The History Chap Podcast

Send me a messageGet My NewsletterThe battle of Plassey, fought on the 23rd June 1757 changed India (& arguably Britain) forever.On that date, Robert Clive with an East India Company army of about 3,000 defeated 50,000 troops under the Nawab of Bengal.It effectively began the British Empire’s 200-year rule in India.But do you know what actually happened at the battle?Or how C

Send me a messageThis is the real story of behind the film "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare"Support the Show.

Send me a messageA colonial confrontation in Africa that nearly led to an all-out war between Britain & France.Get in touch at my website: thehistorychap.comSupport the Show.

Send me a messageRichard Todd - who played Major John Howard in the epic film about D-Day 1944 ("The Longest Day") was actually a D-Day veteran.Indeed, he was part of the airborne landings that had captured Pegasus Bridge, alongside Major Howard himself.This is the story of his D-Day experiences.Now listen to the full account of Major Howard and the battle of Pegasus Bridge Get my

Send me a messageThe Battle of Pegasus Bridge was fought just after midnight on the 6th June 1944, when 180 British airborne troops, led by Major John Howard successfully captured 2 bridges in Normandy.This action, helped secure the eastern flank of the seaborne landings 6 hours later.The capture and then holding of those two bridges by the numerically outnumbered British airborne

Send me a messageThis is the little-told story about the weather forecasters who prevented a disaster on D Day 1944.Get my free weekly history newsletterSupport the Show.

Send me a messageExercise Tiger was a large-scale dress rehearsal for the D-Day landings in 1944 that went horribly wrong.A friendly fire incident was compounded when high-speed German torpedo boats intercepted an American convoy off the coast of Southern England. Over 700 men were killed, more than were killed on Utah beach on D-Day itself!Support my work by becoming a patron or s

Send me a messageGeneral Sir William Butler, was an enigmatic member of Sir Garnet Wolseley’s Ashanti Ring of officers in the British Army during the late 19th century.And yet, despite being part of Queen Victoria’s army as it painted large parts of the globe British red, he was also a passionate supporter of Irish Home Rule and of Boer Independence in South Africa.Indeed, ther

Send me a messageDonald Pleasence, who starred in "The Great Escape" was actually a WW2 Prisoner of War (POW).He later found fame as Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and as Dr. Loomis in the cult horror film "Halloween".Support My Channel as a Patron:Donald Pleasence served in the RAF from 1940, particpating in 60 bombing missions.Eventually his Lancaster bomber was shot down wh

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