Outlaws to Legends: How the Corps of Guides Changed Warfare Forever
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Today’s film is packed with the forgotten history of an elite unit. A unit that fought in the 2nd Anglo-Sikh wars, Wars against the Afghans and of course both world wars.
We’ll explore how They became the first unit in the British military to wear Khaki uniforms
And finally we will look at their place in the modern Pakistani army.
Thanks to Saad over at the Spatula TH-cam channel - / @thespatulaa
If you are interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: redcoathistory...
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Imagine being in that situation where death is the only option. Their courage is humbling
Yes, I can only imagine. Brave lads for sure.
Absolutely..
But it wasn’t their only option, they were given opportunities to surrender. Were you even listening?
@@flashgordon6670 I take it you haven’t read much history on that particular area of the world? “Surrender” would have been torture and an agonizing death. Better over quickly…
Great Stuff, Chris. I too find the NW Frontier endlessly fascinating. The Frontier Rising of 1897 and currently Waziristan 1936-37 are my main areas of research.
Hi Jon, that's great. I would love to hear more about your areas of research. if you ever are keen to chat more please drop me a line via redcoathistory at gmail dot com
I am so glad you covered this regiment on my request, fair to say the Guides were the true "trendsetters" when it came to uniforms and skirmishing!
Thanks very much, a great video and another piece of important history filled in. Pls could you make follow on videos, about the Guide’s actions in the world wars and subsequent conflicts? Ty.
Also, which British unit, was the last to wear red coats into battle?
So khaki uniforms were the original “desert cams”. Interesting fact. Thank you, Chris.
Khaki means a dusty colour in Hindi and Urdu.
Personally I have no doubt at all of our origin of the word.
Cheers to the Heroes....
' Oh East is East and West is West....'Kipling was wise ...great,honourable men can be of any race or religion
the Corps of guides were one of the best paid troops in British Indian army and they had a waiting list. so many people wanted to volunteer for it they couldn't have all of them so only the best were selected to join the guides.
Top material as always. Always makes me wish I'd been born when the coats were still red. ❤️🇬🇧
Thanks a lot. Yep a fascinating time for sure.
Great video. First read about the Guides some forty years ago in a book called 'Khyber' by Charles Miller. The bravery of Lt Hamilton and the Guides defending the Residency in Kabul has always stuck with me. So many men in the campaigns of the Victorian era were so tough beyond tough, a true warrior elite. Of course we are not allowed to celebrate that now.
A often overlooked area of operation that is fascinating and in keeping with the theme of this channel I would say. I tried to get to the British cemetery in Kabul and Bala Hissar but conditions didn’t allow for it. I did however learn the full histories of the first and second Anglo-Afghan wars. A shame they are overshadowed. Very nice video and welcome more on this area. The first war in the 1840s is full of great stories. There is a reason no outdid country can conquer Afghanistan.
" Think ye the Guides will barter for lust of the light
The pride of an ancient people in warfare bred.
Honour of comrades living, and faith to the dead?"
The Guides of Cabul....
Another beautiful poem of Sir Henry Newbolt celebrating Empire,
I also love Vitai Lampada
Wonderful video!! I recently talked to a Pakistani gentleman (or was he Bangladeshi but had a deep knowledge of Pakistan?) about the Bala Hissar of Kabul and he told me of a fortress with the exact same name in Pakistan, thitherto unknown to me. He had never heard of the Bala Hissar in Kabul and had thought there was only one in Pakistan. This is a fascinating region with fascinating units raised by the British and British Indian Armies.
Yes Bala Hissar fort, it's a true icon of the city of Peshawar. It's currently the headquarters of the Frontier Corps
I love a good story about fearless bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. And that was quite the fun story you told guy. Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it thanks. and yes re. LRDG. . .One day.
@@redcoathistory---Your welcome. Thanks for the correction.
Great story, and brave men. Thank you, Chris! Best Regards from Canada 🇨🇦
Glad you enjoyed it Keith - thanks a lot.
Another interesting fact: During the Battle of Chawinda, (1965) which is considered to be one of the largest tank battles after Kursk, the Commandant; Lt Col Amir Janjua ordered all his tanks to line up abreast along the railway line and then charged in classic cavalry style with the command "Tally ho", against the equally historic regiments of India, namely 4 Hodson's horse (which you mentioned) and 17th Poona.
Wow, I hadn't heard that - what a great story. Do you know if there are any sources that I can find online?
@@redcoathistory regarding what, I'll be glad to help. I'm pretty much interested in regimental histories of subcontinent and can help you with post partition parts especially.
@@ahmedhanjrah6510 Oh fantastic - I find it hard to get good info on post partition regiments )see my video on skinners horse for example). My email is redcoathistory at gmail dot com - if you don't mind sharing any good resources that would be great. Im considering a series of videos looking at the modern Pakistan and Indian armies also.
Now for the history of the 1st Chinese Regiment of the British Army and their part in taking Tianjin and the relief of Peking. Especially Sergeant Gi-Dien-Kee who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as well as being Mentioned in Despatches.
Thanks - Ive never heard of them so will look up the unit and Sergeant Gi-Dien-Kee
Mapping and manoeuvring is such and underrated aspect of operations. Not just the what, how, why and when, but the where. There where is often overlooked.
I find it fascinating that camo has come full circle basically back to Khaki via British MTP. It makes sense as green is the colour of foliage but brown is the colour of the earth.
Absolutely enthralling story and love the passion that you put into telling it 👏👍
Fantastic lecture Chris👍👍👍
Many thanks, Jan. A fascinating unit to research. Glad you enjoyed it.
Charles Allen's Soldier Sahibs had been lying in my Amazon cart for the longest time - just ordered it after having watched your video !!
Take anything Allen says with a pinch of salt. He doesn't do his homework.
It's a good one carry-on
Hamilton's son and grandson also served in the Guides. The grandson, Geoff, married author M.M. Kaye (The Far Pavilions, Shadow of the Moon etc).
She also published a collection of Kipling's poems "Moon of Other Days" where she explains why the included poems are her favourites.
She includes the Ballad of East and West, with a sketch of a silver statuette of Wally Hamilton defending the Residency. It is in the Guides Mess in Pakistan
Kaye was born and raised in India and her father was a friend of Kipling. Makes her notes very interesting
Northwest frontier of 19th Century India, a hot bed of tribal rivalries and border skirmishes... and in Oct 2024 it's just the same !
Fantastic. Thanks Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it mate. I find these units fascinating.
Could you do videos on The Mahdist War In The Sudan especially The Battle Of Omdurman maybe do a video on Winston Churchill’s part in that Battle
brilliant story telling
Thanks a lot. The Guides have a wonderful story to tell.
@@redcoathistory I am Impressed with their honour and bravery in the face of advesity.
Great video mate, nice to know about those chaps, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed mate - thanks a lot for the comment and I hope you are well.
Hey have you ever thought of doing a video on "The Long Range Desert Patrol" from WWII. I heard some really great things about these guys.
Thanks for this interesting video
Thanks - it was fascinating to research.
Amazing video thank you.
Thanks a lot for watching. This was really interesting to learn about.
Another great video Chris
Men of iron. Glad I found your channel!
Khaki is the Persian word for dust. It's good to see a video about a lesser known era of history which shouldn't be forgotten.
Id recommend Khartoum by Michael Asher, excellent book.
Agreed - brilliant read.
But did they really face Bungeditin and his dirty Burpas?
Another interesting video sir. Now how about one on the Lovatt Scouts?
Great video,
Please what movie was shown at the beginning of this video?
Another great episode, Chris. I note that you include some excerpts from the 1980s TV miniseries of MM Kaye's novel The Far Pavillions. The series is a bit disappointing as it replaces the emphasis too much on star-crossed romance. Kaye's original novel is well worth a read and is a love-letter to the Corps of Guides, with whom her fatther and husband both served. The final climax of the novel is the siege of the Kabul residency under Cavagnari and Walter Hamilton, who is a major character in the novel. There is a super statue of Hamilton in the National Army Museum, Chelsea, depicting him in the midst of that final desperate charge for the guns.
This channel has made me reevaluate my views on parts of British history, My family fought in most the historic conflicts back to Waterloo and probs before that just dont have proof about that, they were brave working class men who fought for what they thought would make the world a better place. Some of our history is iffy with hindsight but doesn't take away the bravery of the common man who went to these mad places. I think we were knobs at times but its not like the troops have a choice where they went. I didnt go middle east the buck stopped with me, doubt my kids will fight in WW3, mainly due to my politics, you made me interested in the history I previously didnt want to learn about though.
Many thanks. . . the goal is certainly to bring these stories to life and reignite an interest in history so Im happy with that. Thanks.
Muito bom
MM Kay wrote an excellent book called the "Far Pavillions" that features the unit.
I've had a fascination with Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush since reading "Man who would be King" in high school. From 2010-11 I worked as a site manager for a helicopter cargo company. I got to see the Pakistan/Afghanistan frontier from Orgon E to Jalalabad from the air. It was like seeing everything I had read live!
@@grayharker6271Did have your share of harrowing experience in that region whilst you were there?
Great video. You may also know that only the Guides regiments, cavalry and infantry have red piping on their khaki uniform shirts. Both the Guides Cavalry, Armoured regiments and Guides FF, also known as Guides Infantry wear this piping with pride.
Thanks for that!
I love cotton khaki. It's the most comfortable clothing I've ever worn. I wish the US military would bring it back. As for fasting during Ramadan, it should be noted to your audience that it only lasts during the day. At night they are allowed to feast. Nevertheless, marching so many miles under a hot sun without relief would be brutal.
Great one.
Perhaps you could do one on the Rajputana Rifles.
Napier own.and
The 17th Horse Pune Horse
There is also 1 SP Guides Artillery regiment in Pakistan Army. Part of the Corp of Guides.
Lt. Col. Jehanzeb Durrani. My father was from Guides Cavalry
A thrilling episode from Parkinson Pasha!
Thankyou very much Sir, one tries.
39th Garhwal Rifles, British Indian Army -
=================================
3 Victoria Crosses - 1914 - 1919
/
RIP Captain Benjamin Sparrow,
KIA leading his company at Neuve Chappelle 1915.
Such fine soldiers,
the Indian army now has 25 battalions.
Almost unknown in Britain.
/
What is the movie at the start of video?
What’s the name of the movie/mini series? I can’t remember!
The great game. Goes back to the 1600s
Just to correct on origin of Khaki - Origin of khaki
First recorded in 1855-60; from Urdu, from Persian khākī “dusty,” equivalent to khāk “dust” + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin
What film is that opening scene from??
How's does it go? "Make yourself a troop of the guides and hack your way to power while I'm hung in Rasildar".
Great video. thanks Christian. [BTW ref British Army, I once saw a mug that said on the side 'On the eighth day God created beer, so the British Army wouldn't take over the world' *LOL*
The British dubbed Afghanistan as a bleeding chalice where 1,500 British soldiers were massacred in the Anglo-Afghan war. It was also called as the Graveyard of Empires from Alexander the Great Macedonian Empire to the Persian Empire to the Mongol Empire of Ghenghis Khan to Ottoman Empire of the 15th century to the British Empire of 18th century to the Soviets Empire of the 70s to the United States Empire of the 20th century. During the 18th century a British war chronicler described the Anglo Afghan Wars. I qoute; Where can you find a fighter that when he aims at the muzzle of his gun he sees heaven opening to him with 12 virgins awaiting him! K
I've always wondered how the Girl Guides was founded?
What is the movie at the beginning of the clip
The Far Pavillions
@@redcoathistory awsome thanks!
Need to add that one to my colonial war collection too!!
What movie are the clips from
What we should all ask ourselves is...what were British troops doing in another people's land in the first place?
All the warlords wanted a “Lauren’s” to help organise their fighting men.Whether they thought that was a man or a new kind of weapon wasn’t clearly obvious………”
Devoted soldiers under British leadership example -
==========================================
something to show those
who rubbish the British Empire,
and see India as downtrodden.
These men were all warriors,
who would die rather than be dishonoured,
and saw no dishonour
serving under British officers.
/
Sometimes i wonder why all those men had to die. India and Pakistan, Afganistan, they are not British today. What have all the lives lost have to show for today? Its a question i often ponder with any war.
We are but pawns.
Heroes to zero today.
When travelling, muslims are exempt from the ramadan fast
Thanks. Technically I believe there are work arounds for sure but these men would have been very pious and I suspect would have stuck as close to the rituals as possible.
Khaki Hindi for yellowish Brown or beige
“Infamous” is negative, the wrong word for praise. See dictionary.
You’re right. Infamous is synonymous with notorious*.
*I’m a poet
but
I just don’t know it!
Make a video on American and NATO modern armies defeat in Afghanistan by the hands of small Taliban militia force.
It was the most humiliating defeat in human war history.
KHAKI is from Persian word like majority of Urdu(Hindustani❌) vocabulary.
It seems the mercenary core of "guides " were the best British collaborators after... the maharaja..
Great video,
Please what movie was shown at the beginning of this video?
Great video,
Please what movie was shown at the beginning of this video?
The far pavillions