rd(Royal Welch). Fusilier came from the French 'fusil', which meant flintlock musket. The British Army used fusilier regiments to guard artillery trains, as flintlocks were safer than matchlocks around tons of gunpowder. After the entire army was equipped with flintlocks, it became a meaningless distinction, other than a sense of pride. During the peninsular campaign, the light regiments got special recognition, and they were trained in new ways in addition to the regular line training that required good leadership. After the introduction of rifled muskets throughout the British Army, there was no need to have separate 'light' regiments, though several regiments were classified as light regiments after the Napoleonic Wars. The 32nd Regiment of Foot(Duke of Cornwall's) even gained the title of 'light' as a battle honour.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

Not so sure about the relevance of rifles Zajuts. The only British regiments to have rifles in the Napoleonic Wars were the 95th and 5th bn/60th Foot, other Light regiments and the light companies of Line regiments had smoothbores. Most light troops in the American War of Independence also carried smoothbores. The tactical distinction between Light and Line disappeared when all units were expected to operate in open order/skirmish lines. If it was down to technological developments, it was more likely to be the introduction of breechloaders that finally ended the difference in practice.

[@Zajuts149]

@Chris-mf1rm with the 1853 pattern Enfield rifled musket, all regiments in the British Army would have the technical capability that previously only rifle units such as the Rifle Brigade(formerly 95th)and the KRRC(formerly 60th) had. Personally, I think these rifle regiments missed a beat at this time and pursued their own speciality rifle(1860 pattern) instead of refining a special role within the Army. In the Peninsular War, the 5/60th was split up into its 10 component companies and distributed to different infantry brigades as specialist skirmishers. If the rifle regiments had pursued a role of long-range sharpshooters, they would have had a distinct role after 1853.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

@@Zajuts149 what I was trying to say was that it wasn’t whether a unit was armed with rifles or smoothbores that made them light or line. Giving everyone a rifled musket didn’t make them all light. Prior to that, most lights had smooth bores. Nearly everyone in the ACW had rifles including the Enfield, but by and large they fought in close not open, order.

[@Zajuts149]

@Chris-mf1rm Oh, yes. During the Napoleonic Wars, there were only a few light regiments in the British Army. All regiments had a light company, though. The 43rd and the 52nd were the originals, which is why they were incorporated in the Light Brigade and later Light Division with the 95th rifles. The 51st, 68th, 71st, and 85th were also reclassified as light and fought in the Peninsula. The 90th, too, though they remained at home. After the Napoleonic Wars, there were regiments that received the title of light, though not necessarily with the training. The 13th Regiment of Foot, which was renamed the Shropshire Light Infantry with the Childers reforms in 1881. The previously mentioned 32nd Regiment of Foot was never trained as a light regiment but received the title as a battle honour for its defence of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. They were later renamed the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. The point I was trying to make was that in the British Army, titles such as 'light' and 'fusilier' became nominal and honorary after the Napoleonic Wars. The 5th, 20th, and 87th Regiments of Foot became 'fusiliers'(Northumberland, Lancashire and Royal Irish, respectively) without their being any real distinction between them and the other line regiments of the British Army. They all used flintlocks until the percussion lock was introduced.

[@wargey3431]

@@Zajuts149a much overlooked fact is that the one light regiment (I forget it’s number) that became the Ox’s and Bucks also were a rifle regiment hence why they amalgamated into the RGJ rather than the LI

[@johnsmith-de9wv]

I was a trooper in the 12th lancers,What was Its nickname ?

[@teerex4626]

Skull and crossbones ..

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@teerex4626that was the badge of the 17/21st Lancers

[@johnhopkins4012]

Regimental Tradition, took the words out of my mouth.

[@joshhearnden5573]

Great video!

[@temmy9]

regimental system has also ensured political stability by making military coups more difficult.

[@wargey3431]

Could you imagine if the REs tried to stage a coup every gunner would be charging to London to ensure either they did it first or they stopped the dam sappers The monarch being the commander in chief of the army helps as well if they came out and said go home almost the entire army would listen as Mountbatten said in the crown TV show she is our caeser

[@arslongavitabrevis5136]

Hello Chris, I would appreciate it if you, or any of the viewers, could explain to me how is possible that a regiment from Warwickshire like the 24th Foot ended up being called "The South Wales Borderers". I looked at the map and I could not believe it! Thanks!

[@Delogros]

in 1880 about 1/3 of the regiment was Welsh which might go some way towards helping you figure it out.

[@japhfo]

The 24th wasn't 'from Warwickshire' as such. In 1782, the territorial or county titles had been assigned to infantry regiments mostly on a fairly random basis with the idea each regiment would recruit from, and form a relationship with, a given location. In practice regiments continued to take their recruits from where they found them until permanent regional depots were set up in the 1870s. In 1873 the 24th were assigned a depot in Brecon, in South Wales.

[@leerich2479]

My great-grandfather was a member of the Leicester's regiment, and I have his Boar war medal

[@redcoathistory]

Nice. My local regiment.

[@johnsmith-de9wv]

The Royal Welch (with a C) carry a false Queue on the back of their BD blouse ,this apparently commemorates the regiment being forgotten in Canada While the rest of the british army having their pigtail removed,,Great army history

[@bartlettfamily5715]

Looking forward to the video about oldest units. Here's one for debate: "Formed in 1337, the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey can claim to be the oldest sub-unit of the British Army, although, because it is not a regiment, and was disbanded for decades in the late 20th century, it is not the most senior." Jersey has been a heavily garrisoned, fortified graveyard for 1000 years. One of the highest proportion of men in military service in some way during the 18th and 19th centuries. Not any more though 😢

[@michaelsnyder3871]

One part of the regimental system is the promotion of Soldiers and officers within the regiment. An officer might go to school, be assigned to command and staff positions but his position in the regiment remained until he "passed out" by promotion to colonel or general. NCOs and officers might spend an entire 20 to 30 year career in the same regiment. The US Army was similar up to the start of the "Cold War" and the abandonment of regiments as both administrative and tactical commands. The dispersed nature of the US Army after 1945 created demands on personnel education and advancement outside a regimental system and the desire to expose NCOs and officers to the varied theaters the US Army might find itself fighting in. Loyalty shifted to battalion, division, corps and army. Each part of the Army, Special Forces, Rangers, Airborne, Light Infantry, armored and air cavalry. Then each theater was basically a self-contained force with its own supplements to Army regulations and directives separate from other theaters: USAREUR, USARPAC, ARCENT, FORSCOM, 18th ABN Corps, USEAK, ARSOUTH and ARSOC.

[@knoll9812]

Regiment too small a tactical unit since at least ww2. Before that a few regiments could be sent to fight badly armed natives.

[@pablononescobar]

The US has a regimental system, but this has always been purely numbers. Some have nicknames, like the 3d Infantry, which does ceremonial duties around Washington, DC, is the "Old Guard." But nowhere near the fascinating traditions of the British Army. Perhaps it's because during the American Revolution, thanks to Lafayette and Von Steuben, seems to take after the French and Germano-Prussian traditions more. In the past, regiments were recruited by state (like the 20th Maine in the American Civil War), but the US Army hasn't been organized that way since WWI.

[@mikebrase5161]

The US Marine Corps is still organized in the old Army way of Regimental system. 3 Battalions make a Regiment in the USMC. 3 Battalions in the US Army Make a Brigade and not in sequential number like the old way. This was done during the cold war to confuse the Soviets and has never been reverted. The only two divisions who aren't all effed up are the 82nd and the 101st. Even though the Brigades are in fact the whole Regiment.

[@mordanlike]

Brilliant video but the way you phrase that first question is as simple as a Yorkshireman: What is the oldest regiment in the British military. And then you realise that that's not the question you ought to have asked. The answer will seem to many to be 42 but it's not, not if you paid attention.

[@felix1974]

As an ex Royal Marine , I'm inclined to agree with you about the best forces/Army ever, over the last 300/400 years I'm not sure they are that nowadays though.

[@stevetheduck1425]

My Grandfather served in what was then Mesopotamia. My father served in the Rifle Brigade from 1944-1947. I served in the Royal Air Force. I know dad was very proud of the Rifles, but there's a real reason. They recruited from almost anywhere, but only took men who could read and write, could answer tactical problems ( he was nearly 'made up' to being a junior officer, but wasn't because he couldn't tell the names of several colours, and was told he was colour-blind ( he was tested by someone from the Parachute Regiment who wasn't as bright as him, and dad didn't want to be an officer, so he didn't try hard ) ), and showed some brains and ability to act on their own and with their mates. A thing that by the 1970s was standard in the British army. Since a decision made by a Lance-Corporal in Northern Ireland could bring down a government, they started to value soldiers slightly more. He spent his time doing almost only one role: aggressive night patrolling; mostly capturing enemy sentries and soldiers to bring back for questioning. Every one of them said they weren't German, as the news of the concentration camps was out... Then suddenly, dad and his mates were thrown into the heavy assault role, trying to take a hilltop town in Umbria, Italy and were nearly wiped out. Guess a different officer turned up who didn't believe in expertise...

[@DraigBlackCat]

No form of universally compulsory enlistment until 1916 - king's shillings dropped into tankards being a hazzard of old when taking a drink from a stranger

[@Chris-mf1rm]

The Kings Shilling touched inadvertently when drinking is an urban myth. There was a 'cooling off' period allowed in any case. When soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder, the last thing a regiment needed were unwilling men looking to make off when the French cavalry appeared. See for example the work of people like Dr Robbie MacNiven and Peter Brown.

[@russellbates2125]

Great video Chris . You have great editing skills. Really appreciate your videos m8

[@bigbattleslittleworlds]

Great video again. As an ex-British Army Life Guard, I can happily say that regimental rivalries still exist and hopefully always will.lol

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate - I’m hoping to do a video on the Life Guards…Any books you’d recommend?

[@bigbattleslittleworlds]

@@redcoathistory That will be cool to see. LIFE GUARDS: War Diary of the 1st Life Guards, First Year 1914-1915 The Guards Came Through- Simon Doughty Challengers and Chargers: History of the Life Guards, 1945-93 and Waterloo - The French Perspective By Andrew W. Field All have some really interesting stories of what the Reg has done over the years. Thanks again.

[@redcoathistory]

Brilliant thanks mate

[@OscarDirlwood]

I'm going to wager the oldest regiment in the next video, is going to be something like the Jersey and Guernsey militia, or the Honourable Artillery company

[@redcoathistory]

No comment ;-)

[@railworker8058]

As a former British soldier and a history graduate, I endorse this video.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot, sir. Appreciated.

[@LTCOLkoreypuppy]

11:14 I can just imagine a goat at attention on the other side of a deal to a major 😂

[@MichaelCampin]

For the King, the Corp, England and St George

[@Khalsafauj96]

Great video

[@liverpoolirish208]

The oldest regiment, by about 600 years, is the Honorable Artillery Company.

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Good one Chris

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate

[@paulharris4524]

brilliant video

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Paul glad you liked it

[@bobyouel7674]

REspect The CORPS {spelling?] is the biggest e.g. Corps of Royal Engineers which has many regiments and other units therein The engineers go back to the battle of Hastings The engineers have no battle honours

[@jona826]

I'd be interested in more info on the way the Artillery does it. I believe all artillery battalions are technically from a single Royal Artillery Regiment.

[@janesda]

Perhaps the reason for the success of the British Army is the Royal Navy. Owing to the Royal Navy, the British Army has only had to fight on foreign soil for nearly 300 years, most successfully in colonial campaigns.

[@jona826]

And look at the Royal Navy now. Pared-down to a shadow of its former glory. Politicians will be the death of this country.

[@NapoleonGelignite]

Cough - Northern Ireland….

[@janesda]

@@NapoleonGelignite 1 of the colonial campaigns

[@NapoleonGelignite]

@@janesda - true, but which wars are not colonial in some aspect? The nation state is inherently colonial in nature.

[@stephenhowell5509]

Good point wellington won the peninsular because he was supplied through Lisbon by sea

[@peterleigh7485]

You forgot Inkerman which the light infantry Sgts keep as a battle honner

[@anneharton5013]

I agree with your POV on why British Military is the best in world. Pride and history are a potent combination and so important.

[@sidneyhall4076]

I served in the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, a cavalry regiment, and one of the oldest regiments in the British Army. We celebrated Dettingen day as a regimental holiday (notably the last battle a King served in), and when we amalgamated with the 5th RIDG in 92, we celebrated paddies day, a shit load of history mixed into not only a great regiment but in my opinion the Best one.

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks for sharing. A video on Dettingen would be great.

[@warmonger82]

Has anyone done a deep dive into the effect that mass conscription had on the British Army's regimental system during the World Wars? Because the brutal assessment of His Majesty's Army post 1940 went something like BEF standing for "Back Every Fortnight." And that after 1942 the British Army served as an adjunct to the Americans with Monty's 8th Army being almost wholly supplied by the US for it's heavy equipment.

[@dulls8475]

What heavy equipment was that? Shermans and what else?

[@warmonger82]

@@dulls8475 lorries/trucks, jeeps, the M7 Priest self propelled gun, and the M3 Grant to name the major examples. Though artillery and personal weapons were decidedly domestic in their origin

[@dulls8475]

@@warmonger82 We also had our own tanks as well. Churchill, Cromwell, Crusader, our own lorries, Bren carriers. We thank you very much for the other stuff which we paid for in full. We even supplied tanks to Russia. Sherman was the best all round tank of the war.

[@Chris-mf1rm]

Units in the conscript armies raised after 1916 and the mass volunteers of Kitchener's Army* that fought famously at the Somme, were mostly numbered battalions of the old regiments. Some ended up with as many as 20 battalions, though not usually not fighting alongside each other. after the Wars when the army contracted, the battalions raised for the war were simply disbanded. So no direct effect on the regimental system. In fact, this is the beauty of the British system. Its flexibility. * these often had informal names as well. 10th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment was know as the Grimsby Chums, because the bulk of the original volunteers came from the town of that name.

[@razorboy251]

The Royal 22nd Regiment of Canadian Army also has a royal goat descended from the Welsh regiment's goat! I don't know if it has a rank but it participates in summertime parade drills and the new recruits must kiss the goat on the mouth as part of their initiation into the regiment. I got to see Batisse on parade last summer in Quebec City!

[@fhlostonparaphrase]

Well...I don't doubt the skill or motivation of the soldiers, but what about the leadership? I'm thinking about WWI and the use of (basically) human waves vs machine guns, for example the mass slaughter at the Somme...

[@Delogros]

Your issue there is that was a standard tactic across all nations at the start of the war not just British, most nations also suffered from having to find new officers for there massivly expanded armies which will always lower the quality, US marines where advancing in line against German machine guns in 1917 despite the French telling them not to.

[@fhlostonparaphrase]

@@Delogros Yes, it boggles the mind that one could waste men like that, the machine gun was fairly new, but hadn't one learned from the US civil war, Franco-Prussian war, Crimea, in terms of advancement in arms and need to adjust tactics? Omdurman should have at least have thought the Brits about machine guns? I guess I have to look into the American experience in WWI, as I'm woefully ignorant on that.

[@Delogros]

@@fhlostonparaphraseThe US suffeed more then half their casaulties in the last 6 weeks of the war, General Pershing refused to allow them into the front lines except in rare insances until a full US army was mobilized with it's own officers, the weird result of this was that the German Spring offensive hit 5 recovering British divisions because there wern't enough troops to cover the whole front so depleted units where put in "safe" zones to in part recover in this case an area that should ahve been covered by 45,000 men was covered by just 23,000. Another interesting thing about US involvment in WW1 is militarily they made little to no impact on the actual war, the out come or when it was ended which I find quite interesting and can explain if you're interested. The US lost 116,000 dead or 0.1% of the population, tiny Serbia with it's 4.5 Million population lost 450,000 dead soldiers and up to 800,000 civilians 27.8% of the population.

[@mwnciboo]

Oldest Regiments... Honourable Artillery fellas Cold streamers (Cromwell cronies) Green Howards

[@wargey3431]

As the HAC can take it the entire Royal Regiment of Artillery can Although our weird quirk is that most of our honours traditions and rivalries lie at battery level rather than at regimental

[@roblewis8227]

You forgot to mention the mascot sheep of the Welsh regiments, or their reasons for wearing wellington boots.

[@redcoathistory]

We did talk about the Welsh. Perhaps watch again?