The Surprising Secret Behind the British Army's Success

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In today's video we are looking at the British army's unique regimental system - Regimental tradition. The honour of the regiment. Regimental Esprit de corps. And how these elements combine to help make the British army the best (man for man) in the world.
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[@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.

[@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!

[@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 😂😂😂

[@inominate2024]

And that is the best bull story ever LOL

[@philtreman9944]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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

[@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? ;)

[@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?

[@st.davidpipes]

Interesting!

[@cesaravegah3787]

The goat was better behaved I bet 😂

[@welshwarrior5263]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!”

[@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.

[@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.

[@Andrew-pr9xv]

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?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@reynardthefox]

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

[@danallen3947]

god bless you you beautiful british person

[@Khalsafauj96]

Great video

[@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

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Good one Chris

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks mate

[@paulharris4524]

brilliant video

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks Paul glad you liked it

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@Mr-Science-Stevens]

Excellent. Thanks

[@redcoathistory]

Cheers...Which bit did you enjoy the most? Got some great videos in the pipleine

[@Mr-Science-Stevens]

@@redcoathistory I like the unashamed pro Brit stance.

[@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!

[@anthonycosgrave8539]

My grandfather served with the 18th Of Foot, The Royal Irish Regiment (1684-1922). He served in the South African War and India. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Mons in 1914 and was a POW for 3.5 years. His brothers served with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in the South African War and with the Kings Liverpool Regiment in WW1. Another brother served with the Leinster Regiment in WW1. His other two brothers served with the 8th and 14th Hussars and also 4th Queens own Hussars. All in all I had 9 family serve in the great war and three never came home. After 1922 the amount of Irishmen serving in the British army dropped dramatically and apart from 50,000 in WW2 it is just a trickle now.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@darthwiizius]

We invented the modern army during the civil war, the redcoats were born then because the only cloth available in the quantities and prices to create the first uniforms for the New Modern Army was the unfashionable red dyed cloth.

[@anthonydonnelly8419]

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

[@chullychullster3077]

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.

[@railworker8058]

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

[@redcoathistory]

Thanks a lot, sir. Appreciated.

[@alloydog613]

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

[@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

[@st.davidpipes]

Interesting!

[@redcoathistory]

Glad you think so!

[@russellbates2125]

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

[@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.

[@user-qu6kf8qz4l]

My Dad side of family served with the Sherwood Foresters

[@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.

[@jon9021]

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

[@crashrr2993]

Sharp really cracked me up!😂

[@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

[@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

[@yellowjackboots2624]

Love that Withnail reference 😄

[@peterleigh7485]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@Badass-History]

This is real soldiering!

[@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

[@anselmdanker9519]

The regimental traditions. Read the book ' The Regiments depart ' . Thanks for covering this.😊 Pontius Pilates bodyguard mate 😂

[@user-xh3lz9xt4l]

For the King, the Corp, England and St George

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😢

[@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.

[@Fyrdman]

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 ;-)

[@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.

[@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.

[@KBJ58]

Something which few take into account, is the traditional British indifference to bad food and bad weather. The first point is quite important. Even as recently as WW1, the food was pretty abysmal, but then it was for most people who were not in the armed forces. On the second point: when you live in a country where four seasons in a day are not uncommon, weather is just a topic of conversation, rather than an inconvenience. When you also factor in that we are a nation of mongrels, who for a thousand years, interbred with successive waves of warlike invaders, from the Romans, to the Normans. Genetically, that is going to give people something of a bloody-minded attitude. On balance, I would say that both the Germans and the Irish give us a run for our money, but when you take into account the Regimental tradition, I think it puts us a short nose ahead.

[@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.

[@leerich2479]

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

[@redcoathistory]

Nice. My local regiment.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@nanorider426]

Well, I'm Danish and we also have a rivalry going in our army. The tankers dislike the engineers and pick on them, the engineers dislikes and artillery and so forth - and everybody hates the Royal Guard. Plenty of scraps happen every year.😆 My dad (lance corporal) once told that he and a few of his friends (regular infantry) traded blows with a few of the Royal Guards on a bar. The police arrived and later they were given to the MP's. After they got home to the barracks they were reprimanded by the colonel. He was really harsh on them. After that he asked very calmly: "Who won?" My dad, as the highest ranking soldier, replied: "We did Sir!" The colonel said: "Good! Now go to the infirmary. We will speak no more of this." I think that was the story. It was so long ago (late 50's) so I can be wrong, but that's what I remember. ^^

[@redcoathistory]

A wonderful story, thanks for sharing

[@nanorider426]

@@redcoathistory You're welcome. My dad died 5 years ago so I'm afraid I can't verify the story.

[@ethanlewis1459]

Will you do Videos on WW1 and WW2

[@redcoathistory]

Yes - I have some coming up

[@ethanlewis1459]

@@redcoathistory I hope you do videos on The Somme Vimy Ridge and Dunkirk

[@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.

[@reltech]

As someone who was at D-Day told me, "The chaos of the British Army completely confused the Germans".

[@redcoathistory]

😂😂

[@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?

[@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

[@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

[@liverpoolirish208]

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

[@peterwebb8732]

“Unit Cohesion “.

[@RainShadow-yi3xr]

I would have said being bats**t insane, but I suppose that's true as well.

[@davydatwood3158]

Another Canuck here, and the summary of the Regimental tradition was a lot of fun to watch. Still, when it comes to the nominal thesis - "What makes the British Army so damn good?" - I suspect a contributing factor is the relatively small number of peer-to-peer fights Britain has fought, at least since the development of gunpowder. And in most of those major fights - World War 1, World War 2, the Napoleonic Wars, and so on - Britain has had plenty of allies. I intend no insult! Canada, which can fairly legitemately claim to have never lost a war, or at least not since 1760, has taken the "don't fight very often and when you do have lots of friends" principle to an even greater extreme. But it's also true that when you mostly avoid fighting people who might be better than you, you tend not to lose.

[@knoll9812]

Another factor was that British army was small as they spent on navy. The British army should be compared with top tenth of french or German armies

[@JockGit64]

UBIQUE! RE Sapper 81-87... still have that pride

[@user-fu9vj9ix3g]

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.

[@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

[@ericdavies8808]

I know what you mean!

[@MagiMystik]

My Dad was part of the Regiment "The Kings Own"

[@tim7052]

Arguably the best Army - man for man - in the entire world? Only because it has Gurkha Regiments in its ranks!! 👍

[@redcoathistory]

lol well they are brilliant - just as good as the others 👍🏼

[@L0rdslashstab]

Can the goat get an AGAI?

[@rexbarron4873]

On close examination the French army comes up with similar stories about regimental valour and daring do...bravery or military competance is not a matter of your geographical birth. The bottom line is that France and and England, later Britain, have gone to war 41 times from 1109 to 1815. ...24 were won by France, 11 were won by England/Britain and six were undecided. When the US decided on what system to base their new army on they chose the French system. When the Japanese decided to build a moden navy they chose the British navy as a model.

[@Avid_Fan]

How did that turn out for the French Surrender Monkeys and the US 'friendly fire' armed services? Those who have lost every war since WW II and only then joined three years after after WW II had started

[@rexbarron4873]

@@Avid_Fan And your point is??

[@dulls8475]

How many of Frances victories were away games? On British soil?

[@rexbarron4873]

@@dulls8475 My point is that war is not a game with one side being better because of of their language or birthplace. All nations have their moments of glory and all have run at some time in history...people who treat it as a point scoring game have never had to to go to war

[@dulls8475]

@@rexbarron4873 You did point score and thus i assume you have never been to war....

[@mattkinsella9856]

There's 2 very distinct types of British men, there's the snooty, wet blanket upper classes and then there's the regular working class, tough as nails lads who'd face down a bear for the sake of it, if they were in the mood, regardless of the potential outcome. It's not just they're not afraid of a fight, they LOVE a fight, under any circumstances or any odds. Put a bunch of those guys together fighting for each other and their regiment and they will win more often than not. Other countries depend on the best kit, the Brits simply have the best genetics for a fight and you can't buy that. The only thing I would add to that is Britain has left or exported some of their best DNA to Australia, Canada, NZ etc and a lot of them emigrated looking for adventure in the last decades and centuries. Which has led to a bit of an imbalance at home with the 2 types of aforementioned people.

[@shotgunsorcerer5896]

Is that a french movie poster?