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Victorian Warriors: The Brutal Reality of the Men Who Built the British Empire

Redcoat History

428,948 views

Explore the fascinating world of Victorian British soldiers—the brave men who built and defended an empire. Discover how they were recruited, their rigorous daily routines, and the camaraderie that bound them. Dive into their real stories and ask yourself: Could you have endured the demanding life of a Victorian soldier?

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20 Comments

@redcoathistory Creator 1 year ago Pinned

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@carlinglin7289 1 year ago

A bit sobering to realize that, as bad as it was, for many Victorian urban poor enlisting in the Army was a step up in the world.

@CAP198462 1 year ago

“What’s it matter if they’re pissed or poxed as long as they can fight” - Sharpe.

@A.Mardle 1 year ago

Army living conditions - at least in barracks - were better than the urban slums or the poorest rural villages. If they hadn't been, the army would never have worked as an organisation. This was the case for many recruits up to the 1970s when a warm barracks with hot showers on demand, three big meals a day, and money in your pocket was a big step up from the conditions they'd experienced as children. Part of the modern army's retention problem is that it can no longer compete with civilian living conditions.

@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf 1 year ago

My Irish ancestor escaped the Famine and joined the army at 18 and ended up in the Crimean war

@HooligansSupperClub 1 year ago

My neighbourhood in Nova Scotia, Canada started as land grants for veterans of the Napoleonic Wars. At one time there was a nearby village named Wellington, after the general.

@neptuneblood6916 1 year ago

I think Wellington said the thing that scared him the most was his own men

@Furniture121 1 year ago

Promotions, the reason for the navy's Thursday toast "A bloody war or a sickly season!"

@redcoat192 1 year ago

"We have in the service the scum of the earth as common soldiers." - Duke of Wellington

@calicocat6571 1 year ago

I know one cavalry officer that didnt purchase himself all the way up. That was William Morris, who rode with the light brigade at Balaclava. Unfortunately, he died young in India. Was promoted to Liutenant-Colonel for his bravery. A brilliant career that ended too soon.

@FranciscoPreira 1 year ago

Good lord, being a soldier on those days was indeed a bloody torment. Great video again mate, thanks for sharing.

@andrewbage3250 1 year ago

My first posting was to York, the modernised barrack rooms were the old cavalry stables from Victorian times, and sometimes the smell was horrendous lol

@pipes9878 1 year ago

My great³ grandfather was in India during the Indian mutiny. His wife and children were off barracks, They were strung up and killed. Fortunately he remarried (or I wouldn't be here) this 2nd marriage was accepted and they lived on barracks. My family predominately stayed in India until 1914. My great grandfather and his 7 brothers and 4 sisters being born in Bangalore.

@hiramabiff2017 1 year ago

The battle of Agincourt victory 1415 Henry V attributed his win to the , burly drunken British Longbowman street fighters , who after pulling 150lb bow string hundreds of times within a few hours could knock a man out with 1 simple punch.

@barrysmart2389 1 year ago

My great great great grandfather Andrew Mulvaney served with the 40th foot throughout the Peninsular war and survived. A muster roll described him while in hospital as "very severely ill". After he left the 40th just before Waterloo he joined the 48th foot and was sent to Australia on garrison duty at Cox's river. All his sons joined the 48th foot and were at the siege of Sevastopol.

@jovanweismiller7114 1 year ago

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
~Rudyard Kipling, "Tommy"

@welshwarrior5263 1 year ago

We didn't hunt or fish in our past time, but we drank plenty of beer and chased many women. Great stuff again. Thanks Chris.

@nacholibre1962 1 year ago

The year I joined, there were 160,000 regs and 63,000 reserves. Half of that today!

@thebeautifulones1978 1 year ago

A letter written by an ancestor of mine in a hussar regiment in the Sikh Wars was all about the various Indian animals he hunted. He was in the charge at the battle of chillenwalla .