The History Chap Podcast

Send me a message Donald Pleasence, who starred in "The Great Escape" was actually a WW2 Prisoner of War (POW). He later found fame as Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and as Dr. Loomis in the cult horror film "Halloween". Support My Channel as a Patron: Donald Pleasence served in the RAF from 1940, particpating in 60 bombing missions. Eventually his Lancaster bomber was shot down whilst on a raid to bomb a V1 rocket site in northern France. Captured, Donald Pleasence was to spend the rest of the war as a German Prisoner in a POW camp, Stalag Luft I / Stalag Luft 1. Situated on the Baltic coast of Germany, Stalag Luft I housed over 9,000 prisoners of war (POW). Whilst Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force men made up about 20% of the camp population, over 7500 men were US airmen. Included in their number were John C. Morgan (the only US airman to receive the Medal of Honor and also be a POW), flying ace Vermont Garrison, and Colonel Hubert Zemke. After the war, Donald Pleasence resumed his acting career and was to appear in 140 films over the next 50 years. Arguably, one of the greatest villains that James Bond (007) was to go up against, Pleasence played Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice". Later on he also appeared as Dr. Samuel Loomis in the cult "Halloween" film franchise. In 1963, he reprised his experience as a wartime POW when he starred in "The Great Escape". Speaking of wartime movies, he also appeared in "The Eagle Has Landed". Donald Pleasence died in France in 1995. Support the Show.

Send me a message Boudica, the legendary British queen of the Iceni who led a revolt against the Romans in Ad 60/61, destroying 3 Roman towns (including London) and massacred all the inhabitants inside. Responsible for thousands of deaths was she a freedom fighter or a psychopath? Join my free weekly history newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message Dick Turpin is without a doubt, Britain's most famous highwayman. But, exactly who was Dick Turpin, and why is he so famous? Join my Supporter's Club Support the Show.

Send me a message During the annihilation of the British Army by the Zulus at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879 two British officers. Lt’s Melvill and Coghill made a desperate escape, trying to carry the Queen’s Colour to safety. But were they really heroes trying to save the colour, or were they merely trying to save their skins? Get my newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message "Carry On" star, Peter Butterworth, had a wartime secret that only came out long after his death. Contact me Support the Show.

Send me a message Admiral Thomas Cochrane, was the inspiration for C.S. Forester’s naval hero Horatio Hornblower or Patrick O’Brian’s, Jack Aubrey (played by Russell Crow in the film, “Master and Commander”). Largely forgotten to the general public, yet he was one of the Royal Navy’s most audacious and feared commanders during the Napoleonic Wars, known to his enemies as the wolf of the sea and El Diablo (the devil). In a rollercoaster career, he didn’t just fight in the Royal Navy but also in the navies of Chile, Brazil and Greece in their wars of independence too. An engineer, who worked with the father of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and whose inventions are still used today; he eloped with a woman 20 years his junior and was humiliatingly thrown out of parliament and stripped of his knighthood after being convicted of serious fraud. He ended his days, honour restored and is buried in Westminster Abbey. The life of Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane (Lord Cochrane / Earl Dundonald) is one heck of a story! Get my free weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message On the 22nd January 1879 in South Africa, the British suffered the greatest defeat ever inflicted upon them by a native African army - when a force of 1,500 was annihilated by the Zulus during the Anglo-Zulu war. Get in touch and get my weekly newsletter: Click here Chelmsford was quick to lay the blame for the defeat at Isandlwana on anyone but himself. Equally it could not be the fault of the redecorated infantry. So rather than Pullene being held to account for spreading his troops out too thinly 3 myths were planted as to who was to blame. NNC collapsed at crucial moment Durnford didn’t take command Commisariat delayed ammo supply but quibbling and screwdrivers. Not only do these myths obscure Chelmsford culpability in dividing his force and Pulleine’s decision to spread his line too thinly and not create any entrenched positions. It ignores something more important. That they British had been out manoeuvred and out fought by an enemy with spears and shields. The Zulus had successfully fooled Chelmsford into dividing their force. They had moved 25,000 undetected to the north. They then delivered a horns of the buffalo attack over a 4 mile front and despite one of the horns going behind the mountain they had timed the devastating attack perfectly. Finally, despite the withering fire laid down by the experienced British redcoats, the Zulu warriors had held their nerve and pressed home their attack, inspired by the Chief Biyela. Support the Show.

Send me a message Between 1814-1816, the British and the Gurkhas fought a vicious bloody war - the Anglo Nepalese War. It was the only time they ever fought each other. The bravery shown by both sides built a mutual respect and a 200 year tradition of Gurkhas serving in the British Army began. It continues to this day. Get My Newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message The Empire Windrush brought 800 Caribbean immigrants to Britain in 1948. But have you heard the whole story about this ship? German Naval Vessel, British troopship and Holocaust vessel... Get My Newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message The HMS Birkenhead disaster occurred off the coast of South Africa in 1852. Subscribe To My Newsletter A British troopship sank after hitting rocks and over 600 soldiers and sailors were cast into the shark infested waters on a dark February night. Scores were attacked and killed by Great White Sharks. Just 193 - a third - survived. Support the Show.

Send me a message The Battle of Khambula, fought on the 29th March 1879, was the turning point in the Anglo-Zulu War. After three defeats the British finally turned the tide against an enemy that they had severely underestimated to their cost. It marked the beginning of the end for Zulu independence. Get my free weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message The Bantam battalions of the British (& Canadian) army during the First World War were made up from men below the normal height requirement of 5’3. Get my Newsletter / Get in Touch Over 30,000 pint-sized warriors volunteered, including a corporal who was just 4’9 and I will share his story later in this episode. I will also tell you about a bantam war poet, and another bantam who would make a huge impact on Britain after the war. They made up in courage and aggression what they lacked in height. Each one, described in a poem as : “A pocket Hercules” Support the Show.

Send me a message The battle of Hlobane was the third (& final) defeat the British suffered during the Zulu War in 1879. Get in touch and also get my weekly newsletter Over 90 white and 100 African troops were killed in a defeat that could have ended in complete disaster. Once more the Zulus proved they were worthy adversaries. Having said that, the battle of Hlobane was a disaster of the British own making. Poor scouting by the commander, Sir Evelyn Wood, meant that Colonel Redvers Buller was effectively attacking the Zulus mountain stronghold blind. That poor scouting also failed to spot a Zulu army numbering over 20,000 approaching the British. In many respects, the defeat could have been a lot worse. 5 Victoria Crosses were awarded for acts of bravery during a terryfinig restreat off the mountain down a 150 foot steep rock face. The battle of hlobane was the third victory for the Zulus in this war. It was also to be their last. Support the Show.

Send me a message ”The Cockleshell Heroes” was released in 1955, , and tells the story of a daring raid by British commandos using kayaks to attack German ships. It starred Jose Ferrer, Trevor Howard, Christopher Lee, Anthony Newley, and David Lodge. It was actually based upon a real historic event during World War 2, Operation Frankton, when British commandos really did use kayaks to conduct a sabotage attack on German ships in the French port of Bordeaux in December 1942. Sign up for my weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message William Coltman volunteered to join the British Army in 1915. But once on the Western Front, the deeply religious Coltman realised that he couldn't bring himself to kill another man. So he volunteered to become a stretcher bearer, going out into no mans land to rescue the wounded. For the rest of the war he risked his life again and again to help the wounded. For his bravery he was awarded the Victoria Cross..and also 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 2 Military Medals, making him the most decorated "other rank" British soldier in WW1. If you enjoy my work and want to know more about British history then please do sign up for my free weekly newsletter. Get my weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message The Battle of the Taku Forts (otherwise known as the storming of the Taku Forts) took place during the Second Opium War in 1860. 7 Victoria Crosses were awarded, including to the youngest recipient ever. Get my free weekly newsletter This story, which is the 2nd of two episodes on this Opium War, tells the story of those VC recipients as well as the storming of the Taku Forts in 1860, the British (and French) occupation Beijing and their forcing the Chinese to sign a peace treaty, which still impacts China’s view of the west to this day. Along the way you will also hear how the Emperor of China’s Summer Palace was burned to the ground by the British, including the future General Charles Gordon (Gordon of Khartoum). You will also learn how the future General Sir Garnet Wolseley narrowly missed being beheaded by the Chinese, and how Private John Moyse was beheaded and became a Victorian legend. Support the Show.

Send me a message The storming of the Taku Forts took place during the Second Opium War between Britain & France on one side and China on the other in 1860. The battle led to the British (and their French allies) occupying Beijing and forcing the Chinese to sign a peace treaty, which still impacts China’s view of the west to this day. As I was researching this story, I realised just how many fascinating sub stories there are and after a poll with my subscribers I have decided to break it into two parts. So in this part 1 episode, I want to share with you why the war even happened, an audacious plot to poison all the British in Hong Kong, and a humiliating British military defeat - also at the Taku Forts. Join my weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message Albert Ball VC, was a British First World War fighter pilot who became an ace when he was just 19. Eventually he shot down 44 German planes, was awarded the Victoria Cross, 3 Distinguished Service Orders (the first person ever to achieve that feat), a Military Cross along with the French Legion d’Honneur. And he achieved all of that by the time he was killed in action at the age of just 20. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter Support the Show.

Send me a message Exactly what were the Opium Wars and how did they end up with the British in charge of Hong Kong until 1997? Get my free, weekly history newsletter The Opium Wars were two 19th century wars fought between China and Britain (and also France in the second one). Two mighty and proud empires fighting each other and all, ostensibly about the trade in opium. The British were trying to export the narcotic into China and the Chinese authorities, unsurprisingly, wanted to stop them. That’s the horrifying headline…and it is hardly something for us British to be proud of. But, despite the name, there was a lot more to these wars than just opium. In this episode, I will be exploring the reasons behind the 1st Opium War 1839-1842, what happened and how it resulted in the British ruling Hong Kong for over 150 years. Support the Show.

Send me a message The Battle of Medway was a decisive turning poiunt in the he Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD. Get My FREE Weekly Newsletter In AD43, the Romans launched a successful invasion of Britain. They decisively defeated a huge army of `Britons at a battle on the banks of the river Medway in modern day Kent and the king leading the resistance was killed. The Britons never again presented such a united front or fielded a such a vaste army. That victory paved the way for the Roman occupation of most of the island of Britannia for the next 400 years. Support the Show.