The History Chap Podcast

Send me a message In the 1964 film Zulu, Stanley Baker's Lieutenant Chard delivers one of cinema's most quietly memorable lines: "I came up here to build a bridge."  This is the real story of Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard VC, officer in command at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879— possibly, the most reluctant and unlikely hero of one of the most celebrated last s...

Send me a message January 1809. A British Army of over 20,000 men is trapped by the French in north west Spain. This is the story of a forgotten Scottish General, Sir John Moore, who successfully evacuated his entire army, but at the cost of his life at the battle of Corunna. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Get my Free weekly newsletter Support My Wor...

Send me a message Just after midnight on the 22nd October 1904, Russian warships opened fire on British fishing trawlers in the North Sea. Why? Because, as they sailed towards the Far East during the Russo-Japanese War,  they thought that they were Japanese torpedo boats. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Get my Free weekly newsletter Support My Work -...

Send me a message Britain's most famous explorer, David Livingstone, is buried in Westminster Abbey, but why was he buried without his heart? Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Get my Free weekly newsletter Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee Support the show

Send me a message Charles "Chinese" Gordon, one of the great Victorian British military heroes, famously killed defending Khartoum against the Mahdi. But, how did he get the nickname "Chinese" Gordon?  This is the story of his forgotten war in China, and the legendary Ever Victorious Army he led against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In the 1860s, Qing China was tearing itself a...

Send me a message The execution of Harry "Breaker" Morant for the shooting of unarmed prisoners during the Anglo Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902) continues to stir emotions and debate. Not just about whether he and his comrades were scapegoats or treated with double standards but whether claiming to be following orders is a justifiable defence in military operations. Get my Free week...

Send me a message Whilst the films about "The Four Feathers" are ripping yarns from the age of the British Empire, the real life white feathers handed out to supposed cowards in WW1 had a devastating effect. Get my Free weekly newsletter Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee Support the show

Send me a message In the classic war film "Zulu", Private Fred Hitch is called a "slovenly soldier". He nevertheless goes on to be awarded the Victoria Cross at the battle of Rorke's Drift. But the story about what happened to him afterwards, as an invalid veteran in Victorian Britain that is every bit as fascinating, working for the world's oldest security company, l...

Send me a message The forgotten Victorian scandal behind Britain's favourite poem - Rudyard Kipling's "If-". Get my Free weekly newsletter Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee Support the show

Send me a message In 1842, the man who coined the phrase "The Great Game" was executed whilst playing it in a remote city in central Asia. Get my Free weekly newsletter Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee Support the show

Send me a message Get my Free weekly newsletter How Winston Churchill's recommendation for a Victoria Cross, during the Anglo-Boer War, was blocked by Lord Kitchener. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Support My Work - Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee Support the show

Send me a message August 1900. Five hundred colonial troops. Two thousand Boer fighters. Thirteen days of siege — and a refusal to surrender that changed how the world understood the ANZAC spirit. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Stories like this one — the ones that should be famous but never quite made the textbooks — are exactly what I write about i...

Send me a message In the summer of 1794, Horatio Nelson lost the sight in his right eye on a small Mediterranean island. That island was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. And for two years — it was British. This is the story of the Anglo-Corsican Kingdom 1794-1796. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Get my Free weekly newsletter Support My Work - Mak...

Send me a message In January 1842, a British-led force marched out of Kabul and into one of the most devastating episodes in British military history. Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee or Support the show

Send me a message Lasting just 38 minutes, the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896, is regarded as the shortest war in history. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation - Buy Me A Coffee On the morning of 27 August 1896, the British Empire fought what is widely regarded as the shortest war in history. In...

Send me a message The Chagos Islands and Diego Garcia are at the centre of one of the most controversial territorial disputes involving Britain, Mauritius, and the United States . In this podcast episode, The History Chap (Chris Green) explores the history of the British Indian Ocean Territory , the removal of the Chagossian people , and the strategic importance of the American military base on Di...

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. The story of Philip Neame, the only man to be awarded both the Victoria Cross and an Olympic gold medal. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Other episodes that you might enjoy: Adrian Carton de Wairt - the Soldier they couldn't kill William Coltman - Britain's Ve...

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Flogging was the principle punishment in the British Army for nearly 200 years. Even the Duke of Wellington was a supporter. So how harsh was it? And, why (and when) did it end? Listen to my episode about the Officer Purchase System. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation For...

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Did you know that the actor behind the much loved comedy character, Uncle Albert ("Only Fools and Horses") actually did serve in World War 2? This is his real story. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Support the show

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. What was the inspiration behind the Royal Navy's legendary field gun competition? Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Many of you may recall the Royal Tournament at Earl’s Court in London.  The world’s premier military tattoo and pageant that was held for over 100 year...

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. The Bloodies European Battle in the 18th Century - Malplaquet 1709. The Duke of Marlborough's fourth victory over the French and the one that led to his downfall. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Other episodes in this series: The Battle of Blenheim 1704 The Battle...

Send me a message Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. The Battle of Oudenarde 1708, Marlborough's Forgotten Battle. The book I mentioned, and used as part of my research: "Marlborough: Britain's Greatest General" by Richard Holmes (This is my Amazon affiliate link) Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation "...

Send me a message HMS Peterel: The Royal Navy's Defiant Last Stand at Shanghai, 1941 Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a small Royal Navy gunboat faced impossible odds in Shanghai.  When Japanese officers boarded HMS Peterel demanding surrender,...

Send me a message The real Blackadder who fought at the Battle of Blenheim, 1704. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Sign up to my Newsletter Long before Rowan Atkinson's comic creation, a real Blackadder was fighting in some of the bloodiest battles in British military history. Lieute...

Send me a message Fought in 1706, the Battle of Ramillies is arguably the Duke of Marlborough's greatest victory. Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life. Ways You Can Support My Channel: Become A Patron Make A Donation Sign Up To My Newsletter Support the show