I still have a Christmas card fron the late Lieutenant Colonel Eric Charles Wilson VC who was awarded it for his actions in the Somaliland Camel Corps during WW2. At the time of his death in 2008, he was last surviving British Army recipient of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War, and the earliest and oldest recipient. He's worth looking up.
My grandfather served with the Royal irish Regiment from 1899 - 1917. He was a young lad in the South African War from 1900-1902. He was wounded at Mons in 1914 and was listed as missing presumed dead for a period of time. He was in fact a POW at Zerbst in Germany. He was exchanged in 1917 via the Red Cross and made his way back to his home town of Clonmel Co. Tipperary. His brothers Michael had served in the South African war also and then served with the Kings Liverpool Regiment in WW1. His brother Richard was KIA in 1917 whilst serving with the 4th Queens Own Hussars. His brother George served with the 8th and later 14th Hussars and survived the war along with another brother Patrick who served with the Leinster Regiment and came home. My grandmother had three brothers who served in the South African war. One joined up again and served with the Munster Fusiliers and was KIA on Aug 15th 1915 near Suvla Bay. Another relation was KIA at Passchendaele on Aug 16th 1917. All in all I had nine relations serve in the great war of which three never came home. In WW2 I had two serve and two came home. The amount of men that joined the British army from Ireland after independence fell dramatically and has continued to decline since 1922. While none of my family that served have VC's I am indeed very proud of their service.
STOP IT, Chris old bean, I’m meant to be busy over here in Kefalonia, and once again YOU interrupt it all briefly with yet another absolutely INCREDIBLE and certainly also yet again wowsome video topic 😅😅😅. Cos WOW, the story of the Goth brothers Hugh and Charles and Charles’s son John, three family members who all received the Victoria Cross in certainly well deserved recognition services wherever which applied to whom, the third one John sadly being KIA whereas his father and uncle (if I got the latter reference right) both got to retire and die happily post their great career services… yet another damn forgotten piece of history that YOU have brought to incredibleness giving light to us, our UA-cam British military history superstar school teacher 😆😆😁😁😁, and this comes after Monday’s update on the Battle of Lake Tanganyika as well, TWO incredible videos from you in one week. Just HOW do you keep this up, eh, Chris dear bean? Your channel, I swear, is one of the BEST EVER in terms of British military history lessons and incredible stories I never ever learned about in school, how SO damn happy I am I found you by pure luck and chance last year, what incredible topic are you going to do NEXT, I wonder? Guess we’ll wait and see next week 👏👏👏
My father served in England during World War II. He was with the US 134th anti aircraft artillery battalion. Originally, they were supposed to go ashore at Normandy, but when the buzz bomb started coming over, they transferred his unit over to Dover. His particular unit was credited was over 100 kills during that time. Sometime in September, they were transferred to France there he served through the battle of the Bulge and Remagen until the end of the war. I was wondering if maybe sometime you would consider doing a story about the buzz bombs and the way they were countered.
I served 15 years as an Officer in the American Navy (Chaplain. Had the pleasure of meeting your Second Sea Lord here in the States when he was a Commodore, and I met your Chaplain of the Fleet for 2018-2021, back in Germany at NATO in 2014.) My father was an American Army Officer, my grandfather a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, some ancestors fought for (were drafted and forced by) the Confederacy, others for the US Army stretching back into the Revolutionary War. And some ancestors were colonial officers back in the 1600s-early 1700s for the British. May have some who were German officers during that age of colonization as well. Thank you for your videos and the history you bring alive for us!
Another excellent article I find your stories extremely informative and interesting about little known incidents in our history, thank you and keep up the good work 👏👏👏
Another superb work, that one of the "White Indian Mutiny" is quite interesting. As for family military tradition, I had a great grand father in the African campaigns of 1895, a grand father in the Great War in 1917-18, a father and various uncles in the Colonial Wars 1961-74, and I had my humble 6 year, because I was volunteer, military service. Thanks for sharing.
I had the absolute honour of (coincidentally) meeting Joshua Leakey VC a couple of years back. I wouldn’t have known he was anything special had my colleague not have told me who he was. You’d have had no idea that he was one of the bravest people alive. And I think that’s what sets them apart.
I sat and played peanut poker with Melvin Biddle a few times at a 40&8. He never said a word about WW2 and never knew he was like Leakey you mentioned. It was someone else who told me Melvin was a Medal of Honor holder.
You still haven’t done the story of the Bradford Brothers, George, James, Roland and Thomas Bradford were all decorated for their service during the First World War, 2 were V.C. Recipients. At the age of 25, youngest brother Roland became the youngest Brigadier General in the history of the British Army
Hi Chris, Thank you very much for what you do! One topic you may not have covered is another time when the British Army (and the Australians) went to war on Camels in WW1! The Imperial Camel Corps. I first became interested when I found a photograph in my late mothers collection, of a British Officer on a camel in front of the Sphinx in Egypt. I subsequently found out it was my Grandfathers Brother in Law William Fredrick Strickland. He was part of Allenby's army that liberated the Holy Land in 1917. He was subsequently member of Parliament for Coventry from 1931 to 1945. He frequently spoke in support of Palestine in Parliament and I un-beknowing until recently, continue that support to this day.
@TheHistoryChap , Thanks so much for sharing this incredible story, Charles rescuing his brother Hugh could have been the inspiration for one of my favourite songs TWO LITTLE BOYS The first chorus talks about when the boys were younger and playing with wooden horses Did you think I would leave you crying When there's room on my horse for two Climb up here Jack and don't be crying I can go just as fast with two When we grow up we'll both be soldiers And our horses will not be toys And I wonder if we'll remember When we were two little boys The second chorus was later when both boys were older and in a battle riding real horses Did you think I would leave you dying When there's room on my horse for two Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying I can go just as fast with two Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble Perhaps it's the battle's noise But I think it's that I remember When we were two little boys
The heir to this illustrious family is a good friend Chris. His father was a colonel, his grandfather, a brigadier and his great-grandfather, a general as I seem to recall. He was seen as breaking the tradition by becoming a barrister. He's surprisingly modest about it all.
Paddy Gough, Sir Hugh Gough, was colorfully portrayed in "Flashman and the Mountain of Light," wearing his white fighting coat and going balls to the wall against the Sikhs. "Oy've nivier been beaten and Oy niver will be beaten." Flash finds himself a reluctant participant in the war ("I'd swim in blood first"), but as always despite his best efforts is a hero.
I don't say this lightly, but it seems it was a lot easier to be awarded the VC than in modern time? Brilliant story and learning every day watching your channel. Thank you.
@@anthonyeaton5153 totally, though it seems from there until now the VC is very rarely given out considering some very brave people have done extraordinary things
Since you want to know, my father told me of his ship meeting up with a British one, when he was in the Navy in the mid fifties. He said he tried to talk with a Cockney, but couldn't understand him. He also told me a few funny stories, which encouraged me to join the Navy, when I needed work. My grandfather was over forty when the we entered the second world war; he still might have been recruited, but not likely. I don't know if my great grandfather ( on that side) served, but his father-in-law was a Confederate veteran. One of my other great grandfathers, I mentioned, was in the Spanish American war - I believe he was sent to the Philippines. His father was a Union veteran, and HIS father, I believe, was in the war of 1812 In the same family, I had at least three great uncles who fought in WWII I mentioned others, who were on either side during the American revolution, and before that, several served in Colonial wars, including the Pequot war. I believe he wasn't proud of it. Now, in all that, when I was young, I only knew of my father's service...
13:34 "What's Your Story"... not mine, but, I'm the youngest of 7 kids. Our father was a Combat Veteran of WWII. Dad served as a Staff Sergeant with the US Army Air Forces. He was originally thought to be heading for the European campaign, but eventually ended up in the 20th US Army Air Force, 7th Army Air Corp, 414th Fighter/Bomber Group, 413th F/B Squadron and was sent to the South Pacific Campaign on Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Dad trained after boot camp to be a Flightline Engineer and Mechanic on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The 414th was one of the first P-47 Thunderbolt Groups to arrive on Iwo Jima during the 2nd week of March, after the US Marines had captured and cleared areas around the air fields on the island. Their Squadron was tasked with sorties of Air to Ground support for the Marines still clearing out the cave of Japanese Soldiers. They also ran air coverage protection of the US Navy warships in and around Iwo. I still have the photograph's that dad mailed back home to mom and she made up albums for him. There's some pretty gruesome pictures of unalived Japanese Soldiers. Also, numerous of the air operations and the cemeteries of our US Marines KIA. Dad told me about the day the first A bomb was dropped. The crews had been told not to prepare sorties that morning. They knew something was going on, but secrecy was very tight. They saw the B-29's (that flew off Saipan) that morning, but that was nothing new... they flew sorties over the Japanese Islands almost daily. However, once the crews returned, everyone was advised. They were hoping it was going to end the war after the first one. The 2nd A bomb sortie, they knew what was happening. Just no details until returning. Dad demobbed in November 1945, returned home to Princeton, West Virginia. Had the opportunity to either become a Virginia State Trooper or a Class A Transmission/Distribution Lineman for Appalachian Power Company. He chose the latter, spending 38 years with APCO. He and mom raised 7 of us kids in a Blue Collar Christian home starting in Princeton and then transferring to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1956. He never really talked about the war until later in life. Dad reconnected with his buddy and tent mate on Iwo Jima in the late 80's. My eldest brother was able to get recordings of our dad (Robert E DeHart - Staff Sergeant) and Bob Baldwin (Sergeant) about their time on the island, working in their respective fields. Dad as the Thunderbolt Flightline Engineer and Mechanic and Mr Baldwin as a Mess/Cook Personal. We always joked (later in life) about dad's love of Vienna Sausages. Mr Baldwin would always allocate the big tins of Vienna Sausages to their tent. Mom and dad were married 62 years, losing mom in '02 at 79 yo. Dad passed 4 years later in '06 at 88 yo. Leaving behind their 7 very successful children and 8 grandchildren. Dad earned 4 metals. The WWII Victory Metal, Good Conduct Metal, American Campaign Metal and the South Pacific/Asiatic Campaign Metal with two Unit Bronze Stars.
The military history of my family is one of service in the US Navy and with the US Army by my brother and I. He served 10 years of active duty and I served 4 years of active duty and 4 years in the National Guard. My father was UDT which was the forerunners of the SEALS.
Hello Chris, we have chatted to one another in the Past about Brom road Cemetery, I had served in the Australian Army in 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for 6 years, my Uncle Francis had served in the Italian Alpino Julia regiment that went to Russia in WW2 unfortunately he never returned and was M.I.A. in Jan 1943 he bad been awarded croce de valoure when he was at the Don river. There is many more stories, to listen to always history repeats itself.
My grandfather served on the Western Front in 1918 with the 19th Durham Light Infantry. Dad served with the 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion as part of the 7th Division, AIF in Syria, and NewGuinea. I served for 12 yrs with a number of Australian Army Reserve units being part of what was known as the Koalas - protected species never to be exported in the 1970s and 80s. And my son served in the Australian Army Reserve in the last battalion I served with, 2/17 Royal NSW Regiment. Somewhat proudly I can claim four generations of Infantry.
@TheHistoryChap I am a retired History teacher with an obvious interest in the British and Australian Armies. I greatly appreciate the depth of your research but really enjoy the style of your presentation and the obvious joy you have in narrating the episode. Keep up the good work.
The Goughs clearly were among the most distinguished military families in British history just like the Hohenzollerns were one of the most distinguished military families in Prussian and German history as a number of it's members were rewarded Iron Crosses, Pour le Merites, and certain cases, reached the rank of field marshal. I am open to a video on the Abyssinian expedition and a video on Robert's march to Kandahar and the subsequent battle. As always, keep up the good work!
You should find out about Dip Prasad Pun, who was decorated for gallantry in Afghanistann - with the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - his grandfather won the VC in WW2. That is quite a record
Great video, as always. Thanks! If you're looking for ideas, I've seen from your library in the background and comments in some videos, that you're a Flashman reader. Have you thought of doing a series about the conflicts he 'fought' in, perhaps comparing Flashmans point of view to recorded history? I know you've covered many already. Just an idea ...?
I served with a LTC James Gough, Royal Australian Signal Corps, at a Unified Command. I wonder if there was an relation. I have had relatives in every American war since Queen Anne's War in 1712. I represented the Cold War.
My father was a warrant officer in the Chungking building where General Carton de Wiart was based in China. We still have an original copy of that book at home. I will admit I have read only a few select chapters of it, but I am pretty sure that the General was not the greatest self-publicist. Now it doesn't seem that amazing that a mere warrant officer paymaster from the Signal Regiment worked in the same building, but there really were only a handful of Brits in the building. And they definitely had contact with Chiang Kai Shek, Madame Sun Yat Sen and even bankrolled communist forces. Dad also left in 47, via Hong-Kong, so perhaps he was on the same ship back. A family friend was also in that building. The two of them stayed behind for 6 weeks at the end of WW2 to burn all the documents, as there was always massive mutual mistrust in Chungking, at every step. That building is now a museum. Maybe I'll visit it someday.
@@TheHistoryChap Looking around online sites on C de W, there is usually a Cecil Beaton photo of him in China. Cecil Beaton volunteered to go out to China to create propaganda photo albums of the nationalist war effort. My father was certainly at the military legation when Cecil arrived, and may have been involved in taking him to photolocations. I note C de W considered ordinary Chinese as hardworking and cheerful in adversity. And Cecil also caught some of that in his China photo album. (There was an Indian one as well.) We also still have those albums at home. And another book 'Farewell Campo 12', which was written about C de W's imprisonment and escape efforts in Italy. As my father's wartime colleague/friend in Chongking had a post war career in publishing, I kind of imagine that he might have been involved in the production of those books; as he also later gifted us a Penguin book on Orde Wingate and the Chindits.
I heard vaguely about the "White Mutiny" in India, basically it was about terms and conditions as they weren't happy about being absorbed into the British Army. The Curragh mutiny was, thankfully, safely defused. Another excellent presentation.
Hi Chris. As ever, enjoyed this video, thanks. Having seen on your bookshelf a couple of Flashman books, I wonder whether you have ever thought of doing something on their accuracy and whether Britain's most famous Victorian soldier, and also a recipient of the VC, did indeed undertake the deeds recounted in his diaries, or whether the events described actually differ.
Would you be able to shed light on how there is a CWGC cemetery in cassouli cyprus from WW1? I have a family member who is interned there. Please share your investigations with us. Keith.
I would be interested to find out the ratio of VC recipients of Officers and other ranks as to see was it an equal measure or as my Grandfather said (a First WW1 conscript) the men do the fighting the Officers get a medal.
In the case of Victoria Cross and George Cross the citations are for personal bravery, so real hands-on soldiering. Campaign medals the opposite being present was enough. Between these extremes may be unit recognition, and as we know, it takes a great team to get results ...
Seeing the Head Stone of Brigadier General Gough is a poignant reminder that 224 General officers in the British and Dominion armies during WW1 were killed, wounded, captured, or died on active service during the war. A reality far removed from the message in the BBC's Blackadder. The truth is that the much larger French and German armies Generals had much lower casualty rates.
Only three father-son VC winners, eh? In the US we only have two father-son pares of Medal of Honor winners, Gens. Arthur MacArthur and Douglas MacArthur as well as President Theodor Roosevelt and Theodore Jr.
Thanks for watching my video. In answer to your question, I don't know. I have heard it being about WW1 and also the US Civil War. May be someone out there knows.
I have a question for you Chap 👦 How many bombers blew up on the runway during takeoff in the UK during WW2? A member of my family was the tail gunner on one and I'd like to figure out which base and plane he was on. He survived a full bombload detonation on takeoff while still on the runway. He was found 100m away and probably wasn't feeling tip-top and finally arrived home in a full body cast. He lived a long life but there were some things he hated discussing, the war was one. He blamed himself because he had seen runway damage on his second last flight during takeoff and couldn't remember if he reported it and he thought it was the reason his friends di3d. Rough one but so is war😢
@@EastBayFlipperAssuming that you are American, the USAF Archive would provide information about units stationed in Europe for the massive daytime raids... There's also something in Wikipedia about RAF stations and the units there..
I had no idea that the British ever fought with the Bhutanese! Bhutan 🇧🇹 is such a peaceful Buddhist country I can’t imagine them going to war with the British!
I do not think I would want to serve in a unit commanded by a man whose family had all won medals. Gong hunters are more dangerous to their own men than the enemy.
3 Victoria Crosses got me thinking... Wonder what army division or even brigade has won the most Victoria Crosses and other medals throughout history? looking at the figures it is harder to obtain a Victoria Cross if you serving in the Royal Navy
RAMC medics have won more VC’s than any other ‘unit’. Which kind of makes sense. For individual army/navy/air force units that would be a good thing to hear about.
Are you even British if you’re born in India or just a traitor to you homeland. I mean “colonial possession”. Golf is fun to especially mini golf. The windmills always get me.
“Wounded by the enemy”. Not “wounded by the people we colonised and brutally slaughtered and oppressed”. Yes. Gallantry and chivalry aren’t dead. Look at the house of peers…
Oh dear, The Bleeding Heart Brigade just turned up trying to equate an historical event with modern Wokery. You can't judge people from times gone by with modern Moralities. Their lives were lived by different Moralities and different sensibilities. What happened, happened. Getting all righteous about it doesn't alter it. You can learn by mistakes, of course. But who's to say that what happens in the world today will be approved of by future generations ?? Therefore the argument is not just moot, its ridiculous as well.
congratulations 🎉 you win today’s prize for the most ill informed, banal and asinine post.. Don’t let actual history get in the way of your neomarxist revisionist history 🤦♂️.. Power to the people, comrade ✊..
I do believe there is a family with four VCs not as close as brothers ergo Molly McTamney relative of Godfrey chavasse VC and Bar and married to Charles upham VC and Bar yes she as no blood line but her children do ergo family
@TheHistoryChap , Thanks so much for sharing this incredible story, Charles rescuing his brother Hugh could have been the inspiration for one of my favourite songs TWO LITTLE BOYS The first chorus talks about when the boys were younger and playing with wooden horses Did you think I would leave you crying When there's room on my horse for two Climb up here Jack and don't be crying I can go just as fast with two When we grow up we'll both be soldiers And our horses will not be toys And I wonder if we'll remember When we were two little boys The second chorus was later when both boys were older and in a battle riding real horses Did you think I would leave you dying When there's room on my horse for two Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying I can go just as fast with two Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble Perhaps it's the battle's noise But I think it's that I remember When we were two little boys
I still have a Christmas card fron the late Lieutenant Colonel Eric Charles Wilson VC who was awarded it for his actions in the Somaliland Camel Corps during WW2. At the time of his death in 2008, he was last surviving British Army recipient of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War, and the earliest and oldest recipient. He's worth looking up.
Thanks for sharing.
@@TheHistoryChap It's a Victoria Cross and George Cross Association Christmas card. I imagine that they are somewhat rare these days.
In Somaliland, he is known as a terrorist.
Another fascinating tale, Chris. You never cease to provide brilliant, interesting and enthralling content.
Thank you very much.
My grandfather served with the Royal irish Regiment from 1899 - 1917. He was a young lad in the South African War from 1900-1902. He was wounded at Mons in 1914 and was listed as missing presumed dead for a period of time. He was in fact a POW at Zerbst in Germany. He was exchanged in 1917 via the Red Cross and made his way back to his home town of Clonmel Co. Tipperary. His brothers Michael had served in the South African war also and then served with the Kings Liverpool Regiment in WW1. His brother Richard was KIA in 1917 whilst serving with the 4th Queens Own Hussars. His brother George served with the 8th and later 14th Hussars and survived the war along with another brother Patrick who served with the Leinster Regiment and came home. My grandmother had three brothers who served in the South African war. One joined up again and served with the Munster Fusiliers and was KIA on Aug 15th 1915 near Suvla Bay. Another relation was KIA at Passchendaele on Aug 16th 1917. All in all I had nine relations serve in the great war of which three never came home. In WW2 I had two serve and two came home. The amount of men that joined the British army from Ireland after independence fell dramatically and has continued to decline since 1922. While none of my family that served have VC's I am indeed very proud of their service.
Thanks for watching my video and also for sharing your family story. What very brave relatives you had.
STOP IT, Chris old bean, I’m meant to be busy over here in Kefalonia, and once again YOU interrupt it all briefly with yet another absolutely INCREDIBLE and certainly also yet again wowsome video topic 😅😅😅.
Cos WOW, the story of the Goth brothers Hugh and Charles and Charles’s son John, three family members who all received the Victoria Cross in certainly well deserved recognition services wherever which applied to whom, the third one John sadly being KIA whereas his father and uncle (if I got the latter reference right) both got to retire and die happily post their great career services… yet another damn forgotten piece of history that YOU have brought to incredibleness giving light to us, our UA-cam British military history superstar school teacher 😆😆😁😁😁, and this comes after Monday’s update on the Battle of Lake Tanganyika as well, TWO incredible videos from you in one week.
Just HOW do you keep this up, eh, Chris dear bean? Your channel, I swear, is one of the BEST EVER in terms of British military history lessons and incredible stories I never ever learned about in school, how SO damn happy I am I found you by pure luck and chance last year, what incredible topic are you going to do NEXT, I wonder? Guess we’ll wait and see next week 👏👏👏
Hope you are enjoying Kefalonia.
My father served in England during World War II. He was with the US 134th anti aircraft artillery battalion. Originally, they were supposed to go ashore at Normandy, but when the buzz bomb started coming over, they transferred his unit over to Dover. His particular unit was credited was over 100 kills during that time. Sometime in September, they were transferred to France there he served through the battle of the Bulge and Remagen until the end of the war. I was wondering if maybe sometime you would consider doing a story about the buzz bombs and the way they were countered.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your family story,
I will add your request to my ever growing list. Thank you.
He must have saved a lot of civilian casualties with his expertise, thank you.
I served 15 years as an Officer in the American Navy (Chaplain. Had the pleasure of meeting your Second Sea Lord here in the States when he was a Commodore, and I met your Chaplain of the Fleet for 2018-2021, back in Germany at NATO in 2014.)
My father was an American Army Officer, my grandfather a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, some ancestors fought for (were drafted and forced by) the Confederacy, others for the US Army stretching back into the Revolutionary War. And some ancestors were colonial officers back in the 1600s-early 1700s for the British. May have some who were German officers during that age of colonization as well.
Thank you for your videos and the history you bring alive for us!
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
Good story well told. Thank you.
Many thanks.
Another excellent article I find your stories extremely informative and interesting about little known incidents in our history, thank you and keep up the good work 👏👏👏
Another superb work, that one of the "White Indian Mutiny" is quite interesting. As for family military tradition, I had a great grand father in the African campaigns of 1895, a grand father in the Great War in 1917-18, a father and various uncles in the Colonial Wars 1961-74, and I had my humble 6 year, because I was volunteer, military service. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching & for sharing your family story.
I had the absolute honour of (coincidentally) meeting Joshua Leakey VC a couple of years back. I wouldn’t have known he was anything special had my colleague not have told me who he was. You’d have had no idea that he was one of the bravest people alive. And I think that’s what sets them apart.
I sat and played peanut poker with Melvin Biddle a few times at a 40&8. He never said a word about WW2 and never knew he was like Leakey you mentioned. It was someone else who told me Melvin was a Medal of Honor holder.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your interesting feedback
You still haven’t done the story of the Bradford Brothers, George, James, Roland and Thomas Bradford were all decorated for their service during the First World War, 2 were V.C. Recipients. At the age of 25, youngest brother Roland became the youngest Brigadier General in the history of the British Army
No, but there are on my list. Make sure that you subscribe to my channel so you don't miss.
Under 30 generals are always interesting stories.
Hi Chris, Thank you very much for what you do! One topic you may not have covered is another time when the British Army (and the Australians) went to war on Camels in WW1! The Imperial Camel Corps. I first became interested when I found a photograph in my late mothers collection, of a British Officer on a camel in front of the Sphinx in Egypt. I subsequently found out it was my Grandfathers Brother in Law William Fredrick Strickland. He was part of Allenby's army that liberated the Holy Land in 1917. He was subsequently member of Parliament for Coventry from 1931 to 1945. He frequently spoke in support of Palestine in Parliament and I un-beknowing until recently, continue that support to this day.
Keep up the great work Chris, you keep telling the stories of my family tree members, and the Gough family is there!!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video & re your comment, that is amazing.
@TheHistoryChap , Thanks so much for sharing this incredible story,
Charles rescuing his brother Hugh could have been the inspiration for one of my favourite songs TWO LITTLE BOYS
The first chorus talks about when the boys were younger and playing with wooden horses
Did you think I would leave you crying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don't be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we'll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we'll remember
When we were two little boys
The second chorus was later when both boys were older and in a battle riding real horses
Did you think I would leave you dying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys
thx again, Chris
🇨🇦🤟
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for this post
Thanks for watching my video.
Thank you so much for this Chris
Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for watching.
Always Fascinating!!!!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it.,
You are a wonderful storyteller. I love how you put a pin in a certain fact early in your story and bookmark it for later reference.
Thanks for your comment.
Awesome story as always. Thanks Chris
Glad you enjoyed it.
The heir to this illustrious family is a good friend Chris. His father was a colonel, his grandfather, a brigadier and his great-grandfather, a general as I seem to recall. He was seen as breaking the tradition by becoming a barrister. He's surprisingly modest about it all.
BTW, loved your quiz night this evening. Glad that I signed up as a patreon!
Thanks for your comments about the quiz an thanks too for your feedback on my video.
Fascinating history. Thank you for sharing this history with us
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video
Thank you for covering the Gough family VC s.😊 cheers
Thanks for watching my video.
Paddy Gough, Sir Hugh Gough, was colorfully portrayed in "Flashman and the Mountain of Light," wearing his white fighting coat and going balls to the wall against the Sikhs. "Oy've nivier been beaten and Oy niver will be beaten." Flash finds himself a reluctant participant in the war ("I'd swim in blood first"), but as always despite his best efforts is a hero.
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.
I don't say this lightly, but it seems it was a lot easier to be awarded the VC than in modern time? Brilliant story and learning every day watching your channel. Thank you.
Certainly a lot were handed out in India 1857-58
@@strongteee During WW1 the majority of 'VC winners' survived the action (if not the war) where as the VCs of WW2 died doing the deed .
@@anthonyeaton5153 totally, though it seems from there until now the VC is very rarely given out considering some very brave people have done extraordinary things
@@strongteeethe number of living Victoria Cross survivors is very slim
Thanks again, Chris!
Glad you enjoyed my video.
I was in Marlfield Church 3 weeks ago in Clonmel County Tipperary and saw the plaque to the memory of John Edmond Gough
of the Rifle Brigade.
Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.
Since you want to know, my father told me of his ship meeting up with a British one, when he was in the Navy in the mid fifties. He said he tried to talk with a Cockney, but couldn't understand him.
He also told me a few funny stories, which encouraged me to join the Navy, when I needed work.
My grandfather was over forty when the we entered the second world war; he still might have been recruited, but not likely. I don't know if my great grandfather ( on that side) served, but his father-in-law was a Confederate veteran.
One of my other great grandfathers, I mentioned, was in the Spanish American war - I believe he was sent to the Philippines. His father was a Union veteran, and HIS father, I believe, was in the war of 1812
In the same family, I had at least three great uncles who fought in WWII
I mentioned others, who were on either side during the American revolution, and before that, several served in Colonial wars, including the Pequot war. I believe he wasn't proud of it.
Now, in all that, when I was young, I only knew of my father's service...
Always great stories History Chap! Have you thought of doing anything on the two seiges of Louisbourg?
Glad you enjoyed my video. I will add your suggestion to my ever growing list.
13:34 "What's Your Story"... not mine, but, I'm the youngest of 7 kids. Our father was a Combat Veteran of WWII.
Dad served as a Staff Sergeant with the US Army Air Forces. He was originally thought to be heading for the European campaign, but eventually ended up in the 20th US Army Air Force, 7th Army Air Corp, 414th Fighter/Bomber Group, 413th F/B Squadron and was sent to the South Pacific Campaign on Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Iwo Jima.
Dad trained after boot camp to be a Flightline Engineer and Mechanic on the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
The 414th was one of the first P-47 Thunderbolt Groups to arrive on Iwo Jima during the 2nd week of March, after the US Marines had captured and cleared areas around the air fields on the island.
Their Squadron was tasked with sorties of Air to Ground support for the Marines still clearing out the cave of Japanese Soldiers.
They also ran air coverage protection of the US Navy warships in and around Iwo.
I still have the photograph's that dad mailed back home to mom and she made up albums for him. There's some pretty gruesome pictures of unalived Japanese Soldiers. Also, numerous of the air operations and the cemeteries of our US Marines KIA.
Dad told me about the day the first A bomb was dropped. The crews had been told not to prepare sorties that morning. They knew something was going on, but secrecy was very tight. They saw the B-29's (that flew off Saipan) that morning, but that was nothing new... they flew sorties over the Japanese Islands almost daily. However, once the crews returned, everyone was advised. They were hoping it was going to end the war after the first one. The 2nd A bomb sortie, they knew what was happening. Just no details until returning.
Dad demobbed in November 1945, returned home to Princeton, West Virginia. Had the opportunity to either become a Virginia State Trooper or a Class A Transmission/Distribution Lineman for Appalachian Power Company. He chose the latter, spending 38 years with APCO.
He and mom raised 7 of us kids in a Blue Collar Christian home starting in Princeton and then transferring to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1956.
He never really talked about the war until later in life. Dad reconnected with his buddy and tent mate on Iwo Jima in the late 80's. My eldest brother was able to get recordings of our dad (Robert E DeHart - Staff Sergeant) and Bob Baldwin (Sergeant) about their time on the island, working in their respective fields. Dad as the Thunderbolt Flightline Engineer and Mechanic and Mr Baldwin as a Mess/Cook Personal.
We always joked (later in life) about dad's love of Vienna Sausages. Mr Baldwin would always allocate the big tins of Vienna Sausages to their tent.
Mom and dad were married 62 years, losing mom in '02 at 79 yo. Dad passed 4 years later in '06 at 88 yo. Leaving behind their 7 very successful children and 8 grandchildren.
Dad earned 4 metals. The WWII Victory Metal, Good Conduct Metal, American Campaign Metal and the South Pacific/Asiatic Campaign Metal with two Unit Bronze Stars.
Every time I think he can’t top the previous episode…he does!
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
The military history of my family is one of service in the US Navy and with the US Army by my brother and I. He served 10 years of active duty and I served 4 years of active duty and 4 years in the National Guard. My father was UDT which was the forerunners of the SEALS.
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i was looking forward to this when i saw the community post
I hope you enjoyed it.
Another great video
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoined it.
Thank your Chris
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
Hello Chris, we have chatted to one another in the Past about Brom road Cemetery, I had served in the Australian Army in 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for 6 years, my Uncle Francis had served in the Italian Alpino Julia regiment that went to Russia in WW2 unfortunately he never returned and was M.I.A. in Jan 1943 he bad been awarded croce de valoure when he was at the Don river. There is many more stories, to listen to always history repeats itself.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your family war history. Thanks.
My family is one of few south african V.c Captain Reginald Frederick Johnson Hayward VC MC & Bar was my great grandfather bother 👏
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Very interesting and very impressive.
Miss you Friday morning, for me, chats Chris...
Thanks for watching my video. Sorry about the Friday morning chats. They now happen at 7pm Monday evenings UK time.
two VC's in my family, the Esmonde's, another Irish family too
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@@Dom-fx4kt Kudos.
My grandfather served on the Western Front in 1918 with the 19th Durham Light Infantry. Dad served with the 2nd/33rd Infantry Battalion as part of the 7th Division, AIF in Syria, and NewGuinea. I served for 12 yrs with a number of Australian Army Reserve units being part of what was known as the Koalas - protected species never to be exported in the 1970s and 80s. And my son served in the Australian Army Reserve in the last battalion I served with, 2/17 Royal NSW Regiment. Somewhat proudly I can claim four generations of Infantry.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your family military story. Thank you.
@TheHistoryChap I am a retired History teacher with an obvious interest in the British and Australian Armies. I greatly appreciate the depth of your research but really enjoy the style of your presentation and the obvious joy you have in narrating the episode. Keep up the good work.
The Goughs clearly were among the most distinguished military families in British history just like the Hohenzollerns were one of the most distinguished military families in Prussian and German history as a number of it's members were rewarded Iron Crosses, Pour le Merites, and certain cases, reached the rank of field marshal. I am open to a video on the Abyssinian expedition and a video on Robert's march to Kandahar and the subsequent battle. As always, keep up the good work!
Glad you enjoyed my video, thanks for your comments.
Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.
You should find out about Dip Prasad Pun, who was decorated for gallantry in Afghanistann - with the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - his grandfather won the VC in WW2. That is quite a record
Thanks for that information and for watching my video
Great video, as always. Thanks! If you're looking for ideas, I've seen from your library in the background and comments in some videos, that you're a Flashman reader. Have you thought of doing a series about the conflicts he 'fought' in, perhaps comparing Flashmans point of view to recorded history? I know you've covered many already. Just an idea ...?
Thanks for watching my video & your comment which I might add to my ever growing list. Thanks for the suggestion.
This totally Billy Badass! Why did I not know about this?
Glad you enjoyed.
I served with a LTC James Gough, Royal Australian Signal Corps, at a Unified Command. I wonder if there was an relation.
I have had relatives in every American war since Queen Anne's War in 1712. I represented the Cold War.
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Great episode Chris, how many brothers have won the VC and are there any Uncle/Nephew winners, keep up the good shows Chris.Dave.
Thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed my video.
My father was a warrant officer in the Chungking building where General Carton de Wiart was based in China. We still have an original copy of that book at home. I will admit I have read only a few select chapters of it, but I am pretty sure that the General was not the greatest self-publicist. Now it doesn't seem that amazing that a mere warrant officer paymaster from the Signal Regiment worked in the same building, but there really were only a handful of Brits in the building. And they definitely had contact with Chiang Kai Shek, Madame Sun Yat Sen and even bankrolled communist forces. Dad also left in 47, via Hong-Kong, so perhaps he was on the same ship back. A family friend was also in that building. The two of them stayed behind for 6 weeks at the end of WW2 to burn all the documents, as there was always massive mutual mistrust in Chungking, at every step. That building is now a museum. Maybe I'll visit it someday.
Thanks for watching my video & for sharing your Father's really interesting history.
@@TheHistoryChap Looking around online sites on C de W, there is usually a Cecil Beaton photo of him in China. Cecil Beaton volunteered to go out to China to create propaganda photo albums of the nationalist war effort. My father was certainly at the military legation when Cecil arrived, and may have been involved in taking him to photolocations. I note C de W considered ordinary Chinese as hardworking and cheerful in adversity. And Cecil also caught some of that in his China photo album. (There was an Indian one as well.) We also still have those albums at home. And another book 'Farewell Campo 12', which was written about C de W's imprisonment and escape efforts in Italy. As my father's wartime colleague/friend in Chongking had a post war career in publishing, I kind of imagine that he might have been involved in the production of those books; as he also later gifted us a Penguin book on Orde Wingate and the Chindits.
I heard vaguely about the "White Mutiny" in India, basically it was about terms and conditions as they weren't happy about being absorbed into the British Army. The Curragh mutiny was, thankfully, safely defused. Another excellent presentation.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed my video.
Great job
Glad you enjoyed my video.
Hi Chris. As ever, enjoyed this video, thanks. Having seen on your bookshelf a couple of Flashman books, I wonder whether you have ever thought of doing something on their accuracy and whether Britain's most famous Victorian soldier, and also a recipient of the VC, did indeed undertake the deeds recounted in his diaries, or whether the events described actually differ.
Glad you enjoyed my video. You might just have sown a small seed for the future.
Glad you enjoyed my video and you might just have sown a see
for the future.
1:36 ... 'Hodson's Horse' - glad i watched this vid
Would you be able to shed light on how there is a CWGC cemetery in cassouli cyprus from WW1? I have a family member who is interned there. Please share your investigations with us.
Keith.
Can only think that wounded soldiers from Gallipoli were taken there and died there. Thanks for watching my video.
No pressure on any further Gough progeny after 3 VC's then!
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Do the other two Father/Son VC’s please
Will do Dave. Thanks for the vote.
I would be interested to find out the ratio of VC recipients of Officers and other ranks as to see was it an equal measure or as my Grandfather said (a First WW1 conscript) the men do the fighting the Officers get a medal.
Thanks for watching my video & your comment.
In the case of Victoria Cross and George Cross the citations are for personal bravery, so real hands-on soldiering.
Campaign medals the opposite being present was enough.
Between these extremes may be unit recognition, and as we know, it takes a great team to get results ...
Takker som altid
My pleasure. Thanks for watching
I spent time in Maiwand, not a great place. I wish at the time I'd known the historical significance of the place I was deployed to.
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Seeing the Head Stone of Brigadier General Gough is a poignant reminder that 224 General officers in the British and Dominion armies during WW1 were killed, wounded, captured, or died on active service during the war. A reality far removed from the message in the BBC's Blackadder.
The truth is that the much larger French and German armies Generals had much lower casualty rates.
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Only three father-son VC winners, eh? In the US we only have two father-son pares of Medal of Honor winners, Gens. Arthur MacArthur and Douglas MacArthur as well as President Theodor Roosevelt and Theodore Jr.
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👍👍👍
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Was the two brothers story where one saved the other, where the song Two Little Boys comes from?
Thanks for watching my video. In answer to your question, I don't know. I have heard it being about WW1 and also the US Civil War. May be someone out there knows.
I think Major Freddie Gough of Arnhem Bridge fame was a family relation
Could very well be.
Three members from two generations of my family served with Hodson's Horse Regiment.
Thanks for sharing your family story & for watching my video.
Hubert Gough from Passchandle? Commander of the Fifth army?
He was the son of Sir Charles & brother of Sir John. He was the one mentioned at the Kurragh.
Lords Roberts and Napier (mentioned in your video), like the Goughs, were also Irishmen ... a rather martial race, the Irish.
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The song "When We Were Two Little Boys" (1903)
Sounds familiar.
Wonder if there's any connection?
I thought the same
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The Goff/Gough/Geoff/Gott clan bears God's stamp proudly
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@TheHistoryChap NP. My blessing may be a curse for a bit longer, so please be patient.
I have a question for you Chap 👦
How many bombers blew up on the runway during takeoff in the UK during WW2?
A member of my family was the tail gunner on one and I'd like to figure out which base and plane he was on.
He survived a full bombload detonation on takeoff while still on the runway. He was found 100m away and probably wasn't feeling tip-top and finally arrived home in a full body cast.
He lived a long life but there were some things he hated discussing, the war was one. He blamed himself because he had seen runway damage on his second last flight during takeoff and couldn't remember if he reported it and he thought it was the reason his friends di3d.
Rough one but so is war😢
Incredible story. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t know where to even begin your investigation. Sorry
@@TheHistoryChap I have a similar issue 😂🤣
However, if you stumbled across something, it might be helpful.
Thank you so much ❤️
@@EastBayFlipperAssuming that you are American, the USAF Archive would provide information about units stationed in Europe for the massive daytime raids...
There's also something in Wikipedia about RAF stations and the units there..
@@lonpfrb thanks 😊 he was in the Royal Canadian Air Force then so I have some leads to check ✔️ thank you 🍻
I had no idea that the British ever fought with the Bhutanese! Bhutan 🇧🇹 is such a peaceful Buddhist country I can’t imagine them going to war with the British!
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for me 3 generation to save in the green Howard's and they proud of it XlX
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Is that where the song comes from?
Really don't know. Have heard it relating to WW1 and the US Civil War. Thanks for watching.
2:44 "As he took on three defenders his turban was cut through by a sword"
Question! Why was Hugh wearing a turban and not a helmet?
Don't know. Possibly because members of Hodson's Horse included Indians, so turbans would have been approved headgear.
@@TheHistoryChap OK! Seems a bit odd though.
It takes the Green eyes and the birthmark of course? Where I live, there are daughters who are identical to their moms?
Thanks for your feedback.
Thank you , Chris , for another very fascinating delve into military history.💂♂️🫡👍
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.
I do not think I would want to serve in a unit commanded by a man whose family had all won medals. Gong hunters are more dangerous to their own men than the enemy.
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No way!!!
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Personality is 80% hereditary
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David Ochterlony ( Wikipedia )
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Two little Boys ?
?
3 Victoria Crosses got me thinking...
Wonder what army division or even brigade has won the most Victoria Crosses and other medals throughout history?
looking at the figures it is harder to obtain a Victoria Cross if you serving in the Royal Navy
RAMC medics have won more VC’s than any other ‘unit’. Which kind of makes sense.
For individual army/navy/air force units that would be a good thing to hear about.
@@malcolmyoung7866 there were no VCs won by medical officers in WW2.
QaLibrary. The navy fought fewer action than did the airforce and army thus fewer opportunities.
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Hey Bro I am a Professional Video Editor
Thanks for getting in touch. If you want to send me an email please pop over to my website: www.thehistorychap.com
@@TheHistoryChap ok sir I am going to contact you
@@TheHistoryChap Sir I sent you a mail but you didn't respond?
Different class compared to the dregs nowadays goodbye england
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Great story. I don’t care. Wearing all yer medals like a North Korean inheritance is awesome fashion. I mean. Look at those North Koreans…
Are you even British if you’re born in India or just a traitor to you homeland. I mean “colonial possession”. Golf is fun to especially mini golf. The windmills always get me.
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“Wounded by the enemy”. Not “wounded by the people we colonised and brutally slaughtered and oppressed”. Yes. Gallantry and chivalry aren’t dead. Look at the house of peers…
Interesting perspective.
Oh dear, The Bleeding Heart Brigade just turned up trying to equate an historical event with modern Wokery.
You can't judge people from times gone by with modern Moralities. Their lives were lived by different Moralities and different sensibilities. What happened, happened. Getting all righteous about it doesn't alter it. You can learn by mistakes, of course. But who's to say that what happens in the world today will be approved of by future generations ??
Therefore the argument is not just moot, its ridiculous as well.
congratulations 🎉 you win today’s prize for the most ill informed, banal and asinine post..
Don’t let actual history get in the way of your neomarxist revisionist history 🤦♂️..
Power to the people, comrade ✊..
looking forward to the Abyssinian campaign
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I do believe there is a family with four VCs not as close as brothers ergo Molly McTamney relative of Godfrey chavasse VC and Bar and married to Charles upham VC and Bar yes she as no blood line but her children do ergo family
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@TheHistoryChap , Thanks so much for sharing this incredible story,
Charles rescuing his brother Hugh could have been the inspiration for one of my favourite songs TWO LITTLE BOYS
The first chorus talks about when the boys were younger and playing with wooden horses
Did you think I would leave you crying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Jack and don't be crying
I can go just as fast with two
When we grow up we'll both be soldiers
And our horses will not be toys
And I wonder if we'll remember
When we were two little boys
The second chorus was later when both boys were older and in a battle riding real horses
Did you think I would leave you dying
When there's room on my horse for two
Climb up here Joe, we'll soon be flying
I can go just as fast with two
Did you say Joe I'm all a-tremble
Perhaps it's the battle's noise
But I think it's that I remember
When we were two little boys