I visited the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania a few years ago and we stopped at Frederick Selous's rather sad looking grave marker. Our guide gave us a pocket history of the remarkable man. Thank you for paying him tribute.
What a tribute to have a game preserve in your name. I knew of the Selous scouts but not the man and his life. Thank you for revealing a most interesting character to us.
I grew up reading Wilbur Smith books as an expat American living in Malaysia in the late 70's, he made serval references to Selous in various books. Your videos are fantastic! I can't wait for one on Cecil Rhodes!
@@TheHistoryChap I've got several of Selous's books on my Kindle. Most were free downloads . He writes like he's telling a story, not all the flowery Victorian style.
I remember reading his book when I was a Game Warden in South Africa. He used to shoot at least three of each species. One for the Natural History Museum in London, One for the South African Museum at Cape Town & one for his own collection.
Heard about the Scouts during the war to save Rhodesia, good to know about their inspiration (and, yes, I was wondering about Allan Quartermain). He and the Rough Rider undoubtedly made quite a pair. As always, I love your enthusiasm for the subject matter and, yes, by all means, let's hear more about the Old and the Bold, as well as Cecil Rhodes, who I have found fascinating. PS Did you do one on Robert Clive? I'd think he and Selous had a lot in common.
Yes, to the video on Rhodes. It should be very fascinating and interesting to learn more about him. I am glad he developed a conscience and became a conservationist. He sounds like the British version of Hemingway, well done, amigo! Kudos to you!
"If you should go skating on the thin ice of modern life...........don't be surprised when a crack in the ice, appears under your feet. You slip out of your depth and out of your mind, with your fear flowing out behind you as you claw the thin ice..." Pink Floyd nailed that one. Selous was not meant to pass like that, nor were the Scouts who fought so valiantly under the command of Ron Reid-Daly for Rhodesia. Brave men. Hard men. Real men...BTW; I also sparked out a Head-Keeper on Lord Falmouth's Tregothnan Estate back in the 70's when he threatened me for photographing pheasants gritting on a road-side! I was seventeen... I never became the man that Fred Selous did, afterwards though! Instead, was fined in Tregony Court, in the domain of Tregothnan, by a Major: Ret'd, who was a tenant farmer on said estate!
For those interested, the "Young Indiana Jones" episode that Chris mentions in his video is called, "The Phantom Train of Doom". Selous also appears in another episode about Teddy Roosevelt's safari (titled, "Passion For Life"), as well as small role in the excellent, 1996 TV mini-series, "Rhodes". Cheers from Montreal!
That is a life well lived. A true man of iron and with steely heart to match. In my country such a man would be given not just a memorial or game parks bearing his name but libraries, public buildings, and museums in his honour. We should emulate the great man. Once again Sir I enjoyed your video lecture thoroughly. God bless you and I await future presentations.🧐🤔👊👍
As always, thanks for your support and for taking time to comment. Next video will be about Noel Chavasse, the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during WW1.
Very cool to see a video on Frederick Selous, he's been a hero of mine since I read his book A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa when I was a kid. Amongst his other books I read later, highly recommend them all as he's rather humble and doesn't exaggerate in his writings unlike many other hunters of the day. Along with some rather interesting accounts on pre-colonized southern Africa and the people within it. The fact he did so much at such a young age has always inspired me, that and how driven he was to accomplish his dream of being a big game hunter and explorer. Though I didn't quite follow in his footsteps he did still get me interested in natural history, leading to me becoming a palaeontologist. So thanks Frederick! Would love a video on Cecil Rhodes too given he's such a fascinating and rather complex character, regardless of one's views when you read about him he comes out as both a hero and a villain. If you ever travel round the southern African countries the locals' views on him vary so much by the area, in some he's a demon in others his statues still stand proudly in town squares. The most interesting of which is that the Ndebele (the tribe who lived in the region that is now the Matapos Hills National Park) staunchly oppose Rhodes' grave being removed from the park due to viewing friend of their people, as I remember from a fascinating conversation I had with a park warden when I visited the area. Now I'm feeling nostalgic for my homeland again haha. Excellent video, happy I found this channel recently.
@@retriever19golden55 I highly recommend it, its a damn good book. Also thanks for making me aware of Peter Hathaway, hadn't heard of him before but some of his books are on my reading list now.
He was preceded by Roulyen Gordon-Cumming, who was active during Livingstone's time there, and followed in part by Phillip Pretorius. The latter was the inspiration of Wilbur Smiths book about the sinking of the Konigsberg in the Rufigi River in WW1, and Pretorius was also an army Scout. It is suggested Selous got the bullet meant for Pretorius, the latter had even more adventure than Selous. Some is described in his book "Jungle Man".
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fascinating to learn about a part of WWI that I never heard about, the fight against Germany in Africa. Love your stories.
Thanks very much for a great potted history of Frederick Selous - I've always pronounced his name in the English fashion as SeeLuss rather than the French, which may be more correct since he hailed from Huguenot forebears. As it happens I've recently read 'The Angels Weep' by Wilbur Smith in which he appears with Cecil Rhodes and 'An Ice Cream War' by William Boyd in which he's referred to. Anyway, I like the chatty informality of this piece and look forward to future stories of how our past has shaped our present and the characters who did the shaping!
I'm ashamed to confess that I'd never heard of Frederick until the late 1980's and even then only indirectly. I was attending a training course in Germany and there was a colleague there from Zimbabwe. We discussed the Bush Wars in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and he mentioned the "Zealous" scouts several times (pronounced with a hard "Z"). I thought he was simply referring to "keen" army guys (doh!). It was only later when I was trying to find out more about the war that I finally found out about both the Selous Scouts and the man they were named for. Fascinating stuuf the old colonial history.
Thanks for clarifying the story of this man's life! I've read his name several times in other books and always wondered about him, as he seemed to have befriended so many different people. I have a book about Teddy Roosevelt's exploits in Africa and he mentions Fred Selous several times. As for Cecil Rhodes, you might need to do a three hour video on his life!
@@TheHistoryChap Roosevelt, like Selous, turned from big game hunting to conservation and is responsible for making Yellow Stone our first national park. Following the death of his wife, Teddy went west and spent time exploring while working through his grief. He found beauty and solace in nature and decided he would work to preserve it. His idea that governments should set aside land for their citizens to enjoy as he did, is still viable today, and still opposed by people who see nature as something to exploit.
Selous did much of his early elephant hunting with a pair of muzzleloading, 4-bore goose guns (of the type used by market hunters). These guns were loaded with a quarter pound lead ball over a literal handful of black powder. The recoil was tremendous.
He later used .461 Gibbs Farquasohn, immortalized article by Ross Seyfried on it. Farq 6,5x53E ,Yt vid about also. ,375s and others. The big bore Black powder gave him flinches for a while so he mwished he had smaller cartridges earlier.
Love this channel! I think doing one on Cecil Rhodes will be absolutely fantastic-by all means mention the modern day woke interpretation of him, but there’s a lot more to him than that.
Thank you. A nice introduction to a fascinating and impactful man. I will remark in passing though that now as then, hunting and conservation are not in opposition. Hunting is a tool of conservation and active hunters are the most passionate, effective and generous conservationists.
There are any number of Victorian adventurers which could be covered in a video. In my humble opinion, one such character with a larger than life reputation is W.D.M. Bell. I would dearly like to see his life shown in one of your excellent videos.
Bell is perhaps one of the first non ngo direct support of the rural areas and its people. Suppliing the. With food,income,jobs and even the enemy tribes came to him asking for help with rogue animals ,or any of the above mentioned, His nickname was bwana Redman , the fair complex and red hair, and he got it due to him looked much like the leaders of swahili caravans , that means they were berber leaders,and most of them are so featured. (Many of them look Swedish or Irish ,the berbers ) Quite a fascinating man he was,and he knew what to look for in a safari equipment list. and his philantropy lines quite different also. John Rigby recently made 50 rifles to commemorate him ,based on their ledger content . And they were sold rather quick, all chambered in the .275 Rigby (7x57Mauser) But he went with larger chambering later on , .318 wr was one of his favorites. But it was due to ammo problems he kept using the 7mm , and also the Mauser action he liked, but a,mo in 7mm was the German dwm surplus millitary ammo which never failed him. Same type he encounters when he served in Boer war . But as he said about the .303 ,that one never failed either and it had a 10 shot magazine. The one that failed was 6,5*54 MS ammo ,and to a extent early versions of .318 Revivaler has a great article on Large bore vs small bore, and a pdf filen of the article to be used. Pls ,just use my text as part of your future video, ill write more later a day .
Thx Chris for this fantastic short. He was a kind of a poacher top but still unique. I read my Haggard too and l think, that's a british hero similar to Jim Corbett. Best regards from Northern Germany Ludwig.
The legacies of Selous and Roosevelt live on in the modern sport hunter supported conservation movements. We are the ones keeping the wild wild. In those areas where sport hunting thrives so does the game. The areas where there is no sport hunting are either wild animal deserts or soon will be.
Teddy has always been one of my heroes! Through a modern lens, he's sometimes denounced as an imperialist, and he was...but he was also so much more, and a product of his times.
Some chap. I met an ex-Selous Scout when doing national service in South Africa in the mid 1980s; we (SA Army) thought we were good, but what this guy didn't know about bushcraft wasn't worth knowing, really. Camouflage, fire & movement, you name it. And a crack shot - he could probably have pierced someone's earlobe at 800 metres.
Several of his rifles survives and is used in Africa now and again. Holts have on auction this month,one of his campaign shirts and hats. Hope they go to a good home.
I went to school at Courtney Selous Primary and Andre Rabie and Stretch Franklyn, Special Air Service sergeants, the founding operators of the Scouts were family friends.
Have you done a programme yet about the great Victorian Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton? He was a kind of Victorian 'James Bond'. A good subject for your attention I think.
@@TheHistoryChap Actually, I think that the whole 'Search for the Nile', John Hanning Speke, his tragedy, would be grist for your mill. I love all the periods and episodes you bring to attention. You have the skills of publicity.
For a chap who didn't have a high regard for the locals in his stomping ground, Selous was very active in copulating with native women. His biographies make for good reading.
I grew up near the village of Selous in Zimbabwe. Its named after Frederick Courtney Selous. Its between Norton and Chegutu towns in Zimbabwe I knoa majority of the places Selous hunted as well as prospected for minerals
Plot twist: the German sniper was none other than a certain game keeper. Not really - but an entertaining thought! Another interesting story told well once again. Thank you!
Another great story. When I was much younger, about 40 years ago, a series of magazines about military through the ages. In each mag there was a special section on certain special forces. I was always intrigued by the Selous Scouts during the late 1970s. I remember a picture of a guy in shorts, short sleeved khaki shirt, bucket hat, boots and socks, carrying what I presumed to be an FN or SLR rifle. Any chance you could enlighten me please?
Have a look at Fighting Men of Rhodesia on TH-cam, quite a few former members of the Selous Scouts talk about their exploits during the bush war; they are amazing, hair-raising stories by very brave men.
Chris Thanks for showing these vlog's of history it must take a lot of time and research to put them together, by the way you showed the regents park pond with the white house in the background just to let know the house is on the market fo £300 MILLION POUNDS !!!!.
Hello Chris. I'm a history teacher and I am having difficulty finding definitive information on the nature of Britain's annexation of the High Commission Territories, i.e. Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Could you point me to a good source or perhaps do a video on the three chiefs and their visit to England? Thank you.
I know of some of the events but not in any detail. However, I had thought about doing a video about the three chiefs. Your comment is a timely reminder.
Have been to his grave in the Selous Game Reserve, it’s very sad, you could walk past it, no one takes care of it. All the lodges in the reserve are only interested in taking their guests to see animals, ok I get that, but you would think a visit to the grave of the person the park is named after would be a must. Anyway in these strange times the the reserve is now known as the Nyerere PArk after one of Tanzania presidents. Everybody still refers to the park as the Selous. Thank god.
Excellent, as always Chris! The final "s" in this hero's surname is not pronounced as it is of FRENCH Huguenot origin. I have read that FCS studied medicine briefly in Switzerland as a young man but did not complete the course. From surveying the teaming 8 billion humans on Earth, I strongly argue that we have no more Selous, no more TRs. Does not augur well for humanity.
@@dougearnest7590 Certainly Mr. Earnest, happy to do so. Firstly, I would like to preface my explanation with a profession that I do strongly believe that racism is wrong, colonialism is wrong, and unjust and unlawful wars (such as Bush-Baby and Blair waged on Iraq) are wrong. One of my concerns is that many of (if not most of) the people of the United States as a whole presently are significantly lacking in courage and in energy. Perhaps being ruled by the billionaire class has sucked much of this out of us. The quality of the American political class in my opinion has been declining for many years. That goes for the meretricious political hacks of both major parties. I am of the opinion that the young people of English-speaking democracies, such as they are, should consider learning Mandarin. It will probably come in handy soon....
@@JonLutz-d4r - Thank you for your response, Mr. Lutz. Sadly, much of what you say is true. Other parts - I would have to disagree - even debate or argue. My question, however, pertained to the "does not augur well" comment. I'm not asking in order to be argumentative, I was just curious to know what you meant. Did you mean that the rise in the world's population would provide even more people for Selous and Roosevelt to colonize and enslave?
@@dougearnest7590 No, not really. Based on my life’s experiences, I am by nature a strong and enthusiastic pessimist. From my understanding of the trajectories of climate change, politics, military affairs, and dwindling resources, we are all going to have our arses in slings in the near future. Please watch “Soylent Green” with Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, and Chuck Conners. You won’t FEEL any BETTER about the future, but it will be an excuse to have some snacks and booze. Cheers!
A good tale . Now I know how to pronounce Selous correctly . Sounds like a good man . Rhodes story would be a good one to tell . I suspect his reputation is a bit more tarnished.
I had no idea of the origin of the name "Salut Scouts". I had a pal in the 80s who was in the RLI and spoke of them with awe! My RLI friend got mugged in Clapham, London on his way home.......it was a bad day for the muggers!!!!!
The story I came across was that Selous was returning from a reconoitre and was shot by a sentry when he didn't know the password. But they needed a hero, hence this version.
I know you dont review films, but I would love to hear your thoughts on a Lee Marvin film "Shout At The Devil". It is set in the east African campaign and I suspect the Marvin character is based on Selous.
I was going to do one about the "African Queen" which is also set in East Africa during WW1. I read "Shout at the Devil" a long time ago - Wilbur Smith if I remember correctly.
Our Lettow Forbeck got him bevore he got him. Forbeck never wanted him killed. Damned World War. Kostet so much lives of good men. Tears in my eyes es a German historian to Listen to this.
Oh Lord this is such a shallow skim of this man's life. Yes, he was killed during WW-I. It was one of the SAFER things he did. Read his books is all I can say.
I visited the Selous Game Reserve in Southern Tanzania a few years ago and we stopped at Frederick Selous's rather sad looking grave marker. Our guide gave us a pocket history of the remarkable man. Thank you for paying him tribute.
On my Bucket list.
@@bremnersghost948 Combine it with Beho Beho camp and you will have a great trip.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
What a tribute to have a game preserve in your name. I knew of the Selous scouts but not the man and his life. Thank you for revealing a most interesting character to us.
My pleasure.
I grew up reading Wilbur Smith books as an expat American living in Malaysia in the late 70's, he made serval references to Selous in various books.
Your videos are fantastic! I can't wait for one on Cecil Rhodes!
I'm sure the WOKE brigade will love one about Cecil Rhodes!
@@TheHistoryChap no doubt!🤣
@@TheHistoryChap They won't but he was both a visionary and a evil-doer. He does deserve a video, but you're right about Woke complaints.
Wilbur Smith's "Assegai" is on the shelf behind our erstwhile host! (PS Another vote for Cecil Rhodes too)
@@TheHistoryChap I've got several of Selous's books on my Kindle.
Most were free downloads .
He writes like he's telling a story, not all the flowery Victorian style.
I remember reading his book when I was a Game Warden in South Africa. He used to shoot at least three of each species. One for the Natural History Museum in London, One for the South African Museum at Cape Town & one for his own collection.
Thanks for sharing.
Heard about the Scouts during the war to save Rhodesia, good to know about their inspiration (and, yes, I was wondering about Allan Quartermain). He and the Rough Rider undoubtedly made quite a pair.
As always, I love your enthusiasm for the subject matter and, yes, by all means, let's hear more about the Old and the Bold, as well as Cecil Rhodes, who I have found fascinating.
PS Did you do one on Robert Clive? I'd think he and Selous had a lot in common.
Robert Clive is on my list.
Yes, to the video on Rhodes. It should be very fascinating and interesting to learn more about him.
I am glad he developed a conscience and became a conservationist. He sounds like the British version of Hemingway, well done, amigo! Kudos to you!
Interesting to compare Selous with Hemingway. I will also do a video about Cecil Rhodes in the non-too distant future
"If you should go skating on the thin ice of modern life...........don't be surprised when a crack in the ice, appears under your feet. You slip out of your depth and out of your mind, with your fear flowing out behind you as you claw the thin ice..." Pink Floyd nailed that one. Selous was not meant to pass like that, nor were the Scouts who fought so valiantly under the command of Ron Reid-Daly for Rhodesia. Brave men. Hard men. Real men...BTW; I also sparked out a Head-Keeper on Lord Falmouth's Tregothnan Estate back in the 70's when he threatened me for photographing pheasants gritting on a road-side! I was seventeen... I never became the man that Fred Selous did, afterwards though! Instead, was fined in Tregony Court, in the domain of Tregothnan, by a Major: Ret'd, who was a tenant farmer on said estate!
Thanks for sharing your story and your thoughts on Fred Selous.
For those interested, the "Young Indiana Jones" episode that Chris mentions in his video is called, "The Phantom Train of Doom". Selous also appears in another episode about Teddy Roosevelt's safari (titled, "Passion For Life"), as well as small role in the excellent, 1996 TV mini-series, "Rhodes". Cheers from Montreal!
Thanks for sharing that extra info.
Brilliant!
I loved it.
In 2006 I was privileged to hunt in the Selous reserve.
It was paradise!
thanks for watching my video & for taking the time to comment.
I say Cecil Rhodes deserves his own video. He sounded like a Wiley bugger.
Always great to see another video you post. Thanks for the story
Glad you liked the story. I will make a video about Rhodes in the coming months.
That is a life well lived. A true man of iron and with steely heart to match. In my country such a man would be given not just a memorial or game parks bearing his name but libraries, public buildings, and museums in his honour. We should emulate the great man. Once again Sir I enjoyed your video lecture thoroughly. God bless you and I await future presentations.🧐🤔👊👍
As always, thanks for your support and for taking time to comment.
Next video will be about Noel Chavasse, the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during WW1.
@@TheHistoryChap to quote the young AWESOME!
Very cool to see a video on Frederick Selous, he's been a hero of mine since I read his book A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa when I was a kid. Amongst his other books I read later, highly recommend them all as he's rather humble and doesn't exaggerate in his writings unlike many other hunters of the day. Along with some rather interesting accounts on pre-colonized southern Africa and the people within it. The fact he did so much at such a young age has always inspired me, that and how driven he was to accomplish his dream of being a big game hunter and explorer. Though I didn't quite follow in his footsteps he did still get me interested in natural history, leading to me becoming a palaeontologist. So thanks Frederick!
Would love a video on Cecil Rhodes too given he's such a fascinating and rather complex character, regardless of one's views when you read about him he comes out as both a hero and a villain. If you ever travel round the southern African countries the locals' views on him vary so much by the area, in some he's a demon in others his statues still stand proudly in town squares. The most interesting of which is that the Ndebele (the tribe who lived in the region that is now the Matapos Hills National Park) staunchly oppose Rhodes' grave being removed from the park due to viewing friend of their people, as I remember from a fascinating conversation I had with a park warden when I visited the area. Now I'm feeling nostalgic for my homeland again haha. Excellent video, happy I found this channel recently.
Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.
Interesting informations. Hello from Greece.
I'll have to try and find that book! I have several of Peter Hathaway Capstick's hunting books, and enjoy them immensely.
@@retriever19golden55 I highly recommend it, its a damn good book. Also thanks for making me aware of Peter Hathaway, hadn't heard of him before but some of his books are on my reading list now.
Great bio indeed. Thanks for sharing it.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
He was preceded by Roulyen Gordon-Cumming, who was active during Livingstone's time there, and followed in part by Phillip Pretorius. The latter was the inspiration of Wilbur Smiths book about the sinking of the Konigsberg in the Rufigi River in WW1, and Pretorius was also an army Scout. It is suggested Selous got the bullet meant for Pretorius, the latter had even more adventure than Selous.
Some is described in his book "Jungle Man".
John, thanks for sharing.
🇬🇧💪✌️ thank you for Fred's story,,,,, what a Great Britain he was💯🧐😁💯
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fascinating to learn about a part of WWI that I never heard about, the fight against Germany in Africa. Love your stories.
Glad you enjoy them. Thanks for your support.
Absolutely Brilliant!!!
Thank you.
Thanks very much for a great potted history of Frederick Selous - I've always pronounced his name in the English fashion as SeeLuss rather than the French, which may be more correct since he hailed from Huguenot forebears. As it happens I've recently read 'The Angels Weep' by Wilbur Smith in which he appears with Cecil Rhodes and 'An Ice Cream War' by William Boyd in which he's referred to.
Anyway, I like the chatty informality of this piece and look forward to future stories of how our past has shaped our present and the characters who did the shaping!
Paul, thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment too.
I'm ashamed to confess that I'd never heard of Frederick until the late 1980's and even then only indirectly. I was attending a training course in Germany and there was a colleague there from Zimbabwe. We discussed the Bush Wars in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and he mentioned the "Zealous" scouts several times (pronounced with a hard "Z"). I thought he was simply referring to "keen" army guys (doh!). It was only later when I was trying to find out more about the war that I finally found out about both the Selous Scouts and the man they were named for. Fascinating stuuf the old colonial history.
Definitely do a video on Rhodes & one on the East Africa campaign!!!
Ok. Will add both to my list.
A great story and well told 👍
Thanks
Thanks for clarifying the story of this man's life! I've read his name several times in other books and always wondered about him, as he seemed to have befriended so many different people. I have a book about Teddy Roosevelt's exploits in Africa and he mentions Fred Selous several times. As for Cecil Rhodes, you might need to do a three hour video on his life!
I bet Teddy and Fred could tell a few stories.
@@TheHistoryChap Roosevelt, like Selous, turned from big game hunting to conservation and is responsible for making Yellow Stone our first national park. Following the death of his wife, Teddy went west and spent time exploring while working through his grief. He found beauty and solace in nature and decided he would work to preserve it. His idea that governments should set aside land for their citizens to enjoy as he did, is still viable today, and still opposed by people who see nature as something to exploit.
Selous did much of his early elephant hunting with a pair of muzzleloading, 4-bore goose guns (of the type used by market hunters). These guns were loaded with a quarter pound lead ball over a literal handful of black powder. The recoil was tremendous.
Thanks for sharing.
He later used .461 Gibbs Farquasohn, immortalized article by Ross Seyfried on it. Farq 6,5x53E ,Yt vid about also.
,375s and others. The big bore Black powder gave him flinches for a while so he mwished he had smaller cartridges earlier.
Great channel !! More 19th century unusual history please.
Ok. Plenty more on the way.
Love this channel! I think doing one on Cecil Rhodes will be absolutely fantastic-by all means mention the modern day woke interpretation of him, but there’s a lot more to him than that.
A fascinating character, whose legacy still shapes modern South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Thank you. A nice introduction to a fascinating and impactful man. I will remark in passing though that now as then, hunting and conservation are not in opposition. Hunting is a tool of conservation and active hunters are the most passionate, effective and generous conservationists.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for taking the time to comment
Marvelous!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it.
brilliant. thanks chris.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Interesting and informative....I was wondering if you have ever done a video on Livingstone?
A Cecil Rhodes video would be appreciated
Livingstone is on my list.
Wow what a great story
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video. I certainly would like to see a video about Cecil Rhodes.
Ok. Will add to the list.
👍Another well presented corner of history ! ⭐️🌍
Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this. I’d heard of the Selous Scouts but knew nothing about the man himself.
I hope I helped fill in some blanks.
Most excellent! Thank you!
Thank you for watching.
There are any number of Victorian adventurers which could be covered in a video. In my humble opinion, one such character with a larger than life reputation is W.D.M. Bell. I would dearly like to see his life shown in one of your excellent videos.
I will add Bell to my ever-growing list. Thanks for the suggestion.
Bell is perhaps one of the first non ngo direct support of the rural areas and its people. Suppliing the. With food,income,jobs and even the enemy tribes came to him asking for help with rogue animals ,or any of the above mentioned,
His nickname was bwana Redman , the fair complex and red hair, and he got it due to him looked much like the leaders of swahili caravans , that means they were berber leaders,and most of them are so featured. (Many of them look Swedish or Irish ,the berbers )
Quite a fascinating man he was,and he knew what to look for in a safari equipment list. and his philantropy lines quite different also.
John Rigby recently made 50 rifles to commemorate him ,based on their ledger content . And they were sold rather quick, all chambered in the .275 Rigby (7x57Mauser)
But he went with larger chambering later on , .318 wr was one of his favorites. But it was due to ammo problems he kept using the 7mm , and also the Mauser action he liked, but a,mo in 7mm was the German dwm surplus millitary ammo which never failed him. Same type he encounters when he served in Boer war .
But as he said about the .303 ,that one never failed either and it had a 10 shot magazine.
The one that failed was 6,5*54 MS ammo ,and to a extent early versions of .318
Revivaler has a great article on Large bore vs small bore, and a pdf filen of the article to be used.
Pls ,just use my text as part of your future video, ill write more later a day .
Thanks Chris. Really interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thx Chris for this fantastic short. He was a kind of a poacher top but still unique. I read my Haggard too and l think, that's a british hero similar to Jim Corbett. Best regards from Northern Germany Ludwig.
Thanks for your support Ludwig
Yes on the other video
Ok. I will add to my list.
The legacies of Selous and Roosevelt live on in the modern sport hunter supported conservation movements. We are the ones keeping the wild wild. In those areas where sport hunting thrives so does the game. The areas where there is no sport hunting are either wild animal deserts or soon will be.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
Teddy has always been one of my heroes! Through a modern lens, he's sometimes denounced as an imperialist, and he was...but he was also so much more, and a product of his times.
YES, Please do a video on Rhodes!!!
Thanks for your vote. Will add to my list.
Bravo, again
Thanks for your support.
Yes do a vid on Rhodes!
Yes do one
Will do.
Some chap.
I met an ex-Selous Scout when doing national service in South Africa in the mid 1980s; we (SA Army) thought we were good, but what this guy didn't know about bushcraft wasn't worth knowing, really. Camouflage, fire & movement, you name it. And a crack shot - he could probably have pierced someone's earlobe at 800 metres.
Thanks for taking the time to share.
Pls do a video on Cecil Rhodes... if you can fit him into a video!
A tall order. He might need several videos.
@@TheHistoryChap then several videos! Definitely worth covering!
I am surprised that the Woke Brigade have not had the plaque to Fredrick Courtney Selous removed, long may it remain in place.
Shhhh....
Several of his rifles survives and is used in Africa now and again. Holts have on auction this month,one of his campaign shirts and hats. Hope they go to a good home.
I hope they go to a good home too.
A video on Cecil Rhodes would be interesting.
I will add to my list.
Excellent as ever I'd heard of Seloys, but knew nothing of him. I think a piece on the XXV, would be good
Will add the "Old 7 the Bold" to my list. Watch this space!
Another nice nugget. BTW: The notorious Rhodesian Selous Scouts were also named after Frederick Selous.
Yes they were.
I went to school at Courtney Selous Primary and Andre Rabie and Stretch Franklyn, Special Air Service sergeants, the founding operators of the Scouts were family friends.
Thanks for your feedback & for watching my video.
Have you done a programme yet about the great Victorian Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton? He was a kind of Victorian 'James Bond'. A good subject for your attention I think.
John, thanks for the suggestion. I haven't made one about Sir Richard Burton but will add to my list.
@@TheHistoryChap Actually, I think that the whole 'Search for the Nile', John Hanning Speke, his tragedy, would be grist for your mill. I love all the periods and episodes you bring to attention. You have the skills of publicity.
Another good one Chris. Yes, 100% on the Rhodes video, a controversial, but fascinating character…!!
Thanks for your kind comment.
It's sad that there are some who would have the statue of Rhodes removed from one of the Oxbridge universities.
For a chap who didn't have a high regard for the locals in his stomping ground, Selous was very active in copulating with native women. His biographies make for good reading.
Thanks for sharing.
Damn good story, thanks.
Thanks. Shorter than usual as I am moving house.
I grew up near the village of Selous in Zimbabwe. Its named after Frederick Courtney Selous. Its between Norton and Chegutu towns in Zimbabwe
I knoa majority of the places Selous hunted as well as prospected for minerals
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback
I've been enjoying....❤
Thanks for watching.
Thanks Chris, I'd always wondered how the Selous Scouts got their name.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Plot twist: the German sniper was none other than a certain game keeper. Not really - but an entertaining thought! Another interesting story told well once again. Thank you!
Love that twist!
Excellent video 👌
Thank you 👍
Another great story. When I was much younger, about 40 years ago, a series of magazines about military through the ages. In each mag there was a special section on certain special forces. I was always intrigued by the Selous Scouts during the late 1970s. I remember a picture of a guy in shorts, short sleeved khaki shirt, bucket hat, boots and socks, carrying what I presumed to be an FN or SLR rifle. Any chance you could enlighten me please?
Have a look at Fighting Men of Rhodesia on TH-cam, quite a few former members of the Selous Scouts talk about their exploits during the bush war; they are amazing, hair-raising stories by very brave men.
Russ, not sure I can elighten you but I hope others reading your comment can do so.
SOF Mag it could been .
Yes do a Rhodes video.
My woke viewers will have a field day :)
Yes, you should definitely make a video about Cecil Rhodes. Surprised you haven't already, actually...
So many stories to choose from.
@@TheHistoryChap Ain't that the truth... 😊
I'd be very interested in a video about Cecil Rhodes, Also one about Baden Powell, and one about Alfred Beit .
Rhodes and Baden-Powell are on my list.
@@TheHistoryChap Thank you.
Chris Thanks for showing these vlog's of history it must take a lot of time and research to put them together, by the way you showed the regents park pond with the white house in the background just to let know the house is on the market fo £300 MILLION POUNDS !!!!.
A bit out of my league then!
You should do a video on Sussel roads
On my list.
Hello Chris. I'm a history teacher and I am having difficulty finding definitive information on the nature of Britain's annexation of the High Commission Territories, i.e. Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Could you point me to a good source or perhaps do a video on the three chiefs and their visit to England? Thank you.
I know of some of the events but not in any detail. However, I had thought about doing a video about the three chiefs. Your comment is a timely reminder.
@@TheHistoryChap Thank you, sir. I will look forward to the video. God bless.
A video of Cecil Rhodes would be spectacular!
Planned for this year. Please subscribe so you don't miss.
Big yes on Cecil!!!!!!!
A big man to tell a story about - warts and all.
His hat and safari shirt sold earlier this year at auction
Thanks for sharing.
A new History Chap video? That's the next 9 minutes 6 seconds sorted then....
A short one as I am moving house this week.
@@TheHistoryChap short or long the quality is always high. Hope the house move goes well!
Please do a vid on Cecil Rhodes.
On the hit list!
Rhodes . Yes.
Yes deffo for a rhodes video
Will add Cecil Rhodes to my list.
Have been to his grave in the Selous Game Reserve, it’s very sad, you could walk past it, no one takes care of it. All the lodges in the reserve are only interested in taking their guests to see animals, ok I get that, but you would think a visit to the grave of the person the park is named after would be a must. Anyway in these strange times the the reserve is now known as the Nyerere PArk after one of Tanzania presidents. Everybody still refers to the park as the Selous. Thank god.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes to a "Cecil Rhodes" video 🙂
Thanks Craig. Hope you are well.
Excellent, as always Chris! The final "s" in this hero's surname is not pronounced as it is of FRENCH Huguenot origin. I have read that FCS studied medicine briefly in Switzerland as a young man but did not complete the course. From surveying the teaming 8 billion humans on Earth, I strongly argue that we have no more Selous, no more TRs. Does not augur well for humanity.
Jon, thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
I'm curious to know what you meant by the "does not augur well for humanity" comment.
@@dougearnest7590 Certainly Mr. Earnest, happy to do so. Firstly, I would like to preface my explanation with a profession that I do strongly believe that racism is wrong, colonialism is wrong, and unjust and unlawful wars (such as Bush-Baby and Blair waged on Iraq) are wrong. One of my concerns is that many of (if not most of) the people of the United States as a whole presently are significantly lacking in courage and in energy. Perhaps being ruled by the billionaire class has sucked much of this out of us. The quality of the American political class in my opinion has been declining for many years. That goes for the meretricious political hacks of both major parties. I am of the opinion that the young people of English-speaking democracies, such as they are, should consider learning Mandarin. It will probably come in handy soon....
@@JonLutz-d4r - Thank you for your response, Mr. Lutz. Sadly, much of what you say is true. Other parts - I would have to disagree - even debate or argue.
My question, however, pertained to the "does not augur well" comment. I'm not asking in order to be argumentative, I was just curious to know what you meant. Did you mean that the rise in the world's population would provide even more people for Selous and Roosevelt to colonize and enslave?
@@dougearnest7590 No, not really. Based on my life’s experiences, I am by nature a strong and enthusiastic pessimist. From my understanding of the trajectories of climate change, politics, military affairs, and dwindling resources, we are all going to have our arses in slings in the near future. Please watch “Soylent Green” with Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, and Chuck Conners. You won’t FEEL any BETTER about the future, but it will be an excuse to have some snacks and booze. Cheers!
A good tale . Now I know how to pronounce Selous correctly . Sounds like a good man . Rhodes story would be a good one to tell . I suspect his reputation is a bit more tarnished.
He was a controversial character even back in his heyday.
Yes pls a Cecil Rhodes Vid 👍🏿
Could set the cat amongst the pigeons!
@@TheHistoryChap that’s the bit I’m interested in 😉….looking forward already ..👍🏿
I had no idea of the origin of the name "Salut Scouts". I had a pal in the 80s who was in the RLI and spoke of them with awe! My RLI friend got mugged in Clapham, London on his way home.......it was a bad day for the muggers!!!!!
Thanks for sharing. Yes I bet it was a bad day for the muggers.
5:31 Didn't realize there were Mammoths in East Africa in 1909. Lol.
Boom boom!
05:23 I think that Selous was having Roosevelt on, there are no mammoths in Africa (or anywhere else.)
Boom boom!
good story, lots of mad Englishmen looking for adventure about that time
Indeed there were.
The story I came across was that Selous was returning from a reconoitre and was shot by a sentry when he didn't know the password. But they needed a hero, hence this version.
Thanks for your feedback
Is that how he pronounced his name? I've heard of this bloke, but I've never heard it pronounced other than "Selus"
French surname.
I know you dont review films, but I would love to hear your thoughts on a Lee Marvin film "Shout At The Devil".
It is set in the east African campaign and I suspect the Marvin character is based on Selous.
I was going to do one about the "African Queen" which is also set in East Africa during WW1.
I read "Shout at the Devil" a long time ago - Wilbur Smith if I remember correctly.
@@TheHistoryChap Big Wilbur Smith fan here.
@@TheHistoryChap maybe you could cover both films.
I think you would enjoy watching it.
And Young Indiana Jones, Phantom Train is much about Selous . And von Lettow Vorbeck also there.
So that is who Sean Connery portrayed in the movie, A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Interesting!!!
Well, he played Quaitermann.
@@TheHistoryChap Wasn't that based on his life?
When you say "British army units were rushed to Africa....." How long would that actually take? I would assume several weeks?
19th century rush - steam ships and steam locomotives plus horses!
Our Lettow Forbeck got him bevore he got him. Forbeck never wanted him killed. Damned World War. Kostet so much lives of good men. Tears in my eyes es a German historian to Listen to this.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Oh well, Rugby didn't motivate Harry Flashman either 😊😊😊😊
Chuckling.
A little off topic, but how about you do a video about Brigadier General John Nicholson?
Nope. You've got me curious.
Real life inspiration for Alan Quatermaine (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)
I forgot that particular linkl. Thanks for reminding me.
6:20 now there's a bar room of people I'd love to spend a drunken night with!
Chuckling -:)
"Good Show, Old Man".
My pleasure.
2:00 I never saw THOSE tales in his writings. 😆
Oh Lord this is such a shallow skim of this man's life.
Yes, he was killed during WW-I.
It was one of the SAFER things he did.
Read his books is all I can say.
Thanks for watching
How about Jim Corbett or 'Karamojo' Bell ;-)
Will consider them for future videos but lots already lined up
whatta last name for grammar school teasing
I'm sure!
Great video but it seems strange that these big game hunters only became conservationists only once they had shot everything they wanted to!!
Ha ha. I did sort of make a wry comment about that in the video.
Rhodes warts and all
He is on my list. Could be fun!
I'm for a Cecil Rhodes video as long as it dose more than condemn him for being an imperialist.
I would hope to be a little more even handed.
Thst was bully.... To misquote Theodore Roosevelt - superb work Sir
Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it.