The British Army had defeated Napoleon, but in 1854 the Redcoats faced a very different enemy: the mighty Russian Empire.

What followed was some of the most brutal fighting in British military history. From the bloody slopes of the Alma to the desperate hand-to-hand combat at Inkerman, British and Russian soldiers fought with extraordinary courage.

But which army was actually better? In this episode of British Army vs..., we compare the weapons, training, tactics and fighting qualities of these two formidable opponents.

Why did British rifles prove so deadly? What made Russian infantry so incredibly tough? And how did the ordinary Redcoat overcome seemingly overwhelming odds? Join me as we explore the Crimean War and discover what really gave the British Army the edge.

Special thanks also to Osprey Publishing for sponsoring this series - https://www.ospreypublishing.com/

Join my patreon for early access to videos and exclusive content patreon.com/redcoathistory

Arthur Connolly was a British cavalry officer, explorer and intelligence agent who travelled thousands of miles across Russia, Persia and Central Asia during the growing 19th-century rivalry between Britain and Russia.

In this episode I speak to historian and author David Mould about Connolly’s extraordinary life, his journeys in disguise, his intelligence work, his attempts to build alliances in Central Asia and the remarkable mission that would eventually take him to Bukhara.

We also explore the origins of the term “The Great Game”, the disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War, the unfortunate Charles Stoddart, and the strange world of spies, soldiers and diplomats operating on the edges of the British Empire.

David’s new book is Arthur Connolly: Victorian Spy, published by Blackwater Press https://www.blackwaterpress.com/product/arthur-conolly-victorian-spy/

The famous Boer War - 1899 - 1902. It’s a conflict that has one of the most familiar and depressing stories in British military history.

The Boers we’re told were deadly marksmen, brilliant horsemen and natural soldiers - while the British Army blundered from one disaster to another until sheer numbers finally proved decisive.

But what if that story is not quite true?

Let’s not forget for example that the early part of the war also saw British victories at Talana Hill, Elandslaagte, Belmont, Graspan and Modder River.

And according to my guest today, historian and author Chris Ash, much of what we think we know about the conflict has been shaped by myth, politics and selective memory.

In this chat Chris will lay out his views on all of the myths - did we stumble from one defeat to another and were the Boers the super soldiers that we are lead to believe?

Now, it’s fair to say that Chris has some very strong views, but that is exactly why I wanted to sit down with him. On this channel I love to encourage debate and break away from the accepted opinions. If you disagree with what he says then feel free to comment but please be sure to supply sources for any counter argument.

Chris's website and blog can be found here - https://www.chrisash.co.za/