Could You Survive in the Duke of Wellington's Army?

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Күн бұрын

'Could You Survive in the Duke of Wellington's Army?'
During the Napoleonic Wars the British Army experienced a time of rapid change. At the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, the army was a small, awkwardly administered force of barely 40,000 men. By the end of the period, the numbers had vastly increased to over a quarter of a million soldiers by 1813.
Whilst the battlefields of the early 1800s looked similar to those of centuries gone by, with columns of infantry advancing slowly toward the enemy musket volleys, the British army was starting to diversify, adding specialised and elite units to its forces.
In this video, History Hit presenters Luke Tomes (@histluketomes) and Louee Dessent (@loueedj) join the Coldstream Guards 1815 and 95th Rifles - reenactment groups representing real units that served in the Peninsular War and helped to defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo…
You can find out more about the groups here:
www.coldstreamguards1815.org....
www.95th-rifles.co.uk
Together, they'll find out how your regiment in the Duke of Wellington’s army would shape your experience on the battlefield and determine your chances of survival.
Taking up the role of a 'redcoat' line infantryman, Louee is thrown in the deep-end as he joins a marching drill crash course, before firing a brown bess musket.
Meanwhile, Luke is taken through the unique light infantry skirmishing tactics used by the green jackets during the Napoleonic Wars, before firing the famous baker rifle and learning how to make musket balls from scratch.
Will Louee survive his drill training? Will Luke be able to fire 3 rounds per minute? Watch the video to find out!
Filmed at the Living History UK Festival 2023.
Living History UK KZfaq channel: / livinghistoryuk
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#historyhit #napoleonicwars #dukeofwellington
00:00 Introduction
02:37 The Coldstream Guards (equipment)
11:02 The 95th Rifles (equipment)
16:56 Drill training
21:25 Light infantry tactics
25:47 Rations and camp life
29:54 Making your own ammunition
34:47 The Baker rifle
41:12 The Brown Bess musket
44:29 Injuries and treatment
45:15 Battle demonstration
46:45 Final scores

Пікірлер: 1 500

@HistoryHit Жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy guys! Which unit of Wellington's army would you rather serve in? 🤔

@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont Жыл бұрын

Could you, for a change, evoke the great French victories against the British throughout history? 🧐

@frcprc4022 Жыл бұрын

None: 2:54, pekingese peed on my backpack, I'm out...

@poil8351 Жыл бұрын

the foot guards or even better horse guards better pay better rations, better living conditions in general.

@eamonnclabby7067 Жыл бұрын

As an Irishman...probably, Sharpe and his chums...😅😅😅😅

@eamonnclabby7067 Жыл бұрын

PS ,generation upon generation of Irish and Scots took the King, s shilling..still do...Declan McManus aka Elvis Costello sang about it in Oliver, s army...dedicated to his Grandad...😊😊😊

@ExUSSailor Жыл бұрын

So, basically, recruiters talked as much BS then, as they do now.

@Hillbilly001 Жыл бұрын

I think even a Roman Legionnaire heard a recruiter's crap. LoL. Scares the Jesus out of them if you tell them what you're doing there. LOL! Cheers

@vectorbrony3473 Жыл бұрын

Pretty much. “Join the Royal Navy he said, see the world he said” buuull sh-t I say

@pilsplease7561 Жыл бұрын

@@vectorbrony3473 lol I am american always wished I was british but even I wouldnt serve in the Royal Navy.

@zaeroses1096 Жыл бұрын

@@pilsplease7561 As a Brit, I don't know anyone who would

@pilsplease7561 Жыл бұрын

@@zaeroses1096 I would serve in the british army if i was british though. Nothing wrong with the army.

@hernerweisenberg7052 Жыл бұрын

Those green jacketed riflemen were so good of an elite unit, Sean Bean playing one of them didn't have to die for once :D

@kiely4561 Жыл бұрын

I always wanted to be a chosen man of the 95 rifles when I was a kid lol

@Blue13GBG12 Жыл бұрын

@@kiely4561 same lol

@Kmobful Жыл бұрын

still, got shot almost every episode :P

@NetVoyagerOne Жыл бұрын

He did have his first wife die and life's savings stolen by his second wife, though.

@robertpage3195 Жыл бұрын

Can't believe this I've just binge watched Sharpe. It's still great. Might have a go at Hornblower next week

@7bootzy Жыл бұрын

Wow. This gave me such nostalgia back to television when I was a kid and there were actual history programs, not "Hitler's Aliens and Pyramids." The time and effort that must've gone into making this is truly incredible. That intro sequence of the foot marching to the rifles appearing through the bush is something else, man. The reenactors are awesome!

@andydougy4347 Жыл бұрын

I'm literally 60 seconds in and can already tell this is going to be better produced than anything that's been on TLC or the History Channel in the last 20 years.

@curtiswebb8135 Жыл бұрын

I owe you a beer or two. We'll said.

@kristoferpearson1537 Жыл бұрын

Those shows are so bad they make Sharps Rifles seem like a documentary.

@HistoryHit Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot! No aliens on this channel 😀

@richardpiper6265 Жыл бұрын

In 1972 we marched to “There’s no use in looking down, there’s no discharge on that ground.” How true that was!

@timholder6825 Жыл бұрын

My half sister, when she married, was gifted 3 bottles of Champagne by her father. Looted by her great, great, great, grandfather at Badajoz.

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

That’s the least of the crimes at Badajoz but Police will add it to their list. Detectives’ 8x grand children are still combing through the scene.

@mogaman28 3 ай бұрын

Imagine welcoming your supposed allies liberating you from the French invaders only to be looted and pillaged by them.

@Splodge542 Жыл бұрын

The food, the drink, the flies, the heat, the mosquitos, the marches, the weather, the wives and the French. How did any of them come back?

@EzekielDeLaCroix Жыл бұрын

Did they have anything to come back to in the first place?

@maxfoster4141 Жыл бұрын

Definitely a snow flake free zone.

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

A better question would be could you survive in Blücher’s army? French across a bridge? Attack. French on a fortified hill? Attack. French outnumber us 7-1? Attack. French have split the atom & devised a nuke? Attack.

@FelixstoweFoamForge Жыл бұрын

I like the fact you put the French last. Natural place for Johnny Crapaud! (Joke, obviously).

@zachall101 Жыл бұрын

By putting one foot in front of the other and repeating that 😂😂 it’s really that easy lol

@gjallarhorn6663 Жыл бұрын

Surviving in Old Nosey's Army? Now that's soldiering.

@jamesmc1600 Жыл бұрын

The ability to make it through a 51 minute video on the peninsular war without mentioning sharpe… now that’s soldiering

@pinkushatejar Жыл бұрын

Old Wellington, he scratched his bum. He says, "Boney lad, thee's had thee fun. My riflemen will win the day, Over the hills and far away!

@thehomie_mr.c 18 күн бұрын

damn right thats soldiering

@mikebrase5161 Жыл бұрын

Im an American US Army vet. I was doing my Genealogy and im thankful the UK record keeping is so good. I found the pension record for my 6th Great Grandfather he served in the 2nd Dragoons from 1799 to 1816.

@dylancoombes Жыл бұрын

You can still join these regiments today

@mikebrase5161 Жыл бұрын

@@dylancoombes for me it's cool as I had a 6th GGF in the British 2nd Dragoons a 3td GGF served in the 6th Michigan Cavalry under Custer and when I served my first unit was 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. It's like I was fated to be in the Cav and didn't know it. I retired in 2011 and I wasn't until 2021 I started researching the Kennedy side of my family.

@zennathanielyuzon3177 Жыл бұрын

@@mikebrase5161 Damn the Cavalry Units were used to turn the tide of a battle, mad respect to the lads who would charge into column of musket fire with no show of fear but courage and determination.

@uncletiggermclaren7592 Жыл бұрын

It is so interesting to think of the various family members of yours, what hand they had in the history of both Nations, what lead some of them to boarding ship for the 1- 1.5 month voyage to the Colonies. And what their lives were like.

@mikebrase5161 Жыл бұрын

@@uncletiggermclaren7592 Oh it's even crazier, on my Fathers mother's side I had 3 relatives who fought in the German side in WW2 all the while her future husband my Grandfather was in the US Army and landed on D-Day.

@FelixstoweFoamForge Жыл бұрын

"But it is wonderful what fine fellows we have made of them" , People always forget that bit of Wellington's statement. Which, to be fair, he made for the first time after the battle of Vittoria in 1814, when his victorious troops, after winning a decisive battle against the retreating French, stopped to plunder their baggage train, depriving Wellington of some much needed money, (Intended to actually pay the men with!), and allowing the French to escape to fight again in the Pyrenees. What with Gout, interferences from Whitehall, occasionally insane generals, and a rank and file who, (at least some of them), would drink anything liquid and nick anything not nailed down, I can kind of excuse Wellington's outburst a little bit. And let us not forget; Wellington may not have LIKED his soldiers, but he certainly tried to not throw their lives away.

@Rich.L-J_KZN Жыл бұрын

As usual, the gold is in the comments

@throwback19841 Жыл бұрын

Suddenly I'm thinking of the interaction between wellington and the plundering soldier in the movie Waterloo "do you know what the punishment for plunder is?" "Uh, stoppage of gin sir?" "Damn your eyes, it's death"

@FelixstoweFoamForge Жыл бұрын

@@throwback19841 And then he says to the officer next to him "I don't know what they'll do to the French, but by God, they frighten me!". Christopher Plummer was a brilliant Wellington. Underrated film.

@007ndc Жыл бұрын

Don't forget that back then the British Navy and Army were often alternatives to jail or imprisonment, others joined simply for a square meal and shelter not to mention food.

@Ukraineaissance2014 Жыл бұрын

@@FelixstoweFoamForge if you like Waterloo, watch the soviet version of War and Peace made just a few years before. It was the same director (Bondarchuk) and the battle scenes are incredible, Waterloo was also made with nearly all russian extras and soviet backing.

@sirandrelefaedelinoge Жыл бұрын

My 7th great grandfather, Giles Edmonds, served in the XIV Hussars in Spain... he served from November 1808 - July 1814, when he was pensioned out due to injury and became a Chelsea Pensioner... he lived out a good long life with his fifteen children.

@Zamiroh Жыл бұрын

Your great grandfather was alive during those times? Four generations spanned over 215 years?

@sirandrelefaedelinoge Жыл бұрын

@Zamiroh what's your problem?

@sirandrelefaedelinoge Жыл бұрын

@Zamiroh some people such as yourself are just "Internet Victims" incapable of believing anything. I'm not prepared to give you his discharge papers because you'd refuse to believe they're real. But, I don't believe YOU'RE Real.

@animeyahallo3887 Жыл бұрын

@@Zamiroh I think they meant their "great great great great great great great grandfather" when they said "7th great grandfather" so 10 generations over 200+ yrs.

@CarterWedge Жыл бұрын

@@Zamirohlearn how to read

@seanhenderson3791 11 ай бұрын

As an Ex-Rifleman of The Rifles it’s great seeing the core values and traditions of the 95th still being instilled into the Rifleman of today.

@dave8323 11 ай бұрын

Also having been in the Rifles, it is clear to me that youre talking absolute shite. apart from a faster march and nonsense rhetoric, they are identical to every other infantry regiment

@japhfo 8 ай бұрын

@user-bu4is9ii7u Tall cap and bolt action rifle. Devil soldier from the future!

@fordwk 8 ай бұрын

Awesome...you served in a GREAT unit!

@csvickers151 7 ай бұрын

Over the hills and far away. 🇬🇧🇬🇧

@MadTrapper1 6 ай бұрын

Black and green , the finest colours ever seen.

@davidsparkes4377 Жыл бұрын

Two of my Ancestors were in Wellington's Army. One Richard Rowe who served in the 2nd Foot Regiment for nearly 14 years.. He was at Vitoria. The second one William Taylor was in the 11th Dragoons and was at Salamanca and Waterloo.. William was in this Regiment for 15 years, both were Chelsea Pensioners in 1851.

@GazalAlShaqab Жыл бұрын

One ancestor of mine served in Polish troops of the French army and fought against Wellington's army in Spain, maybe our Ancestors fought against each other… God, there is A LOT of fighting in Europe's history! As far as I am able to go back in time through my "family tree", I am only the second generation that wasn't in a war, before that every single generation had to fight at some point (at least for us, the Poles, this is so).

@matthewlo55 Жыл бұрын

Any proof mate?

@iceberg789 Жыл бұрын

how did they survive for so many years ?

@davidsparkes4377 11 ай бұрын

@@matthewlo55 I have the discharge papers and medal awards. Also the 1851 census records 😁

@davidsparkes4377 11 ай бұрын

@@iceberg789 just lucky, my Ancestor Richard Rowe was in the West Indies for 5 years 8 months. 250 of his regiment died of yellow fever..

@stevemarshall5266 8 ай бұрын

My 3rd great Grandfather was in the 33rd Foot at Waterloo. He joined in 1811, when he was 16 years old, and had just gone 20 in June 1815. Out of 516 men of the regiment there were 280 casualties. Luckily fate was good to him and he survived to serve another 10 years in Ireland, Canada and Jamaica. He was honourably discharged from the Chelsea Hospital in 1824 and lived to 1853. He received a Chelsea Pension. All the survivors got 2 years service added towards the army pension along with the Waterloo medal.

@vancouvervixen4253 4 ай бұрын

Amazing, thanks for sharing

@MattFieldPhoto Жыл бұрын

the fuller on the bayonet is not a “blood groove” - popular misconception. its function is to simultaneously lighten and stiffen the blade

@hand587 11 ай бұрын

I think that 'fact' about the canteens not containing water but beer is also a popular myth. There were plenty of wells (or streams) with perfectly drinkable water, in almost every village

@HUMPTYNUGGET 9 ай бұрын

I was told that the blood channel in the SLR and SA80 bayonets was to counter the suction from the victims body as bayonets without this channel would get stuck

@MattFieldPhoto 9 ай бұрын

a classic case of Fudd Lore@@HUMPTYNUGGET

@suburbia2050 8 ай бұрын

@@HUMPTYNUGGETyeah I would imagine it had that functionality as well, maybe it's a bit of both

@redclayscholar620 8 ай бұрын

@@hand587modern canteens however are more likely to contain dip spit. 😂

@christinemcdonald8705 6 ай бұрын

I luv these guys as hosts. How they split up and you get to see both sides a bit more in-depth than one normally would. Then when you see them again on the next adventure, they trade classes

@greasyflight6609 Жыл бұрын

I could not survive in our local Boy Scouts Troop let alone the Duke Wellingtons Army

@mrbearbear83 Жыл бұрын

I've been in boy scouts, it's Lord of the flies stuff

@charlesc.9012 Жыл бұрын

Unlike the French army, the British army was mostly made up of slummers. They grew up living the ghetto life (without food), and would earn a dollar a day for most of their life, in today's money. The army would actually be a step up: Food was guaranteed, you travelled abroad, and the drippy uniform was unattainable in their childhood. Their lives were cheap anyway, so didn't always have to be impressed into the army. If Harlem didn't have food, that would be equal to East London in 1803

@greasyflight6609 Жыл бұрын

@@mrbearbear83 lol

@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K Жыл бұрын

Putting out a documentary on what it was like in Wellington's Army? Now that's soldierin'.

@RP-ks6ly Жыл бұрын

I have enjoyed the Sharpe series of books from Bernard Cornwell. They discuss and illustrate this period with great accuracy and excellent stories with some historical latitude. It is great to see what Sharpe would have work as regular leg infantry and as an officer in the rifles. Thank you very much for your presentation, excellent resource.

@michaelhawkins7389 Жыл бұрын

Did you ever watch the TV show?

@RP-ks6ly Жыл бұрын

@Michael Hawkins I have seen bits and pieces, but never watched the series, I want to though.

@kiely4561 Жыл бұрын

I used to absolutely love the sharpe series as a kid

@andrewpestotnik5495 Жыл бұрын

Now that's soldiering

@jasoncoker1625 Жыл бұрын

🤘💯

@Lucius1958 Жыл бұрын

*"They may* (or is it 'may not'?) *frighten the enemy, but by God they frighten me."* - attributed to Wellington

@roughrider6129 Жыл бұрын

And yet he's also quoted as saying "When other Generals make mistakes their armies are beaten; when I get into a hole, my men pull me out of it." so I'd wager he felt they had their qualities as well.

@michaelstirling3782 Жыл бұрын

I served 12 years with 3 royal green jackets,my ancestor sgt. Samuel humble Lawson of the 95th rifles led the forlorn hope at badajoz and was promoted to lieutenant.We still own the only existing forlorn hope medal as only 4 were issued,his GSM with forlorn hope bar,and his crimea medal and star as he was a adviser to the Portuguese. I also had an ancestor in the artists rifles and my grandfather was a rifle brigade officer in both world wars.

@ryanhook9655 Жыл бұрын

S&b

@terencefairweather6535 Жыл бұрын

Wow! Impressive! I served with 2 RGJ.

@aaoaoaoaoaa Жыл бұрын

bros ancestor was sharpe

@michaelstirling3782 Жыл бұрын

@@aaoaoaoaoaa ??

@terencefairweather6535 Жыл бұрын

@Stanly Stud Any ex servicemen who says derogatory remarks about any other regiment, is the knob. You need to grow up mate and have some respect for your fellow soldiers!

@MySmokingToaster Жыл бұрын

"The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards." Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

From serfs, to soldiers…& back to serfs.

@treatitlikeaboardgame3508 Жыл бұрын

Plowshares to swords and back again

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

What a noble cause. Remind me who the villain(s) is again in the Napoleonic Wars?

@Blisterdude123 Жыл бұрын

@@ddc2957 History rarely offers us black and white answers. A million different answers, a million different perspectives, heroes and villains depend upon who you ask.

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

That’s true. I can only judge the situation through my own moral compass. Britain were the worst of a very awful bunch of nations in this conflict where France fought for a grand cause. But opinions of course differ.

@anthonystevens8683 Жыл бұрын

Another top video guys this time showing a clear difference between the "Red Coats" and the "Rifles". along with the use case differences between the musket and the rifle users. It was also good to get an insight into the harsh life of the two regiments. Once again a great educational video guys. Many thanks for sharing. We still need to learn why we keep on fighting each other even now but I guess that is an issue that unfortunately I doubt will have a resolution and in my lifetime.

@HistoryHit Жыл бұрын

thanks Anthony!

@stonedog5547 7 ай бұрын

Scalpel or Sledgehammer? Both are good at what they do..... Use the right tool for the job

@gerardhogan3 Жыл бұрын

My great great grandfather joined the 40th of foot as a boy, and served on the Peninsula under Wellesley then New Orleans in 1815 then Waterloo and then as an occupational force in France. He died at aged 96. They made real bloody men then. Lest we forget

@JaEDLanc 11 ай бұрын

The 40th of foot was one of the regiment’s that became the regiment I served, The Queens Lancashire Regiment. Quebec was a unique battle honour which the 40th took part in under Wolfe and we still celebrate it every year.

@Freddy19677 11 ай бұрын

Never forgive , never forget British imperialism and colonialism and the hundreds of millions of massacred indigenous peoples.

@stephenhowell5509 11 ай бұрын

Lucky hero surviving that lot

@stephenhowell5509 11 ай бұрын

@@Freddy19677 biased

@unpseudopascommelesautres997 10 ай бұрын

certains vous vous inventez des vies c'est incroyable.

@Zippsterman Жыл бұрын

The carbines used by the French light infantry did have the significant advantage of rate of fire over the British rifles due to the tight fit needed for roundballs to engage the rifling. The later development of the Minie ball - which had a hollow back and therefore could be loaded loosely (and easily in fouled-up blackpowder barrels) while still engaging the rifling when the pressure expands the skirt outward - is what made the mass adoption of rifles practical for line infantry as seen in the American Civil War. Rifles had been around for a long time by the Napoleonic wars, but there's a reason why they still chose to equip mainly with smoothbores (there's also the cost of manufacturing at scale)

@rhysnichols8608 9 ай бұрын

The French tended to prefer rate and fire over accuracy, which is a valid point because Napoleon was able to consistently beat most armies he fought against, the French usually deployed swarms of skirmishes who preferred to keep up higher rate of fire which gave better suppression value and psychological affect. There are merits to both methods of skirmishing, in my opinion it would be best to have 75% of your skirmishers armed with higher rate of fire carbines and have 25% with rifles who can more easily snipe high value targets whilst under cover from the higher fire rate out put, but I don’t know if this was ever the case

@timothybrady2749 Жыл бұрын

Excellent, informative and well produced presentation. The reenactors are wonderful!

@scottreid1028 Жыл бұрын

Ive said it once and I’ll say it again.. I’M ADDICTED TO THIS SERIES!!! Keeeeep them cominggggg history squire! 🤓💙

@martinevans9757 Жыл бұрын

That was really well done! Balanced, informative, and genuinely enjoyable to watch. Will be back for more.

@HistoryHit Жыл бұрын

thanks Martin!

@zulubeatz1 10 ай бұрын

What incredible people recreating this unique history. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Great work. I have wanted to know more about the armies of this time and found this very informative and entertaining. The British army although not the originators developed the light infantry concept into one of the widest accepted standard infantry practices in history. Even modern divisions still have similarities with the force make up from this time.

@GazalAlShaqab Жыл бұрын

GREAT, great video! BIG thanks to all the guys who keep those beautiful traditions ALIVE!! 🤩

@kathyastrom1315 Жыл бұрын

I’m trying to pin down if a 5th great granduncle George Goodwin from New Brunswick, Canada fought at Waterloo. I’ve been able to prove that he and his brother Benjamin were in the 104th New Brunswick Regiment and fought in the War of 1812, as family legend said they did. The legend then said that they both fought at Waterloo, but I did prove that Benjamin, at least, did not-he stayed in Canada through 1817. George, however, was transferred to England in November 1814. I have lost him at that point, but have found that a George Goodwin was in the paybook for the 23rd Light Dragoons from December 25, 1814 through the end of 1816, and did fight at Waterloo. I really need to find the paybook preceding that one to see if that George Goodwin is in it. If so, then he is not my relative. If he isn’t, then at least that man could be him. The only other option I can think of is seeing if he had an obituary published when he died in 1849, but I haven’t found one yet. The fact that the family legend is a long-lasting one, first published in 1900, does boost my confidence in it, but that’s not proof.

@eamonnclabby7067 Жыл бұрын

Hi ,Kathy parish records, Catholic and protestant might be a useful source, a few Goodwin's and Godwin's here on Merseyside, and Dublin..??.. I hope you succeed, best wishes from the wirral peninsula ,bounded by the mersey and the Dee and the Irish sea...geography and rhyme😊😊😊😊.

@kathyastrom1315 Жыл бұрын

@@eamonnclabby7067 Thanks! I do know that George and Benjamin’s father Daniel was from Plymouth, England. He had emigrated to Massachusetts in 1754 and enlisted for the French and Indian War in 1755. He served until 1762 and settled in New Brunswick after the war, not far from where he had fought. My 1900 published source for the family legend also talked about Daniel’s military service, reinforcing my hopes that the legend for George’s Waterloo service is also based in fact.

@jaymac7203 Жыл бұрын

As a huge fan of Sharpe and military history in general, this was fantastic. Definitely my favourite video yet from this channel 😊👍

@joebloggs5318 Жыл бұрын

Thought they might have included something about floggings seeing as they happened on a daily basis

@tonycoke2676 Жыл бұрын

Great program guys. It was good fun and an honour to take part in the filming and to meet you guys. I hope we get to do other projects with History Hit in the future...😎

@Daveluvutube Жыл бұрын

It’s crazy how so much has changed but yet so much is still the same. Pair fire and manoeuvre is still very present today.

@Roxanewolfie Жыл бұрын

Love this duo & series! So many knowledgeable reenactors, makes you want to go out there and experience it for yourself. I definitely wouldn't survive being in either unit haha

@timothybrady2749 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the outstanding presentation. All of the reenactors were fantastic. I learned a great deal!👍👍

@_Davepocalypse Жыл бұрын

I put this in to fall asleep to. Ended up watching the whole thing fully engaged. This was really well put together and a fascinating insight into the military at the time. Also a good bit of context for my viewings if Sharpe 😅.

@johnclarke6647 11 ай бұрын

My 3rd great grand uncle served in Bluchers Prussian Army at Waterloo. He was wounded there and died several years later from his injuries. Since I survived Parris Island over 50 years ago I believe I could survive being in Wellingtons Army.

@brucewindsor5257 6 ай бұрын

One consideration is that many more soldiers died of disease and from wounds because surgeons did not practice sterile techniques. Even WWI had high death rates from the misnamed Spanish flu. So you might have survived combat but not these other threats

@johnclarke6647 6 ай бұрын

@@brucewindsor5257 yes, however more soldiers died of common diseases than wounds in battle. A lot of doctors were also incompetent and a lot more did not know anything about germs and common sanitation. I remember a quote from John Wayne in the movie, Horse Soldiers, when he told a colonel that coffee would taste a lot better if the latrines were built down stream from where they got the water for the coffee. Now, we take these common sanitation principals for granted but not so a couple of hundred years ago, especially before the enlightenment of Louis Pasteur.

@Art-is-craft 6 ай бұрын

@@brucewindsor5257 The field surgeons did not have the resources to create sterile environments the real game changer was antibiotics.

@charlesc.9012 6 ай бұрын

@@Art-is-craft Even before antibiotics, it was discovered that operating quickly and cleaning the table with soap and water, as well as washing hands with chlorinated lime massively increased the survival rates

@Art-is-craft 6 ай бұрын

@@charlesc.9012 None of that changed the landscape like antibiotics.

@robertfreeman6082 Жыл бұрын

Great video and nicely explained the differences between the line infantry and the rifles.

@gybod9166 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant video, that opening sequence was phenomenal. Great work.

@OldFellaDave Жыл бұрын

Outstanding video lads! I really enjoyed it. Quality content!

@NickMullet Жыл бұрын

Very underrated channel. Things like this are the reason I no longer have a tv subscription.

@notabandaidgaming479 Жыл бұрын

"...70 yards, then the vets start hanging a bit back because they aren't so sure about this." Man, what an insane thing to feel.

@rd28gu2 Жыл бұрын

Such a good combo to complement each other in history teaching haha I love this channel

@agtom1329 Жыл бұрын

Another great piece of work chaps! Congratulations.

@Hardrada88 9 ай бұрын

Very interesting! Learned a lot and well shot. One of my great (however many) granddads went through the peninsula campaign, Austria, Russia and Waterloo and retired into similar conditions as those he left. Last record he appears in a workhouse type thing in cholet aged in his 80s..so a good long life!! With many stories to tell.

@Uajd-hb1qs 7 ай бұрын

I never even knew of the green coats, that is really cool. It’s such a fascinating form of warfare cuz it’s one that us in the modern era can’t really comprehend with the fact of just standing and kneeling in an open field just firing at large ranks of the enemy. In modern warfare, no one would survive but then we’re not restricted to a few rounds a minute.

@damedavidfrith55 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting and informative

@xlprop6687 Жыл бұрын

It was great seeing this online. Makes me still proud so have been a Chosen Man from the RGJ. S&B fellow Rfn near and far.

@tonycoke2676 Жыл бұрын

First in the field and last from the fray...

@flashladderacrobat Жыл бұрын

I went to Waterloo on the 200th centenary and saw the reenactment and it was wonderfull , especially the camps with all the soldiers from different regiments and nationalities .

@ianmacpheat9064 Жыл бұрын

My G.G.G.G Grandfather Joseph McFate, 72nd Seaforth Highlanders, was attached to the Experimental Rifle Corps at its formation in 1800, as Quarter Master Sergeant. His son, born in Hampstead, was named Stuart Manningham McFate, after the Colonel’s of the Regiment.

@nledaig 4 ай бұрын

My Great great grandfather Murchadh was a soldier in the Freicaidean Dubh, eventually with Moore and afterwards with Wellesley in The Peninsula where he lost his arm at the siege of Burgos. Brought to the rear he was placed on stable doors on trestles in the rain in a farmyard, given rum and a belt to bite on. Orderlies lay on him and a cigar-smoking surgeon in high-hat and butcher's apron amputated the shattered arm and chucked it in the pile. Lots of men did not survive such amputations. Murchadh did.

@nickharmer3049 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic work. Really appreciated. Bless up 👊

@icantellbythemoonvintage Жыл бұрын

Loved this! 🤍 As someone obsessed with historical costume and uniforms this was a treasure trove of info and inspiration. Thank you!

@matthewdavies4818 6 ай бұрын

This was absolutely brilliant! And the 95th Sargent was brilliant! He played the role and had all the information. I bet they had a great time.

@munteanuiulian7427 Жыл бұрын

Saw these 2 regiments of reenactors in april at Moira Furnace. Entertaining seeing them drill and shoot.

@tonycoke2676 Жыл бұрын

That is where this was filmed...it was a good event.

@bouse23 Жыл бұрын

Particularly in regard to recruits from ireland. many were from spalpín fánach class. The wandering labourers this was a a class of men who would have wandered the irish countryside from place to place seeking agricultural. employment.sleeping In barns or outhouses if lucky or in ditches if unlucky. To men like this the army even with all the harsh discipline of military life may have been a relatively attractive option.

@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167 Жыл бұрын

I suppose terrible food and low pay beats no food and no pay.

@aetius7139 Жыл бұрын

@@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167 more like "beats the alternative". With the navy press gangin means you have no choice at all. At least with the army you choose to volunteered.

@bouse23 Жыл бұрын

@Aetius the only people ever press ganged by the navy were civilian sailors. A guy who had never been to sea before was useless to the navies of the time.

@AtheAetheling 10 ай бұрын

Yep. Ireland had something of a large population for its size at the time and combined with an economic downturn this drove a lot of Irishmen to the army. A third of the army was Irish, which of course was second only to England, which provided half, in terms of sheer numbers. One of the popular songs at the time spoke of 'twining the shamrock with the rose' and ending up with the best body of fighting men in the world as a result of the recruitment from both countries. Scotland and Wales too of course!

@Martin-tn5lm 8 ай бұрын

The Duke of Wellington knew Ireland well - he was from Ireland.

@matthewwilson5548 Жыл бұрын

as always great presentation and information about this war

@secretagent86 Жыл бұрын

around the 19 minute mark.. see the young soldier... what a youthful look, and probably just the same as many who served, fought, and died in battle. RESPECT to those who serve(d)

@paulholroyd8515 Жыл бұрын

I’m a big fan of the Sharpe books so this video really helped to bring it to life❤

@beachcomberbloke462 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Luke and Louee for bringing history alive, rather than kept in a dark and dusty corner of a museum .After watching this i have to re watch Bernard Cornwell,s Sharpes Rifles starring the brilliant Sean Bean.❤

@user-li4sz3jz1b Жыл бұрын

This is great,so interesting well done Luke and louee😊😊😊

@Dlugia2 Жыл бұрын

Excellent documentary. Showing daily life of those from the past is the most interesting documentary which can be made.

@marcusverngren858 Жыл бұрын

Love this series, can always depend on the brits to produce banger docs!

@thequintanashow5058 Жыл бұрын

I love how the Brown Bess didn’t even have a sight. The manufacturer’s were like, “come on, who are we kidding…”😂

@martynroach182 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic history lesson, thank you.

@cliveramsbotty6077 Жыл бұрын

such a great feature to watch and absorb, thanks

@rechnin6680 11 ай бұрын

I might get shot for saying this, but, I always liked the line from Sharpe "You won't see a battle, but you'll bloody hear it!"

@reecedignan8365 Жыл бұрын

Great video guys and brining more light to my favourite period of history. Would love to see you guys maybe return to these boys one day if they are doing a proper reenactment against the frogs across the pond and showing your training out to use. But also. We have to admit here, these two ain’t your average working class day millers. No, these two are your middle class semi-gentlemen lads. Get them out of the infantry and get em into the cavalry sir and see they provide for their own horses too.

@douglashilton5327 4 ай бұрын

Thankyou for this informative video 😊

@unspokendegree 7 ай бұрын

That's intro was a great little set piece, the transition from redcoats to green jackets was so smooth.

@gmnotyet Жыл бұрын

Wow, I always wondered why Sharpe wore a green uniform! Thanks for the explanation.

@francisfisher328 Жыл бұрын

Not to ,mention the brown trousers

@samsignorelli Жыл бұрын

@@francisfisher328 Now that's soldiering..

@samsignorelli Жыл бұрын

I believe some US Civil War snipers (Union side) also wore green.

@andreslinares6429 Жыл бұрын

He literally makes a point of being a rifleman...

@andreslinares6429 Жыл бұрын

@@samsignorelliyou haven't seen Sharpe haven't you?

@jeremygrant3558 Жыл бұрын

My great great great grandfather served with the 2nd regiment of lifeguards served in Spain, then at Waterloo where he was shot and received sabre wounds.

@pulsewatcher0ad 10 ай бұрын

This was very thorough and well done

@maxheinrichliebow 10 ай бұрын

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Very informative.

@HistoryHit 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@charlottec5802 Жыл бұрын

Thank you History Hit for bringing out my inner Lydia Bennet - I do love a redcoat 😊 Early 19th Century is one of my favourite periods in history. Mainly for the social history, but hanging around with reenactors has definitely given me a better appreciation of the military side. Also, I spy some of the 33rd Regiment of Foot amongst those redcoats!

@stonedog5547 7 ай бұрын

You know why there are so many officers mentioned in the books of the time, because rich young gentlemen would get themselves a Commission in a Militia Regiment (or Yeomanry) so they had a nice uniform to go to parties in. There is also at least one 5th/60th in with the grasshoppers

@user-vi6wf4gh9x Жыл бұрын

Since watching this I have a really strong urge to go back and read all the Sharpe novels again. Now that's soldiering!

@user-li4sz3jz1b 10 ай бұрын

Hope you guys are still posting , Luke and louee your videos are so good , feels like you have stopped hope you haven't ,if you have you have left a high bar guys 😁😁😁♥️♥️

@robengl6553 8 ай бұрын

Fantastic! Great re-enactors.

@michaelbevan1081 Жыл бұрын

I had no idea that the cartridge boxes also had a cleaning kit; I always assumed that they were contained in a soldiers pack, the form of a kit roll for the musket. Now I know. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I wasn’t even aware that the Baker rifle even had a flip sight - despite its effective range.

@petrairene Жыл бұрын

Most modern people used to all the amenities like central heating etc would not survive many pre modern scenarios. They wouldn't survive as medieval farmers either.

@hunterg24 Жыл бұрын

I love it when the keyboard warriors get on here and claim that they'd kick ass in the past. All I'm thinking is "Bitch please, you'd be dead of pox before the first week is out." Of course they'd probably die of starvation or thirst before that. Wasn't like you could drive up to a Mac D's for a Big Mac Combo with a large drink.

@ravenguard0098 Жыл бұрын

@@hunterg24 There is also the language barrier the lingo we have now would be different then aswell as values and beliefs.

@ddc2957 Жыл бұрын

I agree with you both in principle, but to play Devil’s advocate, there is an old maxims “You can do anything, if you have no other choice.”

@Arkantos117 Жыл бұрын

Depends on how deep you get thrown in. Many modern people could adapt with a little bit of training as long as they're not thrown into northern europe mid winter in the little ice age or something.

@vmann8168 Жыл бұрын

Most of the people from the time had Buckley's chances of survival. The whole idea that people were just built different in the past is wrong.

@gabywaldbuesser6909 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely well done and historically on target. Well-told, I think perhaps even for those less familiar with things. Thanks!

@fcuk361 Жыл бұрын

Love watching your content!

@PokhrajRoy. Жыл бұрын

What an interesting time to recreate. Also, this reminds me of ‘The Black Adder’ Season 3.

@NickMullet Жыл бұрын

TEEEAAAAA!!!!!!

@hakaen2119 10 ай бұрын

Awesome introduction scene!! its even coreographed with the reenactors, very cool to see!

@rodeastell3615 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Very interesting and educational ... and excellently presented. Thank you.

@HistoryHit Жыл бұрын

thanks so much!

@kinghenryxl1747 Жыл бұрын

It's sad that there were no good sides in the Napoleonic Wars. Many veterans of Wellington's army ended up destitute and lived out their days languishing in Britain's infamous workhouses, as their pensions were never sufficiently supplemented to keep up with inflation.

@dynamo1796 Жыл бұрын

No good sides? What on earth do you mean by that?

@kinghenryxl1747 Жыл бұрын

@@dynamo1796 What were British soldiers fighting for? - To prevent Napoleon from replacing Britain’s aristocracy with his own elite, that’s it. British commoners were treated just as horribly as their French counterparts. Lord Wellington made his name India by conquering parts of it, thus subjecting India to a century of brutal occupation and wealth extraction. Wellington did not give two shits about freedom.

@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167 Жыл бұрын

@@dynamo1796 well the French could say they were forced to conquer Europe when all of Europe turned on (and invaded) France for becoming a republic, all to keep the status quo of monarchy power in Europe. It's all not so simple as good Vs bad. I'm English. Not quite a Bonapartist but Iike/try to look at all sides of it.

@zaeroses1096 Жыл бұрын

There's never a good side. There are just sides. Each side has a reason. Each side does good things... and each side does many more bad things, as is the nature of war.

@Kefuddle Жыл бұрын

Interesting, inflation was virtually zero back then, but it was higher than in the 18th century.

@DidierDidier-kc4nm Жыл бұрын

i like this duo !

@dernochjungenoergler 5 ай бұрын

Interesting analysis, thank you!

@akidshistoryandaviation Жыл бұрын

Some of my family served for the British army around 1810. Both in Europe and British North America as infantry however I’m not sure which unit.

@talleman1 Жыл бұрын

Excellent, as a reenactor many wars, this is well done. I have done the War of 1812 in the US and Canada but would so like to try the Napoleonic Wars.

@stonedog5547 7 ай бұрын

Come on over

@pab777 10 ай бұрын

Excellent watching. Thank you

@HistoryHit 10 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@rebeccawayman4219 11 ай бұрын

Love watching your videos.

@rodblair3705 Жыл бұрын

In a reenactment of the Battle of Fort Erie in Upper Canada I fired 80 rounds with my musket with no misfires. The flint was almost worn out. People say that the guns were not reliable. I thought I would correct this statement.

@RichardCrocker-dt4be Жыл бұрын

That’s good going my friend. We can achieve that with a modern reproduction musket that is well maintained. But as I am sure you know, the misfire rate comes with bad flints, they are very random in quality, bad powder, damp powder, messing up the loading in stressful battles etc etc, the list goes on. In Napoleonic times the misfire rate was extremely high.

@marioguidotomasone1265 Жыл бұрын

A good looked after firelock can allow you that, that's for sure, and that is true now and them. Aiming and hitting your targets with a certain accuracy is a completely different story, and that is the main difference between accuracy and innacuracy to me