Hey my brother, I’m a retired paratrooper with the American army and have always been fascinated with the army of our best of friends, the British! I’ve served with you guys in combat and couldn’t have asked for better mates when the bullets are flying! Could ya do an episode on the Black Watch. I’m a bit fuzzy on their history but do know that they are renowned world wide
@@redcoathistory If you want a book on the Royal Highland Regiment, the Black Watch (the Gallant Forty-twa) try John Parker’s “Black Watch” published by Headline, 2005. As a primer for all the Scottish Regiments, including the Army’s senior Regiment of the Line, The Royal Scots (the Lothian Regiment, First of Foot and Right of the Line) (otherwise Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard) try The Scottish Regiments by Diana Henderson published by Harper Collins 1993. The Royal Scots like the rest were drawn into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in the great amalgamation and subsequently ghosted into the Ranger Regiment.
There's another channel Scotland History Tours, he's a qualified tour guide up there and quite good. He's covered many chapters involving Scots and Red coats quite fairly including Glen coe and Culloden maybe a collab episode?
Also check out The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) the senior Reserve Regiment of the British Army with unbroken service to the crown since 1539
I was in the Artists Rifles when the HAC were given their new role, and went with a couple of our PSIs to give them an introduction to the essentials. Highly impressed by their infrastructure, and just as impressed by their people. They made a bloody good curry, too.
The Artist Rifles are one of the hidden gems of the British Military. I have long admired the mad men, who have made up your regiment. Salutations from the USA.
@@redcoathistory Excellent idea! We've had rather a lot of adventures together in the last few hundred years. Oh... I'm not a "sir".... regular civilian but PO back then. No worries, though.... and I'd love to see your take on Canadian military history.
People have barely heard of the HAC, let alone that they support 4 SAS type sabre squadrons. Hidden entirely in the open. Its good to see them get a mention.
Great video. Another claimant to being the oldest regiment in the British Army would be the Royal Scots, First of Foot, albeit they are now merged into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. My brother served in the Royal Scots, one of my oldest friends with the HAC, so there was always some fun to be had discussing that question. As a mere parvenu light infantryman of course the only claim we might make is to being the oldest modern infantrymen, but I wouldn't push it too far. The DLI and the 95th/Rifle Brigade would both be good subjects, the latter with much scope for working in video from Sharpe, copyright permitting. (Bastids!).
Incedently the oldest chartered military organization in noth America is "The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts" it still serves today with Massachusetts national guard.
I first came across the HAC in a book about the British force that was sent to support the Italians in the First World War. They played a key role in the decisive victory over the Austrians at Vittorio Veneto. Aside from this information, I had never heard of them so thanks!
Would be interested in hearing about the history of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as I grew up north of Glasgow and at the time that was their recruitment area
I served in exercises alongside the HAC and frequently considered them better soldiers than a lot of regulars that I knew. The HAC possesses a quiet professionalism and commitment to their role that other units lack based on long tradition and august history.
Only one regiment wears the Royal Cypher of Empress Victoria in perpetuity - The Royal Canadian Reg. In 1940 French speaking troops stood guard at Buckingham - The Royal 22nd Reg of Quebec, homed in the Quebec Citadel.
@@redcoathistory Sorry, no. Have you seen the Fort Henry Guard performing on TH-cam? They are a civilian re-enactment performance in a fort in 1860-ish uniform and firing Snider-Enfield rifles.
HAC's daughter regiment, The Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, Massachusetts, was formed in 1638. Still in existence but no longer a formal part of the US military as far as I know.
The Virginia Capitol Guard are interesting, they were established in 1618 as a bodyguard for the Governor converted to police in 1884 but still a interesting history
In my day the most senior infantry regiment was the Royal Scots. Their nickname name was Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguards bodyguard. Their history in the Scottish Army dates from 1633 but its core was made up from mercenary units that had fought in Europe prior to this.
My father was chief steward of the HAC from 1977 to 1986. We occupied one of the married quarters on Bunhill Row. I often went into the main building to see my father. On the left side wall of the entrance there are lots of weapons and other paraphernalia along with a large plaque which states the HAC are the oldest extant regiment in the world. This is almost certainly true for two reasons. Fist not all armies are regimentally organised and two, most countries didn’t have standing armies for much longer than 250 years or so. The reason the HAC has existed so long is because traditionally it was not funded by the Monarchy but by the City of London guilds who saw it not just as a fighting force but as a defence against mobs. To this day the HAC has a very important role in the Lords Mayors Parade, offering facilities, ceremonial and security services. I know from experience the rehearsals for the parade start a week upfront whilst on the day the fields are full of vehicles and equipment belonging to military participants in the parade. It was always fun to stand on our little balcony and try to identify the various units both British and foreign who were taking part in any given year. Not so much fun was being woken at 5am to the loud voice of a Sargent Major barking orders at squaddies.
The Buffs/Queen's Own Buffs/2nd Battalion Queen's Regiment. Formed 1574 (Trained bands of London) 100 years in Holland. Returned and had to take 2nd Foot as another Regiment had been raised in their absence, Then called the 'Holland regiment'. Of course, they are no longer around , where as the HAC are.
Karennalletson9767 Spot on, except the forbears of the Buffs (The Trained Band of London)were actually form in 1572 according to the Regiments history. How wonderful to see that someone knows about my old Regiment, (gone but not forgotten). Steady the Buffs, the 3rd of Foot. DIJ.
I really enjoyed this video and learning about the 'oldest' regiment in the British Army. I didn't guess the answer I'm afraid. I thought it would be the Grenadiers. Yet I worked with a chap in Shipping in the City, who was actually in the HAC at the time. Every once in a while he would be given time off to go on training manoeuvres. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Thank you. BTW Found out about your Channel through 'MarkFromTheStates' Channel.
Oh wow! I just bought the book (recommended by your good self after watching your video) Fire Eater and I had never heard of the Honourable Artillery Company before. before clicking on this vid I thought I was going to watch a vid about the Coldstream Guards! Well done again Chris you're the best.
Great work as always. I would love to see you do a video on the ancestor regiments that make up the present day Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. The Lanc's are made up of some of the most storied regiments in British military history.
@@redcoathistory I would say a good place to start is the National Army Museum Website. The website provides almost a family tree style breakdown of the regiments that were amalgamated to for the Lanc's but as you go into each one, more information is provided about the further ancestor regiments, going back all the way to the numeral system. For example: Duke of Lancaster's - The Queen's Lancashire Regiment - East Lancashire Regiment - 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot. I think this would serve as a good place to start from.
@@redcoathistory The Kings Regiment (Liverpool) where formed in 1685 as The Princess Anne of Denmark Regiment. An old quirk of the Regiment was that the RSM had to be a catholic (I don’t know what year that was brought in and what year it ceased to be but I remember being told it when I served ). In ww2 they took the surrender of a German war ship , they played a major part in the Chindit columns , the offshoots of the regiment still exist today . Every old regiment has a fascinating history . We need to keep these histories alive .
I didn’t realize that you were a combat documentarian. Well done. There was a news crew imbedded with my company during the Invasion of Iraq and I always felt it took a lot of nuts to go into combat shooting film rather than rounds.
Thanks mate. Yeah I’m lucky enough to have been on the ground alongside army and Marines in Iraq and Afghan. Hope you good mate and thanks for the comment.
@@redcoathistory Which country did you prefer? I absolutely fell in love with Afghanistan (despite it being where I had to fight hardest) and hope one day that it’ll be safe for Western tourists.
@@bombfog1same mate. In Iraq I never really got to meet any locals outside of the airport and Basra palace but in Afghan managed to also get to Kabul and go out into town a bit which was nice.
I have just done a lot of research on this and I am telling you the Pay Corps is by far the oldest Regimental Corps in the Army, they were called the Treasurer-at-war before any regiment was even formed, then paymaster, APD, APC and finally RAPC
The Life Guards of the Swedish Army were formed in 2000 when the the Svea Lifeguards (raised in 1521 as a personal bodyguard to future King Gustav Vasa) and the Life Guard Dragoons (themselves a product of a previous amalgamation of the Royal Horse Guards and the Life Regiment Dragoons in 1927) were amalgamated. Its oldest battle honour is ’War of Liberation 1521’. Most Swedish (and many Finnish, as Finland was part of Sweden) infantry and cavalry regiments were formally formed as permanent units in the 1620’s under Gustavus Adolphus.
Very interesting video, as always. Would love to see a video on the Legion 9f Frontiersmen, a regiment of volunteers, men ranging from Circus clowns and Explorers to American Cowboys, who at their own expense travelled across the Channel at the beginning of WWI and joined the defence of Belgium, the unit was later encorporated into the regular British army and sent to East Africa where they were instrumental in the 😢fight against General Von Vorbeck's German East Africans. Frederick Selous the famous explorer was a Frontiersman and was KIA fighting with them in Tanzania. Would make a brilliant video 👌
Would love to see you do the history of The Northumberland Hussars (The Noodles) From gentleman yeomanry in the 19th century , artillery men in the Boer war . Service in WW I (Only four names on the Menin Gate) and then the campaign in North African dessert to landing in Normandy An interesting TA regiment that flys somewhat under the radar for millitary historians
@@redcoathistory The history of the Northumberland (yeomanry) Hussars 1819 1923 is a rare book . On sale for £80.00 + I surmise that would be a good start . Fenham barracks in Newcastle is the HQ of the QOY . HQ Sdn and D Sdn were amalgamated from the NH . Look forward to see what you could do on your site Cheers
Like your videos very interesting especially as I am a British Army veteran. Two Regiments that would be interesting to see are the Royal Corps of Transport which I served in later Royal Logistics Corps. The second would be the Devon and Dorset Regiment another old county regiment no longer exists. Finally perhaps the Royal Wessex Yeomanry. Keep up your good work very interesting.
Super interesting video! Thank you! When you start to review Regiments in the colonies you could examine the Royal Canadian Regiment, the R.C.R.'s. Regards!
@@redcoathistory sorry, Chris none come to mind at the moment; I would start with their Regimental history source or the D.N.D. ( Dept. of National Defence).
One of the most interesting former Royals was Maj Strome Galway. He was never a CO, but famous enough within the regiment. Apparently he wrote the Op Order which was the order of service for his funeral.
This was a great video! Being from America but always fascinated by anything British, I was thrilled to serve alongside British soldiers in Kosovo’00-‘02. I was a UN war crimes investigator who benefited greatly from intelligence passed along by the 1st Bn of the RRW. I understand that this was an amalgamation of older deactivated regiments and that the RRW may no longer exist. How about explaining how the British Army Regimental System works in an episode?
However, they're still kids compared with the Monmouth Ordnance operations, which were the childhood home of Henry V. Given ongoing excavations are revealing no end of metalworking and milling operations around the Anghidi River above Tintern Abbey, ten miles downstream, it's very possible that earliest date could be pushed back further still. Artillery, for example, was first used at Crecy in 1346, as part of that Ordnance, and the first known use of gunpowder was in 1320, by the Keeper of the Privy Wardrobe in the Tower of London, another Ordnance base. Although the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers were only split off from the Ordnance in 1714, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers maintain that residency in Monmouth Castle to this day, and so have a very arguable case for seniority by a good 200 years.
Do one on the 7th Royal fusiliers please! Their tower of London exhibit was splendid and there are good memoir accounts of members from the peninsular war and crimean war (Timothy Gowing. Youll enjoy his very laddish style of prose) they were a very ancient and unique regiment, their status as fusiliers, and uniform. Napier made them into legends in his account of the battle of albuera. They alongside the 23rd welch fusiliers saved the day.
Please do the 1st The Kings Dragoon Guards who later amalgamated with the 2nd Dragoon Guards, The Queens Bays to become the 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards. My father served as a band boy in the KDG from 1949, through amalgamation til 1963 including service in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaya. Despite serving in the RAF from 1964-71 and the Australian Army Band Corps from 1971-77 he always, always spoke of 'The Regiment' first when asked about his military service.
In memory of my father. I’d be grateful for your coverage of the paras, particularly peacekeeping in 1950’s Palestine. We Brits are proud of ALL our military & the great work & sacrifice they make now and have made throughout history. God Bless You All & Thank You. Ms. J.L.Russell
An article on the history of the Leicestershire Regiment, which became the 4th Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment before I joined them, or 17th/21 Lancers, which I would have joined if I had gone to an armoured regiment.
My brother was an officer in the Green Howards back in the late fifties. When last in the UK I visited the museum of the regiment in Richmond. They have a long history behind them. Might be worth a review.
My uncle served with the 13th Regiment RHA (The Honourable Artillery Company) as part of the 11th Armoured Division in the campaign in NW Europe. General Sir Richard O'Connor, famous for the victory over the Italians in the western desert in 1940/41, commanded a battalion in the First World War too.
Come on mate, as a Leicester lad you have to do the Royal Leicester Rifles! All that Indian battle history. There was a pub in Fosse Estate called the Royal Leicesters when I was a kid at Herrick Infants in the mid 70s 👍🏽
I'd like to know more about the relationship between the Ox's & Buck's Light Infantry, the 1st Airborne during WW2 (notably Pegasus Bridge, obv.) and the Parachute Regiment as it is today - worth a video?
I'd like you to do the history of 16th The Queen's Lancers. my dad was in the 16/5th when I was a kid in the 70's when we were based at Northampton Barracks, Wolfenbuttel in the former West Germany
The Kings Yeoman of the Yeomanry of the Guard are the oldest English regiment, they are older than the Royal Artillery. You will see them in the opening of parliament. They are now known as the Yeomen of the kings Body Guard.
Could you please do a video on the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, they served as horsed cavalry in south africa, horsed cavalry in ww1 apart from winning a king's colour in Gallipoli as infantry , last of all they started ww2 on horses, then gunners in tobrouk converting to tanks from alam el halfa to end of the desert war, moving back to England for DDay, to be one of the first on Gold Beach and involved in taking Bayeux on D+1.
I know there not the oldest But they are one of my favourites are the *Sutherland Highlanders* 1799-1881 . Before the amalgamation with the Argyll. So many battle honours and so many great characters. I've hardly scratched the surface re reading about them I like the story about the 19th countess of Sutherland after noticing the size , larger than any other , she raised his pay saying someone of that size needs to eat twice the amount of the others ( or words very similar to those) . The thin red line.. lol :)
@redcoathistory Don't stop doing what you're doing it's all great especially the on location episodes. I find the training and tactics throughout the history of the British Army really interesting too and how they adapted to all the different campaigns and enemies around the world apart from all the battles/campaigns, last stands and individual stories of bravery.
You might check out the Danish Army. Yeah, I know many regiments were put together in last century but a lot of the regiments were very old; like "Sjællandske Livregiment" or "Jyske Livregiment". They were in the War of the Spanish Succession around 1700 and participated in the Battle of Blenheim of 1704.
I knew this, haha. I looked it up a long time ago. Fascinating unit. The Artist's Rifles too. If anyone reading has ever played 'Total war Empire' there are some very strange sounding units in it.
I hope you do videos on The British Royal Navy and figures like Lord Nelson and Thomas Cochrane or fictional characters like Haratio Hornblower or Jack Aubrey
I have 2 requests for some coverage Obviously my own Previous Corps the RAMC with passing mention of the Colonial offshoots, and the FANY who although not a MOD unit still provide a vital role.
haven't watched it yet, but I always under the impression it was the Coldstream Guards. If you classify the army in terms of 'The New Model army' derived under Cromwell so mid 1600s
Only got a 10 sec mention of its Base ISTAR role that they do with 5 REG RA 4/73 Bty and you should of touched on the selection process for 4/73. Not many people know about it but its a very tasty course that not many pass. The Majority of HAC that come to the Regiment to join 4/73 are Rich London banker types and the unit pays for all their own regiment equipment. Apparently boast the most expensive private patch of grass in central London.😲
Remarkably the Oxford University Officers Training Corps traces it's history back to 1642 (when it formed as bodyguards to Charles I) making it the joint 2nd oldest unit in the Army.
@@petergladstone864 the Scots Guards are joint 2nd with OUOTC. They also formed a (separate) bodyguard for Charles 1st. OUOTC's predecessor guard unit was formed of students from across Oxfordshire and Bucks.
Although all these connections between historical units are pretty tenuous, so my calling them joint 2nd is very much up for debate. Either way though they can trace a pretty old lineage for a student reserve.
The oldest infantry regiment was the Royal Scots formed in 1633 by Sir John Hepburn, then in 2006 merged with 1 Kosb to form The Royal Scots borderers (1 Scots) as part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Now known as 1 Ranger regiment
Re your query about what regiments to do videos on. Between my grandfather and grandfathers of friends, Argyle & Sutherland, Seaforth and K.O.S.B. are a good start. 😀 Plus Royal Green Jackets have often been mentioned near me. From a South African point of view, Lovats Scouts (inventors of the ghillie suits) would be interesting. They made their name in southern Africa, but founded in UK To tax your research, the Scottish Horse were founded in SA. They were also refounded (or simultaneously founded) in UK. The SA version became Transvaal Scottish but this is overshadowed by the UK regiment and sources for either sometimes seem ignorant of the other.
Thanks. The British famous "Ceremonial" Regiments are also active duty soldiers, splitting their time between their Ceremonial Postings and actual deployment.
As an ex licensed Primrose wearer I'd very much like you to do QLR please! I was gutted when they were absorbed at the last "tidy up" and shock of shocks, became Light Infantry!!! But lets face it, it's already happened multiple times over the years as East Lancs, South Lancs, Loyals and even the TA element of the Lancashire Fusiliers have been swallowed up. With the exception of the Loyals my family, my wife and I have all served in every one of the regiments I mention culminating with QLR! My Great Grandfather and his brother both served in the South Lancs, as did a cousin (3 times removed) who paid the ultimate sacrifice at Ypres - the brothers also put in time in Africa with The Kings Liverpool Militia in the Boer War AND between the three of them they srved in not one but two of the South Lancs Territorial battalions. My father served in the Recce Platoon of the LF Territorial battalion in Bury until they were amalgamated into the RRF however at a later date they were moved again and became Fusilier Company QLR so I would occasionally find myself over at the Castle in Bury where my father had paraded! As regards the East Lancs I guess we haven't truly got service with that Regiment, at least not directly, however after I retired from 4QLR I took over running a Cadet Detachment in a rather special Drill Hall formerly occupied by 1/5 ELR - does that count? I like to think it might! So how about it? You can tell us all about the Gallipoli VCs, Lt. Basil Brandon-Jones VC and the night my Great Grandad helped dig trenches under fire on The Somme, their officer also earning the VC that night? Then there's the oldest volunteer officer who served (and died) in WW1, and the greatest number of VCs any regiment has ever earned... or maybe that's just a story my drill sergeant on recruit cadre liked to put about!
Here in the US we have the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. It was an actual unit, but now it is more of an Honorable fraternal organization. I have a full uniform from the Army 1800’s.
I have to remember them having a very technical map reading discussion on an exercise in North Wales about which hill was Snowdon and I had to point out to them that it was the one with a railway running on it.
Oldest infantry regiment of the British Army aren’t even the Coldstream guards nor Royal Scots, but the The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Raised in 1572 in London as Thomas Morgan’s Company of Foot for service in the Dutch 80 years war.
The King's Own Neanderthal Clubbers fought Her Majesties Homo Erectus Infanteers in 10,000 BC which makes them both the oldest regiments in history!! 🎣
A quirky one would be London Scottish. The only highland regiment not mustered from Scotland. Their cadets have their own battle honours from the boar war. Also their (almost) defence of the Messines ridge at the start of ww1 with faulty magazines meant they were hand feeding rounds. This also made them the first territorial regiment to engage the enemy in the first world war.
HAC might be the Oldest unit in the Reserve Army, but they aren’t the Senior, that privilege falls to the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).
@redcoathistory M8 my comment wasn't aimed at you,I was referring to a advert about self adjusting eye grasses (which I was very interested in),problem was I couldn't find out the price of them.No disrespect intended.
This maybe a bit outside the norm for this channel but I'd love to see a video on which units of the British Army the Wild Geese were formed from in the film. I've found a few myself but I'm not too good at freeze framing and matching up their beret badges to images I found on Google. Some of the ones I've found match up with where the Actors are actually from in the UK. If I remember right some of the Actors even served with those units in real life. If anyone can nail this it's Red Coat History. Great video as usual. Thanks.
@@redcoathistoryI found the Beefeater history to be fascinating, When Henry the 7th defeated Richard the 3rd and made the Royal bodyguard a permanent institution a Regiment in everything but name. Older than the HAC or even the Swiss Guard. They have the oldest battle honours from when the kings took the field. They've never been disbanded not even during Cromwell, when Charles II was in exile so we're the Guard. Swiss Guard have been disbanded and reformed 3 times but more famous because they are still active in the secret service type role. Yeomen of the Guard were a very real bodyguard upto Victoria's time. The website is full of dits you could spend a month going through including a now 150 year old book of their history uploaded free of charge (which is very nice of them). I'll include the link and an essay I wrote ages ago as a summary. How do you DM a document? www.yeomenoftheguard.co.uk/
@@Goosebear77 ahh Mike hoare and his 5 commando mercenaries, now theres a character. Like Eric Prince and Blackwater for their generation he was on set as technical advisor to the film.
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) 1st of Foot, formed in 1633, was the oldest and senior infantry regiment in the British Army until its amalgamation in 2006, nicknamed Pontius Pilate's Bodyguards
As a former sapper I am of course biased:) Our Corps was created officially by Bishop Guthlac William the firsts (the conqueror that is) cousin in 1070 ad, suck on that both the HAC and Guards....all of the wooden tops actually, we took part in ever campaign the English and then the British army fought, no-one beats that :)
I think the obvious one for me is the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers. If you're going to cover Militias though I would be interested in in hearing about the Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Militia. Even if you don't cover them hearing about more Regiments not based in England, or made up of non-English soldiers and officers would be nice to hear about.
Hey my brother, I’m a retired paratrooper with the American army and have always been fascinated with the army of our best of friends, the British! I’ve served with you guys in combat and couldn’t have asked for better mates when the bullets are flying! Could ya do an episode on the Black Watch. I’m a bit fuzzy on their history but do know that they are renowned world wide
That’s a great idea thanks a lot. Any books you’d reccomend I start my research with?
Bruce Fumi at Scottish History Tours has done one.
@@redcoathistory If you want a book on the Royal Highland Regiment, the Black Watch (the Gallant Forty-twa) try John Parker’s “Black Watch” published by Headline, 2005.
As a primer for all the Scottish Regiments, including the Army’s senior Regiment of the Line, The Royal Scots (the Lothian Regiment, First of Foot and Right of the Line) (otherwise Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard) try The Scottish Regiments by Diana Henderson published by Harper Collins 1993.
The Royal Scots like the rest were drawn into the Royal Regiment of Scotland in the great amalgamation and subsequently ghosted into the Ranger Regiment.
There's another channel Scotland History Tours, he's a qualified tour guide up there and quite good. He's covered many chapters involving Scots and Red coats quite fairly including Glen coe and Culloden maybe a collab episode?
Ubique
Also check out The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) the senior Reserve Regiment of the British Army with unbroken service to the crown since 1539
stabs lol
and prior to them, before amalgamation, the jersey field sqn royal militia of the island of jersey, royal, engineers.
I was in the Artists Rifles when the HAC were given their new role, and went with a couple of our PSIs to give them an introduction to the essentials. Highly impressed by their infrastructure, and just as impressed by their people. They made a bloody good curry, too.
The Artist Rifles are one of the hidden gems of the British Military. I have long admired the mad men, who have made up your regiment. Salutations from the USA.
It's just the TA for private schoolboys. It's a shocking state of affairs when the real army are struggling for kit and funds.
@NMMojavePoet if I remember correctly, in the early 90s the HAC had the highest success rate getting into the Artist Rifles.
I remember the MoD tried to flog the HAC's HQ in Chelsea. And were shocked to find that they didn't own it as it was the property of the HAC.
Typical wanky politicians.
Same happened with the London Scottish in the eighties.
@@ceciljohnrhodes4987 Doesn't surprise me.
HAC isn't in Chelsea,. it's on the City Road
Does anybody care about from you? No.....
Royal Canadian Navy veteran checking in on your latest. Well done.... I have rather a soft spot for my outstanding Brit brothers. Y'all are alright!
Many thanks, Sir/ I need to do more content about the Canadian military/ will make a plan.
@@redcoathistory Excellent idea! We've had rather a lot of adventures together in the last few hundred years. Oh... I'm not a "sir".... regular civilian but PO back then. No worries, though.... and I'd love to see your take on Canadian military history.
People have barely heard of the HAC, let alone that they support 4 SAS type sabre squadrons. Hidden entirely in the open. Its good to see them get a mention.
Oh dear
You're getting carried away now, your verve is bordering on hysterical, or psychotic.
I used to help ride their Light Cavalry horses.
I can guarantee you that they do not support SF.
@@CheersDits2979how do you know?
Great video. Another claimant to being the oldest regiment in the British Army would be the Royal Scots, First of Foot, albeit they are now merged into the Royal Regiment of Scotland. My brother served in the Royal Scots, one of my oldest friends with the HAC, so there was always some fun to be had discussing that question. As a mere parvenu light infantryman of course the only claim we might make is to being the oldest modern infantrymen, but I wouldn't push it too far. The DLI and the 95th/Rifle Brigade would both be good subjects, the latter with much scope for working in video from Sharpe, copyright permitting. (Bastids!).
HAC is also unique as the only UK military unit having a civilian police - special constabulary detachment, that patrols in the City of London
(they were). The Special Constabulary detachment is currently in suspended animation afaik.
Very interesting, thanks for posting. I especially loved the interview with the VC recipient. What an interesting, courageous, and humble man.
Incedently the oldest chartered military organization in noth America is "The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts" it still serves today with Massachusetts national guard.
This was founded by members of the HAC and the two bodies still have a strong relationship with visits back and forth every couple of years
See en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_and_Honorable_Artillery_Company_of_Massachusetts
On a side note, the French 2nd regiment Dragoons from the Napoleonic Wars survives to this day as well…
I first came across the HAC in a book about the British force that was sent to support the Italians in the First World War. They played a key role in the decisive victory over the Austrians at Vittorio Veneto. Aside from this information, I had never heard of them so thanks!
Would be interested in hearing about the history of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as I grew up north of Glasgow and at the time that was their recruitment area
I served in exercises alongside the HAC and frequently considered them
better soldiers than a lot of regulars that I knew. The HAC possesses a quiet professionalism and commitment to their role that other units lack based on long tradition and august history.
Only one regiment wears the Royal Cypher of Empress Victoria in perpetuity - The Royal Canadian Reg.
In 1940 French speaking troops stood guard at Buckingham - The Royal 22nd Reg of Quebec, homed in the Quebec Citadel.
Nice one thanks. Any good books you’d reccomend?
@@redcoathistory Sorry, no.
Have you seen the Fort Henry Guard performing on TH-cam? They are a civilian re-enactment performance in a fort in 1860-ish uniform and firing Snider-Enfield rifles.
What's that got to do with the oldest regiment in the british army then?
I think in the US. It’s the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard at Arlington. Dates to 1784. Pretty good for The Colonies!
HAC's daughter regiment, The Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, Massachusetts, was formed in 1638. Still in existence but no longer a formal part of the US military as far as I know.
Yes the Old guard of the 3rd INF Reg is the oldest.
The Virginia Capitol Guard are interesting, they were established in 1618 as a bodyguard for the Governor converted to police in 1884 but still a interesting history
In my day the most senior infantry regiment was the Royal Scots. Their nickname name was Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguards bodyguard. Their history in the Scottish Army dates from 1633 but its core was made up from mercenary units that had fought in Europe prior to this.
Weren't they raised from a cadre of Hepburn's regt in Swedish service in the 30 years war, or am I misremembering this?
@@FelixstoweFoamForge yes and also picked up some other waifs and strays along the way
@@neilmorrison7356 Thank you!
@@FelixstoweFoamForge Very tenuously, their lineage can be traced all of the way back to Julius Caesar. ; )
@@ryanmichael1298 not quite they were Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard😉
My father was chief steward of the HAC from 1977 to 1986. We occupied one of the married quarters on Bunhill Row. I often went into the main building to see my father. On the left side wall of the entrance there are lots of weapons and other paraphernalia along with a large plaque which states the HAC are the oldest extant regiment in the world. This is almost certainly true for two reasons.
Fist not all armies are regimentally organised and two, most countries didn’t have standing armies for much longer than 250 years or so. The reason the HAC has existed so long is because traditionally it was not funded by the Monarchy but by the City of London guilds who saw it not just as a fighting force but as a defence against mobs. To this day the HAC has a very important role in the Lords Mayors Parade, offering facilities, ceremonial and security services.
I know from experience the rehearsals for the parade start a week upfront whilst on the day the fields are full of vehicles and equipment belonging to military participants in the parade. It was always fun to stand on our little balcony and try to identify the various units both British and foreign who were taking part in any given year. Not so much fun was being woken at 5am to the loud voice of a Sargent Major barking orders at squaddies.
Cracking video as always! Please can you do, together or separately, the 43rd and 52nd?
The Buffs/Queen's Own Buffs/2nd Battalion Queen's Regiment. Formed 1574 (Trained bands of London) 100 years in Holland. Returned and had to take 2nd Foot as another Regiment had been raised in their absence, Then called the 'Holland regiment'. Of course, they are no longer around , where as the HAC are.
PWRR today
In terms of the Army List, the Buffs honourably hold second position to the Royal Scots.
The 2nd battalion the queens regiment become the 2nd battalion Princess of wales royal regiment, which has now been renamed the 2nd ranger regiment.
Karennalletson9767
Spot on, except the forbears of the Buffs (The Trained Band of London)were actually form in 1572 according to the Regiments history.
How wonderful to see that someone knows about my old Regiment, (gone but not forgotten).
Steady the Buffs, the 3rd of Foot.
DIJ.
I really enjoyed this video and learning about the 'oldest' regiment in the British Army. I didn't guess the answer I'm afraid. I thought it would be the Grenadiers. Yet I worked with a chap in Shipping in the City, who was actually in the HAC at the time. Every once in a while he would be given time off to go on training manoeuvres. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Thank you. BTW Found out about your Channel through 'MarkFromTheStates' Channel.
Lovely, thanks a lot. I will look up Mark's channel. All the best and weclome!
Wonderful channel - one of the very best.
Oh wow! I just bought the book (recommended by your good self after watching your video) Fire Eater and I had never heard of the Honourable Artillery Company before. before clicking on this vid I thought I was going to watch a vid about the Coldstream Guards! Well done again Chris you're the best.
Thanks a lot - its a great book. HAC is certainly an interesting unit.
Great work as always. I would love to see you do a video on the ancestor regiments that make up the present day Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. The Lanc's are made up of some of the most storied regiments in British military history.
Kings reg 8th foot
Nice idea thanks. Any good sources I should start with?
@@redcoathistory I would say a good place to start is the National Army Museum Website. The website provides almost a family tree style breakdown of the regiments that were amalgamated to for the Lanc's but as you go into each one, more information is provided about the further ancestor regiments, going back all the way to the numeral system. For example: Duke of Lancaster's - The Queen's Lancashire Regiment - East Lancashire Regiment - 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot. I think this would serve as a good place to start from.
@@redcoathistory The Kings Regiment (Liverpool) where formed in 1685 as The Princess Anne of Denmark Regiment. An old quirk of the Regiment was that the RSM had to be a catholic (I don’t know what year that was brought in and what year it ceased to be but I remember being told it when I served ). In ww2 they took the surrender of a German war ship , they played a major part in the Chindit columns , the offshoots of the regiment still exist today . Every old regiment has a fascinating history . We need to keep these histories alive .
Would love to see a video on the Black Watch (42nd) and another on the KRRC (60th).
I didn’t realize that you were a combat documentarian. Well done. There was a news crew imbedded with my company during the Invasion of Iraq and I always felt it took a lot of nuts to go into combat shooting film rather than rounds.
Thanks mate. Yeah I’m lucky enough to have been on the ground alongside army and Marines in Iraq and Afghan. Hope you good mate and thanks for the comment.
@@redcoathistory Which country did you prefer? I absolutely fell in love with Afghanistan (despite it being where I had to fight hardest) and hope one day that it’ll be safe for Western tourists.
@@bombfog1same mate. In Iraq I never really got to meet any locals outside of the airport and Basra palace but in Afghan managed to also get to Kabul and go out into town a bit which was nice.
I have just done a lot of research on this and I am telling you the Pay Corps is by far the oldest Regimental Corps in the Army, they were called the Treasurer-at-war before any regiment was even formed, then paymaster, APD, APC and finally RAPC
HAC the oldest but Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers Militia is the senior regiment of the reserve army because Militia takes precedence...
Yep, fair one. Any good sources on the Monmouthshire’s?
@redcoathistory could get in touch with the R Mons museum. They've got a published regimental history too.
As an ex R Mon’s I’d love to see you do something on them, they have an amazing history.
R.MON.RE (M) have the longest continuous service to the Crown.
and prior to them, before amalgamation, the jersey field sqn royal militia of the island of jersey, royal, engineers.
The Life Guards of the Swedish Army were formed in 2000 when the the Svea Lifeguards (raised in 1521 as a personal bodyguard to future King Gustav Vasa) and the Life Guard Dragoons (themselves a product of a previous amalgamation of the Royal Horse Guards and the Life Regiment Dragoons in 1927) were amalgamated. Its oldest battle honour is ’War of Liberation 1521’. Most Swedish (and many Finnish, as Finland was part of Sweden) infantry and cavalry regiments were formally formed as permanent units in the 1620’s under Gustavus Adolphus.
I liked the Rick Scollins art of, I believe, the English troops at Flodden. Another good vid!
Very interesting video, as always.
Would love to see a video on the Legion 9f Frontiersmen, a regiment of volunteers, men ranging from Circus clowns and Explorers to American Cowboys, who at their own expense travelled across the Channel at the beginning of WWI and joined the defence of Belgium, the unit was later encorporated into the regular British army and sent to East Africa where they were instrumental in the 😢fight against General Von Vorbeck's German East Africans. Frederick Selous the famous explorer was a Frontiersman and was KIA fighting with them in Tanzania.
Would make a brilliant video 👌
Very interesting piece. Only ever heard about the HAC when watching the Lord Mayor's possession. The IWM interview was brilliant.
Would love to see you do the history of The Northumberland Hussars (The Noodles) From gentleman yeomanry in the 19th century , artillery men in the Boer war . Service in WW I (Only four names on the Menin Gate) and then the campaign in North African dessert to landing in Normandy
An interesting TA regiment that flys somewhat under the radar for millitary historians
Thanks. Will have to do a bit of reading up. Any good sources I should start with?
@@redcoathistory The history of the Northumberland (yeomanry) Hussars 1819 1923 is a rare book . On sale for £80.00 +
I surmise that would be a good start .
Fenham barracks in Newcastle is the HQ of the QOY . HQ Sdn and D Sdn were amalgamated from the NH . Look forward to see what you could do on your site
Cheers
Like your videos very interesting especially as I am a British Army veteran. Two Regiments that would be interesting to see are the Royal Corps of Transport which I served in later Royal Logistics Corps. The second would be the Devon and Dorset Regiment another old county regiment no longer exists. Finally perhaps the Royal Wessex Yeomanry. Keep up your good work very interesting.
Thanks mate
Love to hear about artillery! Fascinating stuff as usual!
Thanks Ryan. Appreciate the feedback
What a lovely presentation - as always.
Thankyou, Sir.
Super interesting video! Thank you! When you start to review Regiments in the colonies you could examine the Royal Canadian Regiment, the R.C.R.'s. Regards!
That would be good. Any books I should start with?
@@redcoathistory sorry, Chris none come to mind at the moment; I would start with their Regimental history source or the D.N.D. ( Dept. of National Defence).
One of the most interesting former Royals was Maj Strome Galway. He was never a CO, but famous enough within the regiment. Apparently he wrote the Op Order which was the order of service for his funeral.
This was a great video! Being from America but always fascinated by anything British, I was thrilled to serve alongside British soldiers in Kosovo’00-‘02.
I was a UN war crimes investigator who benefited greatly from intelligence passed along by the 1st Bn of the RRW. I understand that this was an amalgamation of older deactivated regiments and that the RRW may no longer exist.
How about explaining how the British Army Regimental System works in an episode?
Thanks sir. Please see my last video for exactly that subject 👍🏼
Another fascinating video ❤
Great video Chis, I allways fancy the RHA, best regards mate.
However, they're still kids compared with the Monmouth Ordnance operations, which were the childhood home of Henry V. Given ongoing excavations are revealing no end of metalworking and milling operations around the Anghidi River above Tintern Abbey, ten miles downstream, it's very possible that earliest date could be pushed back further still. Artillery, for example, was first used at Crecy in 1346, as part of that Ordnance, and the first known use of gunpowder was in 1320, by the Keeper of the Privy Wardrobe in the Tower of London, another Ordnance base.
Although the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers were only split off from the Ordnance in 1714, the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers maintain that residency in Monmouth Castle to this day, and so have a very arguable case for seniority by a good 200 years.
Thank you for this interesting video. I used to help ride their light cavalry horses based in Windsor.
Do one on the 7th Royal fusiliers please! Their tower of London exhibit was splendid and there are good memoir accounts of members from the peninsular war and crimean war (Timothy Gowing. Youll enjoy his very laddish style of prose) they were a very ancient and unique regiment, their status as fusiliers, and uniform. Napier made them into legends in his account of the battle of albuera. They alongside the 23rd welch fusiliers saved the day.
Thanks a lot - on the list and will get it to next year hopefully.
Super super documentary….many thanks
Please do the 1st The Kings Dragoon Guards who later amalgamated with the 2nd Dragoon Guards, The Queens Bays to become the 1st The Queens Dragoon Guards. My father served as a band boy in the KDG from 1949, through amalgamation til 1963 including service in Northern Ireland, Germany and Malaya. Despite serving in the RAF from 1964-71 and the Australian Army Band Corps from 1971-77 he always, always spoke of 'The Regiment' first when asked about his military service.
The best regiment in the British army
In memory of my father. I’d be grateful for your coverage of the paras, particularly peacekeeping in 1950’s Palestine.
We Brits are proud of ALL our military & the great work & sacrifice they make now and have made throughout history.
God Bless You All & Thank You.
Ms. J.L.Russell
Very professional to work with
An article on the history of the Leicestershire Regiment, which became the 4th Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment before I joined them, or 17th/21 Lancers, which I would have joined if I had gone to an armoured regiment.
Leicesters are my local regiment so definitely keen. Thanks Mate
My brother was an officer in the Green Howards back in the late fifties. When last in the UK I visited the museum of the regiment in Richmond. They have a long history behind them. Might be worth a review.
Would definetly be keen. Would be great to get to the museum one day. Thanks
My uncle served with the 13th Regiment RHA (The Honourable Artillery Company) as part of the 11th Armoured Division in the campaign in NW Europe. General Sir Richard O'Connor, famous for the victory over the Italians in the western desert in 1940/41, commanded a battalion in the First World War too.
The two companies who formed the coldstream guards in battle for dundee august september 1651 under general monk, many killed
Come on mate, as a Leicester lad you have to do the Royal Leicester Rifles! All that Indian battle history. There was a pub in Fosse Estate called the Royal Leicesters when I was a kid at Herrick Infants in the mid 70s 👍🏽
The 17th are certainly worthy of a film. Thanks mate will look into it.
@@redcoathistory The ‘Tigers’ were last embodied within the HQ Company of 7th Battalion Royal Anglian regiment, in which I served for some time.
How about The Worstestorshire and Sherwood Foresters, in particular the Sherwood Foresters, please
I'd like to know more about the relationship between the Ox's & Buck's Light Infantry, the 1st Airborne during WW2 (notably Pegasus Bridge, obv.) and the Parachute Regiment as it is today - worth a video?
Outstanding!!
The corps of Royal Engineers. They trace their lineage back to Bishop Gundolph. William the Conquerer's landings in England in 1066.
HAC IS THE OLDEST IN THE ARMY!! my uncle was an officer in the REG !! N still have family in the REG to this day!! 😊😊😊❤❤
I'd like you to do the history of 16th The Queen's Lancers. my dad was in the 16/5th when I was a kid in the 70's when we were based at Northampton Barracks, Wolfenbuttel in the former West Germany
Hello great video. It would be good if you could look at the royal Welsh fusiliers.
Interestimg film thanks. I would be interested to hear about the formation of the Natal Native Contingent and their effectiveness in battle.
The Kings Yeoman of the Yeomanry of the Guard are the oldest English regiment, they are older than the Royal Artillery. You will see them in the opening of parliament. They are now known as the Yeomen of the kings Body Guard.
Could you please do a video on the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, they served as horsed cavalry in south africa, horsed cavalry in ww1 apart from winning a king's colour in Gallipoli as infantry , last of all they started ww2 on horses, then gunners in tobrouk converting to tanks from alam el halfa to end of the desert war, moving back to England for DDay, to be one of the first on Gold Beach and involved in taking Bayeux on D+1.
I know there not the oldest
But they are one of my favourites are the
*Sutherland Highlanders*
1799-1881 .
Before the amalgamation with the Argyll.
So many battle honours and so many great characters.
I've hardly scratched the surface re reading about them
I like the story about the 19th countess of Sutherland after noticing the size , larger than any other , she raised his pay saying someone of that size needs to eat twice the amount of the others ( or words very similar to those) .
The thin red line.. lol :)
Love your channel, great work thank you! 🍻👍🏻🇬🇧
Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Any other stories from the history of the British army you’d like me to look at?
@redcoathistory Don't stop doing what you're doing it's all great especially the on location episodes. I find the training and tactics throughout the history of the British Army really interesting too and how they adapted to all the different campaigns and enemies around the world apart from all the battles/campaigns, last stands and individual stories of bravery.
@redcoathistory love hearing the personal accounts of battle too.
You might check out the Danish Army. Yeah, I know many regiments were put together in last century but a lot of the regiments were very old; like "Sjællandske Livregiment" or "Jyske Livregiment". They were in the War of the Spanish Succession around 1700 and participated in the Battle of Blenheim of 1704.
I knew this, haha. I looked it up a long time ago. Fascinating unit. The Artist's Rifles too. If anyone reading has ever played 'Total war Empire' there are some very strange sounding units in it.
A video on the history of the Royal Marines would be great to watch
These amazing lads also have an Airborne role with 7 Para RHA
My request for a unit deep dive is The Lovat Scouts.
That would be very interesting.
I hope you do videos on The British Royal Navy and figures like Lord Nelson and Thomas Cochrane or fictional characters like Haratio Hornblower or Jack Aubrey
Maybe eventually but I’ll be honest naval history isn’t really my thing.
I have 2 requests for some coverage Obviously my own Previous Corps the RAMC with passing mention of the Colonial offshoots, and the FANY who although not a MOD unit still provide a vital role.
Very interesting. Former gunner here keep it up
Thanks mate
You may have a message from Lt colonel Dobbs in a bit my twin bro.
haven't watched it yet, but I always under the impression it was the Coldstream Guards. If you classify the army in terms of 'The New Model army' derived under Cromwell so mid 1600s
I believe the HAC also provide support to 7 Para RHA, our Airborne gunners. Top blokes. UP
Fascinating stuff.
I would like you to talk about my grandfather and father's regiment, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers who my dad called the fighting fifth.
Will add to the list Sir.
Only got a 10 sec mention of its Base ISTAR role that they do with 5 REG RA 4/73 Bty and you should of touched on the selection process for 4/73. Not many people know about it but its a very tasty course that not many pass. The Majority of HAC that come to the Regiment to join 4/73 are Rich London banker types and the unit pays for all their own regiment equipment. Apparently boast the most expensive private patch of grass in central London.😲
Nice to see you used footage from the tv series ANZAC’s
Yep - grew up with that show. Love it.
Remarkably the Oxford University Officers Training Corps traces it's history back to 1642 (when it formed as bodyguards to Charles I) making it the joint 2nd oldest unit in the Army.
Scots guards 1642-1648 first time around if I remember
@@petergladstone864 the Scots Guards are joint 2nd with OUOTC. They also formed a (separate) bodyguard for Charles 1st. OUOTC's predecessor guard unit was formed of students from across Oxfordshire and Bucks.
Although all these connections between historical units are pretty tenuous, so my calling them joint 2nd is very much up for debate. Either way though they can trace a pretty old lineage for a student reserve.
Royal Scot’s 1st of foot, 2nd of foot was the Buffs from Kent
The oldest infantry regiment was the Royal Scots formed in 1633 by Sir John Hepburn, then in 2006 merged with 1 Kosb to form The Royal Scots borderers (1 Scots) as part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Now known as 1 Ranger regiment
I assume your an old Royal
Re your query about what regiments to do videos on.
Between my grandfather and grandfathers of friends, Argyle & Sutherland, Seaforth and K.O.S.B. are a good start. 😀
Plus Royal Green Jackets have often been mentioned near me.
From a South African point of view, Lovats Scouts (inventors of the ghillie suits) would be interesting. They made their name in southern Africa, but founded in UK
To tax your research, the Scottish Horse were founded in SA. They were also refounded (or simultaneously founded) in UK. The SA version became Transvaal Scottish but this is overshadowed by the UK regiment and sources for either sometimes seem ignorant of the other.
Great. Thanks a lot for the ideas. I live quite close to the Transvaal Scottish hq 👍🏼
Thanks. The British famous "Ceremonial" Regiments are also active duty soldiers, splitting their time between their Ceremonial Postings and actual deployment.
Hi - yes I have a film on the foot guards that you may enjoy.
As an ex licensed Primrose wearer I'd very much like you to do QLR please! I was gutted when they were absorbed at the last "tidy up" and shock of shocks, became Light Infantry!!! But lets face it, it's already happened multiple times over the years as East Lancs, South Lancs, Loyals and even the TA element of the Lancashire Fusiliers have been swallowed up. With the exception of the Loyals my family, my wife and I have all served in every one of the regiments I mention culminating with QLR! My Great Grandfather and his brother both served in the South Lancs, as did a cousin (3 times removed) who paid the ultimate sacrifice at Ypres - the brothers also put in time in Africa with The Kings Liverpool Militia in the Boer War AND between the three of them they srved in not one but two of the South Lancs Territorial battalions. My father served in the Recce Platoon of the LF Territorial battalion in Bury until they were amalgamated into the RRF however at a later date they were moved again and became Fusilier Company QLR so I would occasionally find myself over at the Castle in Bury where my father had paraded! As regards the East Lancs I guess we haven't truly got service with that Regiment, at least not directly, however after I retired from 4QLR I took over running a Cadet Detachment in a rather special Drill Hall formerly occupied by 1/5 ELR - does that count? I like to think it might!
So how about it? You can tell us all about the Gallipoli VCs, Lt. Basil Brandon-Jones VC and the night my Great Grandad helped dig trenches under fire on The Somme, their officer also earning the VC that night? Then there's the oldest volunteer officer who served (and died) in WW1, and the greatest number of VCs any regiment has ever earned... or maybe that's just a story my drill sergeant on recruit cadre liked to put about!
Thanks a lot - will add to my list! Appreciate the input.
Here in the US we have the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. It was an actual unit, but now it is more of an Honorable fraternal organization. I have a full uniform from the Army 1800’s.
See en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_and_Honorable_Artillery_Company_of_Massachusetts
Do one on the Artist Rifles. Absolutely mad, mad men and beyond brave.
They certainly were!
I have to remember them having a very technical map reading discussion on an exercise in North Wales about which hill was Snowdon and I had to point out to them that it was the one with a railway running on it.
Have you got any information on the Pay Corps retreat from Singapore?
Brilliant thanks for that, how about the RTR?
Oldest infantry regiment of the British Army aren’t even the Coldstream guards nor Royal Scots, but the The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment). Raised in 1572 in London as Thomas Morgan’s Company of Foot for service in the Dutch 80 years war.
Steady. The Buffs!
The Coldstream guards are the oldest regiment of continuous service, other old regiments have since been disbanded or amalgamated 💂♂️
I thought The Holland Regiment (The Buffs) was created in 1561 or 1566.
The King's Own Neanderthal Clubbers fought Her Majesties Homo Erectus Infanteers in 10,000 BC which makes them both the oldest regiments in history!! 🎣
The PWRR, for whom the Buffs are an antecedent Regt, are the senior English county infantry regiment
A quirky one would be London Scottish. The only highland regiment not mustered from Scotland. Their cadets have their own battle honours from the boar war. Also their (almost) defence of the Messines ridge at the start of ww1 with faulty magazines meant they were hand feeding rounds. This also made them the first territorial regiment to engage the enemy in the first world war.
@@markbutler5977 Thanks Mark - that would be a fascinating film to research.
One of my relatives was KIA with the HAC in WW1.
HAC might be the Oldest unit in the Reserve Army, but they aren’t the Senior, that privilege falls to the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).
Could you do a history of the Black Watch please
Aye - tell us the one about the broken Square!
To the advertiser's of the self adjusting eye glasses- M8 I followed your advert but couldn't find "A Price ".
I must be a bit slow but I don't get the joke mate
@redcoathistory M8 my comment wasn't aimed at you,I was referring to a advert about self adjusting eye grasses (which I was very interested in),problem was I couldn't find out the price of them.No disrespect intended.
Pleased could you look at the Durham light infantry?
This maybe a bit outside the norm for this channel but I'd love to see a video on which units of the British Army the Wild Geese were formed from in the film. I've found a few myself but I'm not too good at freeze framing and matching up their beret badges to images I found on Google. Some of the ones I've found match up with where the Actors are actually from in the UK. If I remember right some of the Actors even served with those units in real life. If anyone can nail this it's Red Coat History. Great video as usual. Thanks.
Thanks mate - will look into it!
@@redcoathistory Cheers!!
@@redcoathistoryI found the Beefeater history to be fascinating, When Henry the 7th defeated Richard the 3rd and made the Royal bodyguard a permanent institution a Regiment in everything but name.
Older than the HAC or even the Swiss Guard. They have the oldest battle honours from when the kings took the field.
They've never been disbanded not even during Cromwell, when Charles II was in exile so we're the Guard.
Swiss Guard have been disbanded and reformed 3 times but more famous because they are still active in the secret service type role. Yeomen of the Guard were a very real bodyguard upto Victoria's time. The website is full of dits you could spend a month going through including a now 150 year old book of their history uploaded free of charge (which is very nice of them). I'll include the link and an essay I wrote ages ago as a summary. How do you DM a document?
www.yeomenoftheguard.co.uk/
@@Goosebear77 ahh Mike hoare and his 5 commando mercenaries, now theres a character. Like Eric Prince and Blackwater for their generation he was on set as technical advisor to the film.
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) 1st of Foot, formed in 1633, was the oldest and senior infantry regiment in the British Army until its amalgamation in 2006, nicknamed Pontius Pilate's Bodyguards
Very true sir.
As a former sapper I am of course biased:) Our Corps was created officially by Bishop Guthlac William the firsts (the conqueror that is) cousin in 1070 ad, suck on that both the HAC and Guards....all of the wooden tops actually, we took part in ever campaign the English and then the British army fought, no-one beats that :)
I think the obvious one for me is the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers. If you're going to cover Militias though I would be interested in in hearing about the Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Militia. Even if you don't cover them hearing about more Regiments not based in England, or made up of non-English soldiers and officers would be nice to hear about.
Would love to here the history of the Royal Engineers or the royal corps of Signals.