Why Did the British Army Wear Red?

The red coat—bold, iconic, and unmistakably British. For nearly two centuries it was more than just for parade. . . it was the battlefield uniform of the British soldier. Feared by enemies, and loved by commanders.

In this episode, I dig into the origins of the red coat, why it was chosen, and what made it stick. It’s the uniform that gave this channel its name, so it’s about time we gave it a proper look.

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The SOE’s secret war in Burma is one of the most overlooked chapters of WWII. In this episode, historian Richard Duckett uncovers the remarkable story of Lt. Col. Edgar Peacock—a jungle-hardened guerrilla leader who fought the Japanese with a force of locals deep behind enemy lines. Denied medals and buried by bureaucracy, their story is only now being told.

Lt. Colonel Peacock's Grandson Duncan also joined us in this episode.

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In this episode, we walk the battlefields of Barba del Puerco and the Combat on the Coa, two early engagements in the Peninsular War where the Rifles and the Light Division cemented their reputation as elite troops.

Using first-hand accounts, military analysis, and on-location footage, we explore:

• How the Rifles came to be
• What made the Baker Rifle so revolutionary
• Why their training under men like Sir John Moore changed the game
• And how they stood firm in the face of overwhelming French assaults

This is the real story behind Richard Sharpe’s old regiment — not fiction, but fact. These were the battles where the myth began.

🗺 Locations Featured:

• Barba del Puerco (March 1810)

• River Coa, near Almeida (July 1810)

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