A logistics masterpiece in the middle of nowhere (1867-68)

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  • Опубліковано 19 жов 2023
  • Did you know that in 1868 Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) was invaded by the British in a campaign as fearsome and as challenging as any the British army have faced?
    It’s a fascinating and little-known Victorian era war - But why did it happen? In this video I ask collector and historian Ian Shapiro to explain more.
    You can find Ian on Instagram... / ianjshapiro
    Buy Redcoat History Merch: redcoathistory.myspreadshop.c...
    If you are also interested in the Zulu War, then please sign up for my mailing list to receive my free book on the subject: redcoathistory.com/newsletter/
    If you are very generous, you can also buy me a coffee and help support the channel via ko-fi.com/redcoathistory

КОМЕНТАРІ • 84

  • @darhug1968a
    @darhug1968a 8 місяців тому +22

    Pretty much everything I have learned about British Colonial wars comes from reading Flashman novels - including this. Not a bad way to learn as the history is always spot on.

    • @WNH3
      @WNH3 8 місяців тому +4

      You've reminded me--I need to re-read that series.

    • @philhawley1219
      @philhawley1219 8 місяців тому +3

      Macdonald Frazer was an extremely knowledgeable historian.

    • @paulcampbell5202
      @paulcampbell5202 8 місяців тому +3

      Totally agree. I have all of the Flashman books, collected over the years and I would recommend them to anybody who wants to understand the history of that era! If I taught a university course on Victorian era military campaigns, I would list the appropriate Flashman book as a required text!

    • @threestepssideways1202
      @threestepssideways1202 8 місяців тому +1

      Agreed, the great GRRM did military history lovers proud, and taught so many of us so much, and gave us the impetus to find out more. His research was only overshadowed by his writing.

    • @iainsanders4775
      @iainsanders4775 8 місяців тому +1

      'Prelude to Magdala', a pretty good modern account - if you can be bothered to read real history. Piccies too 😁!

  • @Tadicuslegion78
    @Tadicuslegion78 8 місяців тому +18

    If I had a nickel for every forgotten British War in Africa and Asia during the 19th century, I could fund my own army

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +3

      Nice one.

    • @philvanderlaan5942
      @philvanderlaan5942 8 місяців тому +10

      If I had a George McDonald Fraser novel for every forgotten 19th century British war I’d never be bored again.

  • @alexthomson3001
    @alexthomson3001 8 місяців тому +12

    Have read the "Flashman" novels, and visited Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow and was Stunned to see the monuments that depicted it. Not "little known" to those that care, just far more 'niche' than the headline campaigns of the day.

  • @keithagn
    @keithagn 8 місяців тому +8

    Great story, and very interesting. An army travels on it's stomach so logistics are, indeed, the most important. Thank you! Regards from Canada 🇨🇦

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +2

      Thanks a lot. Glad you enjoyed it. Got some other good videos coming up over next few weeks also

  • @JohnRackham-nq1uq
    @JohnRackham-nq1uq 8 місяців тому +9

    Aww the Abyssinian war at last. Been waiting for this episode for a looong time. 😊Thank you Sir. 🙏🏻

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +1

      No worries. If it does well I may do more in the future. Thanks

  • @andhelm7097
    @andhelm7097 8 місяців тому +5

    Thanks for covering this .I read about it many years ago.

  • @p03saucez
    @p03saucez 8 місяців тому +3

    8:42
    Brilliant closing thoughts from the gentleman and spoken so concisely. This was a damn good video.

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +1

      Thanks a lot. Ian was good value. Glad you enjoyed the video.

  • @WNH3
    @WNH3 8 місяців тому +5

    Well done--you've extracted yet another nugget from that exhibition!

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +2

      Thanks a lot. Yep, been meaning to edit this for ages but things kept getting in the way 👍🏼

  • @adventuresinhistoryland5501
    @adventuresinhistoryland5501 8 місяців тому +3

    Very fascinating campaign, and one I mean to look into further.

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому

      Cheers Josh. Glad you found it interesting

  • @DrivermanO
    @DrivermanO 8 місяців тому +7

    Two comments already about Flashman! I agree with them both - but some of the words used may offend these days! I've just reread the Indian Mutiny one! George McDonald Fraser is an excellent author - Quartered Safe Out Here is superb, as are the McAuslan books.

  • @WilliamJohnwon1522
    @WilliamJohnwon1522 8 місяців тому +5

    Harry Flashman was there and met Emperor Theodore and he was madder than Jack MacMad apparently, Emperor Theodore A great way to learn history read George MacDonald Fraser'a Flashman series.

  • @Sgtklark
    @Sgtklark 8 місяців тому +2

    I was hoping to see the photo of the king's mortar, which was huge and is supposed to be half buried to this day. I haven't seen a photo of it.

  • @shreddedwheat5977
    @shreddedwheat5977 8 місяців тому +2

    Amazing! To be able to learn about my grandfathers story like this just blows me away. Thank you for making this!

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +2

      That’s great news. I’m glad you were able to learn more about your relative.

  • @martinhogg5337
    @martinhogg5337 8 місяців тому +3

    Great story of an expedition that I never knew about. Most enjoyable!

  • @seanford2358
    @seanford2358 8 місяців тому +4

    The deputy Adjundant-General on this campaign was Frederic Thesiger (later Lord Chelmsford of Zulu War infamy)…surprisingly unmentioned?!

    • @johnyoung663
      @johnyoung663 8 місяців тому +1

      Unmentioned, but he appeared in one of the group photographs leaning in towards Napier.

    • @seanford2358
      @seanford2358 8 місяців тому +1

      @@johnyoung663 I know - that’s why I was surprised his name wasn’t mentioned!!

  • @JohnM-cd4ou
    @JohnM-cd4ou 8 місяців тому +2

    I just reread Flashman on the March. Great timing

  • @gilliantaylor9675
    @gilliantaylor9675 8 місяців тому +3

    good and full of info. would have a book list for sources of more info . . The only other story of redcoats in the same area is general Baird's march from the red sea to the Nile in 1801 .A good book about this is biography "Our Davie" by Arthur H. Haley

  • @philhawley1219
    @philhawley1219 8 місяців тому +2

    For more information on invasions of Ethiopia refer to the first chapters of Wilfred Thesiger's Arabian Sands.

  • @thatcouncilestatekid1832
    @thatcouncilestatekid1832 8 місяців тому +9

    That’s what happened back then if you poked a stick in the bee hive. Great informative post we should never stop learning

  • @fryertuck6496
    @fryertuck6496 6 місяців тому

    This is known as the most efficient military campaign ever conducted.
    It was a logistical masterclass.

  • @rebeccahauser2649
    @rebeccahauser2649 8 місяців тому +2

    You can tell the artist had never seen an Ethiopian.

  • @cameronsimpson-ld8nk
    @cameronsimpson-ld8nk 8 місяців тому +1

    Wonderful Chris.

  • @FranciscoPreira
    @FranciscoPreira 8 місяців тому

    Did't knew about this one, thanks for sharing.

  • @PtolemyJones
    @PtolemyJones 7 місяців тому

    Another great Flashman novel taught me about this one.

  • @katywalker8322
    @katywalker8322 8 місяців тому +1

    Have a read of Dando and the Mad Emperor, for a fiction book following a private soldier in this campaign.

  • @mysterroniouscherry326
    @mysterroniouscherry326 3 місяці тому

    Anyone knew this battle from reading The Prince Who Walked With Lions?

  • @redjacc7581
    @redjacc7581 8 місяців тому +4

    why dont you explain why he never got a reply to his diplomatic overtures?

  • @patrioticarchive
    @patrioticarchive 8 місяців тому +1

    A logistical nightmare made possible by British ingenuity

  • @paddymeboy
    @paddymeboy 4 місяці тому

    It wasn't an invasion - Britain never intended to annex the country. It was an 'expedition'.

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  4 місяці тому

      I think that is clear in the video. Hope you are well. What book would you reccomend on the campaign?

  • @bolaboent.5568
    @bolaboent.5568 Місяць тому

    Nice Content ! hey man, i'm from the birth place of king tewodros. can you tell me more about that story? any footages? any more pictures? what happened to captain Spedy? and more

  • @alessiodecarolis
    @alessiodecarolis 8 місяців тому +1

    I liked expecially the last comment, if you occupy you should always care about the objectives, sadly, if we look to modern wars, it seems that this is sorely neglected.

  • @DidierDidier-kc4nm
    @DidierDidier-kc4nm 8 місяців тому

    hello !!im a blue coat new subscriber (sace bleu ) could you do one day a topic about Roger' s scouts . thx. great channel !

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +1

      Welcome 👍🏼 will look into it. Thanks for the comment

    • @DidierDidier-kc4nm
      @DidierDidier-kc4nm 8 місяців тому

      @@redcoathistory thank you

  • @johnyoung663
    @johnyoung663 8 місяців тому

    The actor Peter Ustinov’s ancestors were numbered amongst the hostages.

  • @Studywise_io
    @Studywise_io 20 днів тому

    It wasn't a bit of looting

  • @danielblake6850
    @danielblake6850 8 місяців тому +1

    Sorry to bother you i couldnt see the link for those T-shirts? Good video as always bud, i like the idea of Great Britain flexing its muscle politcally and militarly to save hostages
    and go home once the jobs done. Cant see that happening in this day and age.

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому

      Hi mate. Thanks for the message. Glad you enjoyed the video. The link is in the video description - I’ll cut and paste it here also

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому

      redcoathistory.myspreadshop.co.uk/

  • @ibrry4273
    @ibrry4273 8 місяців тому +1

    Did Egypt Contribute in the expedition?

    • @redcoathistory
      @redcoathistory  8 місяців тому +1

      I don’t believe so - my understanding is that the army was an Anglo-Indian one

  • @peterfrance702
    @peterfrance702 7 місяців тому

    Unfortunately I don't happen to be half the man you think I am. Sorry. Hey, but a great story. Thanks!

  • @Horwitz86
    @Horwitz86 8 місяців тому

    Romanov the Windsors

  • @SocialStudiess
    @SocialStudiess 7 місяців тому

    Anyone else figure out had not this happened, Ethiopia wouldn’t of been able to beat the Italians in the Battle of Adwa… The British basically left all the militia they brought into the area behind. Thus the Ethiopians having weaponary when Italians came😮

    • @abebe7017
      @abebe7017 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong here! The Italians armed Ethiopia themselves! Read history please

    • @abebe7017
      @abebe7017 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong here! The Italians armed Ethiopia themselves! Read history please

    • @abebe7017
      @abebe7017 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong here! The Italians armed Ethiopia themselves! Read history please

    • @abebe7017
      @abebe7017 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong here! The Italians armed Ethiopia themselves! Read history please

    • @abebe7017
      @abebe7017 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong here! The Italians armed Ethiopia themselves! Read history please

  • @scrubsrc4084
    @scrubsrc4084 7 місяців тому +1

    Americans of their day? That's a bit of an insult

  • @Ubique2927
    @Ubique2927 8 місяців тому +1

    Soldiers stop being infantry, artillery, zapper or gunner when made a brigadier general.

  • @user-yf7gj4xz1s
    @user-yf7gj4xz1s Місяць тому

    So, just WHY were the British forces invading in the middle of nowhere?

  • @Israelabyirdaw7
    @Israelabyirdaw7 2 місяці тому

    Why do they need the indians and elephants all that bc they know invading ethiopia is not playing with kid