Hats & Turbans off to our Great Great Grandfather's who gave us fantastic history to study and essentially enabled their Great Great Grandsons to form alliances and have a jolly in the pub. God bless and RIP to all of our ancestors who fought. May the relationship of the Kingdom of Sikhs and British Kingdom carry on. Salute!
Battle of Mudki, Ferozshah and the subsequent Battle of Sabraon were extremely closely fought affairs. The Sikh Darbar Artillery was superior and Khalsa troops never gave up easily
Does happen occasionally Ikbal. Most famous examples trotted out are the Roman Praetorian Guard or the Jannissaries of the Ottoman Empire who effectively became the Kingmakers and consequently had to be destroyed. Of course much more common events in history are weak monarchs failing to handle the army and the army eventually overthrowing him/her and raising one of their own Generals to the throne. In other words the start of a new dynasty!
Thank you for this series of Sikh Anglo was videos - nice ones that I appreciate well done btw the Sikhs were sold out by Maharaja Ranjit Singh brother in laws Lal Singh etc also the Khalsa is the elite fighting force but there were government Sikh soldiers
so relieved to hear an interesting segment of history being discussed without racism being the cause of an intercontinental war/ invasion, or however you want to word it. the fact is, history is history and if the brits and other European powers had been stopped on the beaches, would we having this same discussion? i am lucky enough to have travelled to india and the far east and many parts of africa and in all my visitations, i have all ways been welcomed. i would just like to thank the people for their optimism and hope. my attitude, as is many others in our country is just to forgive and remember, there was no internet in the old days. anyway, loved your discussion and look forward to more on this subject.
Indian Native Armies always fought on 2 fronts just like the Germans who fought 2 fronts - the USSR & the Western Alliies. Even the Japanese lost because the Russians threatened the invasion of Japan after both atomic bombs were deployed. But I respect the Brits & the Yanks cuz their people are always united in war. They dont have anytraitors 🇬🇧🇺🇲💪🏻
I really enjoyed the background information and the stories of the battles. I've wanted to know more about these events because my great-great-great grandfather was a colour sergeant in the 62 a foot and fought in this war. He returned safely to England, and then migrated to the United States. In his life history he tells of having his uniform shot to shreds, and even getting hit in the leg with a spent ball. It didn't penetrate, and he came out of the battle without a wound.
Thank you for your description of the battle of ferozeshah, on Gough's initial plan to attack early without waiting for Littler's division,it was influenced by the desire to avoid Tej Singh reinforcing the Sikh army at Ferozeshah,the delay in attacking as per Gough 's plan meant there was less daylight to complete the attack,the army broke fast at 10:30 but after reorganizing, with Littler's the attack started at 16:00. The unsteadiness of the Bengal Native Infantry is borne out by the 2415 casualties suffered by British regiments which contributed 6000 to the Army.Whereas the Bengal Native Infantry composed 10000. It is not clear that ,surrender was contemplated.After midnight,Sir Henry Hardinge ordered the 80th Foot,the south Staffordshire, to attack ,and spike a cannon ,which they did,Also Sir Harry Smith who was out of touch with Gough and Hardinge told his officers that it was certain that the Army would renew the attack on the next day,and moved his troops to Misreewala to join Littler 's . Will you be doing the battle of Aliwal and Sobraon as well? Thank you both for covering this piece of history!😃
Hi thanks a lot for the feedback. Sounds like you really know your stuff. We have recorded an interview about Sobraon and we are also hope to chat about the 2nd Anglo-Sikh war later this year.
Very interesting tale, I never knew that the British and the Sikh armies fought against one another. To my knowledge I always thought the Sikh fought alongside the British and had through their great strength and tenacity won the admiration of the British Raj. I am over 70 and to this today I have always respected the Sikh’s as a courageous people.
I have an East India Company percussion musket that was used in this war. HM 31st Foot (having been in India since 1825) was ordered in March 1844 to be rearmed with new EIC percussion muskets to replace the flintlocks they used in the 1842 Punitive Expedition. My musket is marked on the butt in the standard manner for royal units. The 31st was ordered home from India in 1846, and turned their EIC guns in at Fort William on July 30th of that year. The musket was reissued to a Sepoy unit in 1848, and ended up in Nepal after the Mutiny in 1857.
it's so cool to see my ancestors on a screen 😅 the goughs who fought with them was brave, but I beleive 1st viscount hugh gough ended up relived of duty because there was alot of deaths under his command. I only seen records and images but seeing these and this info in more detail is awsome thanks 🙂🙋🏻♀️
Battle of Assaye ( Arthur Wellesley versus Anthony pohlmann's Maratha forces) , battle of Sabraon and Battle of Chillian wala were very very close with high British casualties
My great great great grandad was in the 9th Regiment of Foot and was wounded at Ferozeshah. On their march they had outpaced their supplies and the only food they had before the battle consisted of elephant feed pellets. When I was in India a few years ago I went and visited the memorials on the sites of the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon. The location (and even the existence) of these memorials was not common knowledge among locals, and I didn't even know when I set out whether they were all still standing. There was also a small museum in Ferozeshah devoted to the war, although it was in a poor state of repair.
Wow i had no idea about any of this! A battle where potentially SIX KING'S REGIMENTS could have been captured (with their Colours!), several British generals the British Governor-General of India captured too!! What a disaster it would have been for Victorian Britain. And I had absolutely no idea about this. One important question though. If Tej and Lal Singh wanted this war to remove the Khalsa system which was undermining the Sikh officer corps why did the soldiers obey them and leave the battlefield on the brink of victory? I can't square this.
@Redcoat: British military history The Sikh Army, largely European trained (mostly by French, Italian and American officers) certainly had more and heavier guns than the British. The Sikh's had about 25,000 men and around 150 guns at Ferozeshah, as against 18,000 Anglo-Indian troops with about 70 guns. The real problem for the British at Ferozeshah, that was not mentioned in the video at all, was that some, at least, of the Indian Sepoy regiments hung back during the attack, leaving most of the actual fighting to the mere six British infantry battalions and one cavalry regiment present. This happened in several of the battles in both the first and second Anglo Sikh wars. I have never, ever, seen any evidence whatever that the British gave the slightest thought to surrender at Ferozeshah and I find that idea extremely unlikely indeed.
Hi. I’ll have to go back to the primary sources and double check. With regards the Sepoy line it may well be true but I’m also sometimes wary of the ‘we would have won easily but for the sepoys/Spanish/local auxiliaries let us down’. It will be a fun battle to learn more about and debate for sure 👍🏼
@@redcoathistory The Sepoys seem to have been a bit intimidated by the Sikh's fearsome reputation. Many British first hand accounts mention the Indian Infantry hanging back and not really getting into the Sikh positions, from several battle in both Anglo-Sikh wars. Incidentally Gough was not as incompetent as he is sometimes portrayed. He knew the Sikh artillery was more numerous and heavier and, that being the case waiting for a longer artillery bombardment, that the British were going to lose, hardly made much sense.
Yes I just read Flashman snd the mountain of light - not exactly a primary source but cracking none the less snd even good old flashy had a grudging respect for Gough
Hi thx for the comment. There are plenty of very interesting first hand accounts of the night of Ferozeshah. Hardinge was certainly conscious that the British were staring defeat in the face. He ordered his son and the German Crown Prince who was accompanying the British force off the battlefield to prevent their capture/death. He also ordered the burning of all his private papers that night. Whether he and Gough would have surrendered after attempting resistance on the 2nd day or fought to the death is difficult to say of course. But certainly I think a victory was out of the question particularily because a fresh Sikh army 20,000 strong arrived the next day.
@@99IronDuke There are accounts of the sepoys hanging back although as Chris mentioned in some cases this could be matter of shifting the blame to explain a reverse. Having said that I think the sepoys who were - lets face it - not fighting for their own cause might have had a slightly more mercenary outlook. Regarding the artillery Gough did allow the British artillery a fair chance before he ordered an advance.
Amazed at how ignorant I am - never heard of Ferozeshah before yet essentially it could have been the battle that ensured there would not be a British Indian Empire , given the incompetence of Gough, if it had not been for the political in fighting and treachery within the Sikh Empire.
Yes the British had a close shave to be sure. I’d like to read more on Gough before I’d be comfortable calling ‘incompetent’ / Flashman quite liked him!
@@AmarpalSinghSIdhu very grateful for suggestion and will pursue it, in the meantime I have ordered your own book on the First Anglo Sikh War and greatly looking forward to reading it and later the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Thoroughly enjoying your history videos.
Is there a book where we can find who was fighting on each side? For example were there indians in the British army? Were they hindus or muslims? Who was in the Sikh army, where there any phatans? Other muslims? Who was supporting who and when?
Hi sir. Amarpal Bhai has written a number of books. I’m sure they can be found online. The answer to your questions is yes and yes…most of the ‘British’ army were Indians and the Sikh army also included Hindus and Muslims. Thanks
The greatest what if were the Nizami's proposed anti-british Allience and the death of yashwant rao Holkar. What if he invaded culcatta like he intended to do, what if other king accepted his Allience against the British? So many what if during this period.
Call me picky but the Napoleonic Wars were /later/ so Harding's experience in /India/ informed his actions in the /Napoleonic Wars/, not the other way around as the video insinuates in the 08:50s. Was Sikh opinion of tactics informed by Napoleon being at heart an artilleryman so they had more artillery than the British? Was delaying attacking immediately actually a 'mistake' or in the context of the times was it considered 'bad form' to attack before the enemy was ready? I'm reminded of Wellington at Waterloo refusing an artilleryman permission to take a shot at Napoleon 'It is not the business of army commanders to shoot at each other'. Personally using modern morality I think you take any advantage you can get, and killing Napoleon at that point would have at the very least have had a demoralising effect on the whole French army and boosted allied morale. I also think surrendering would have sent to wrong signals to the south of India; the mahrattas would have smelt blood in the water and gone for the throat while the British were politically and militarily demoralised. I don't doubt Gough and Harding would have been replaced or at least had to face a board of inquiry, so while all that disruption was going on the mahrattas would have taken advantage and hit back. (I don't know about /forgotten/, I'm not so sure they will ever be /forgiven/ either)
@@redcoathistory I see where I slipped up.. I assumed they were during Ranjit Singh's lifetime as they're all part of the same series but obviously they were after he died.
The real question is: where the Singhs right in liberating their country from a capricious Kalsa with UK help or not? The "treachery" is a misnomer for a sophisticated and desperate political choice. Personally I do not know, but I could imagine that Punjab was better off without the Kalsa. Please let me know your arguments pro or contra this prelaetorian de.facto regime.
Don't watch. Waste of time. It needed diagrams, not talking heads. i wish The History Chap had done this. I didn't understand any more about this war afterward than before. I am disgusted.
Tajiks are also Persians. Pars and Tajik are one people. The word Tajik means (the rapist of the crown. The king. Those who have the crown of the kingdom). This word was used by the Persians. And then the word was put over the eastern Persians. the cities of Honze. Gilgite. Wahan. Chatral. Sivat. Kashmir in Pakistan are also Tajiks.. Information about the number of Tajiks in the world. The data provided by the UK special services (UK) in 2019. But in reality and today in 2023 the population and the number of Tajiks in the world. In Afghanistan, twenty -two million Tajik. In Iran, 75 million Tajik. In Uzbekistan, 15 million Tajik. There are six and a half million Tajik in Pakistan. And in other countries, 10 million Tajiks. Tajikistan has 9500000 nine million five hundred thousand Tajik. The total number and population of Tajiks in the world is one hundred and thirty -eight million Tajik. the cities of Honze. Gilgite. Wahan. Chatral. Sivat. Kashmir in Pakistan are also Tajiks.. تاجیک هم پارس هستن . پارس و تاجیک یک مردم است . محنی کلمه تاجیک ( تاجدار ها . پاد شاه ها . کسانی که تاج پادشاهی بر سر دارند ) است . که درقدیم برای پارس ها می گفتن . و بعدأ این کلمه را بالای پارس های شرقی گزاشتن . . مردم شهر هنزه . گلگت . واخان . چترال . سوات . کشمیر در پاکستان هم تاجیک هستن . . معلومات در باره تعداد و شمارش تاجیک ها در جهان . داده ها توسط خدمات ویژه انگلستان در سال 2019 ارائه شده است . اما در واقعیت و امروز در سال ۲۰۲۳ نفوس و تعداد تاجیک ها در افغانستان ۲۲۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ بیست و دو میلیون نفر تاجیک . در ایران ۷۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ میلیون نفر تاجیک . در ازبکستان ۱۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ پانزده میلیون نفر تاجیک . در پاکستان ۶۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ شش و نیم میلیون نفر تاجیک . و در تاجیکستان ۹۵۰۰۰۰۰ نو و نیم میلیون نفر تاجیک .و در دیگر ممالک ۱۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ ده میلیون نفر تاجیک . که در مجموع تعداد و نفوس تاجیک ها ۱۳۸۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ یک صد و سی و هشت میلیون نفر تاجیک می شود . Таджики также Это Персы. Парс и Таджик - Это один народ . Слово Таджик означает ( насител Короны. Короля. Те, у кого есть корона королевства). Это слово говарили о персах. А потом слово поставили над восточными персами. Народ городов Хонзе. Гильгет. Вахан. Чатрал. Сиват . Кашмир в Пакистане тоже они Таджики . Информация о количестве Таджиков в мире. Данные, предоставленные спец.служббами Великобританни (UK) в 2019 году. Но в действительности и сегодня в 2023 году население и количество Таджиков в мире . в Афганистане, двадцать два миллиона таджик. В Иране 75 миллионов таджик. В Узбекистане 15 миллионов таджик. В Пакистане шесть с половиной миллиона Таджик. И в других странах 10 миллионов таджиков. В Таджикистане 9500000 девять миллион пять соть тысяч Таджик . Общее количество и население Таджиков в мире составляет сто тридцать восемь миллиона Таджик
@@daveglynn748 did your father counted that? One Sikh = 125 000 people. Sikhs are called Lions. Sikhs never lost any battle and history also says that Sikhs decimated British with ease.
@@youreright...1284 its everywhere, one of our Guru held his chopped head in one hand fought. If it wasn't for Sikhs, India would have been a Muslim nation now
@@KARMA2BACK Yes - it's a brilliant strategy. As Bruce Lee famously says in Enter the Dragon - the 'art of fighting without fighting'. Thanks for your input brother. Are there any stories from Indian military history you would love me to cover on the show?
@@redcoathistory bro it's not brilliant strategy In india we call it demon and devils on earth who cheated in war they are coward. They never follow rule how you can say that it's strategy.. If you really want to cover indian military bettel then plz bettel of khanva. Bettel of bhartpur 1804-5 One more thing bro british army never follow own rule and treat. And they called ourself educated..
@@redcoathistory and also cover how they killed innocent people. Innocent farmer hire tax , they rule in India just because of they are brilliant in cheating no one can beat in this field.
Why havnt u mentioned about Dogras backstabbing Sikh empire...(& why u said British were least interest in Punjab...offcourse they were...they were that's why they got designs beyond Punjab into Afghanistan where 1 British garrison was brutally defeated & humiliated by Afghans in between Khyber & Jalalabad....!! Yes ,British didnt attacked Sikh Empire b'cuz ( a) Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sandhawalia-- had a professionally trained strong army.....& Ranjit Singh forced British to sign the treaty of Borders 1st in 1809 with *Lord Metcalfe * & then with "William Bentick" in 1832.. British continuously were trying to underplay dodgy deals...secretly joining hands with Dogras of Kashmir( which sidhu sahib u havnt mentioned) why-??? R u in some sort of pressure from the Britsih government or indian ones to not mention the actual facts behind the fall of Sikh Empire. Why havnt u mentioned that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was truly killed as a treacherous act of Hindus & British.. or slowly poisoned....& why havnt Sidhu sahib u mentioned that Shehzada kharak Singh & grandson Nau-Nihal Singh was actually brutally murdered by Dogras .... & then Dogras paid eqivalent to £10million to the British so that British should give Dogras the territories of Jammu and Kashmir back (which they did)& in return Dogras even bribed many Khalsa army commanders not to reach as backup in support of their Khalsa brothers while when they will be in a pitched battle ....which happened in the last Anglo-Sikh battle of Mudki in which Brits in truth actually lost from Khalsa army but just because Khalsa army didnt received any backup...hence British took over my great Sikh Empire....& u being a Jatt Sikh trying to hide facts..... U should be ashamed of urself ....ull b answerable at Gurus court....-!! dont think we r stupid ...we Sikhs very well knows not only our history but even who's our friend or foe
Hats & Turbans off to our Great Great Grandfather's who gave us fantastic history to study and essentially enabled their Great Great Grandsons to form alliances and have a jolly in the pub. God bless and RIP to all of our ancestors who fought. May the relationship of the Kingdom of Sikhs and British Kingdom carry on. Salute!
BRUH, APOSTROPHES DON'T MAKE WORDS PLURAL. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@slappy8941Bro, dont get it, what apostrophe are you referring to
What a great bloke mr Singh seems.
He's brilliant and his books are great.
Battle of Mudki, Ferozshah and the subsequent Battle of Sabraon were extremely closely fought affairs. The Sikh Darbar Artillery was superior and Khalsa troops never gave up easily
What a strange war, where the commanders wanted to destroy their own army. Can't think of any other example in history
Yes it is crazy isn’t it?
Does happen occasionally Ikbal. Most famous examples trotted out are the Roman Praetorian Guard or the Jannissaries of the Ottoman Empire who effectively became the Kingmakers and consequently had to be destroyed. Of course much more common events in history are weak monarchs failing to handle the army and the army eventually overthrowing him/her and raising one of their own Generals to the throne. In other words the start of a new dynasty!
Dont forget that there was basically a stripper named Jind Kaur running the country in Lahore as well.
Still happens in Punjabi culture today. Everyone hates each other. That’s why we needed leaders like Ranjit Singh n Hari Singh Nalwa
@@ColoradoStreaming we’ll to be fair a lot of the poor choices she made was cuz she wanted to protect her son. She was kinda like cersai Lannister.
The wars that took place in India are so cool and so few people know of them
Thank you for this series of Sikh Anglo was videos - nice ones that I appreciate well done btw the Sikhs were sold out by Maharaja Ranjit Singh brother in laws Lal Singh etc also the Khalsa is the elite fighting force but there were government Sikh soldiers
so relieved to hear an interesting segment of history being discussed without racism being the cause of an intercontinental war/ invasion, or however you want to word it. the fact is, history is history and if the brits and other European powers had been stopped on the beaches, would we having this same discussion? i am lucky enough to have travelled to india and the far east and many parts of africa and in all my visitations, i have all ways been welcomed. i would just like to thank the people for their optimism and hope. my attitude, as is many others in our country is just to forgive and remember, there was no internet in the old days. anyway, loved your discussion and look forward to more on this subject.
Thanks, I'm really glad that you enjoyed it.
Thx Jonathan! The Sikh and British soldiers always had great respect for each other - before and after the wars.
The sikh army was fighting a war in 2 fronts.
1: east india company
2: conspirers within
Indian Native Armies always fought on 2 fronts just like the Germans who fought 2 fronts - the USSR & the Western Alliies. Even the Japanese lost because the Russians threatened the invasion of Japan after both atomic bombs were deployed. But I respect the Brits & the Yanks cuz their people are always united in war. They dont have anytraitors 🇬🇧🇺🇲💪🏻
Great as always, Chris and Amarpal!
Thanks a lot - I'm glad you liked it.
Cheers!
Thanks for this video ❤loved and learnt something new about history
WELL DONE SIRS THANK YOU GODS LOV B WITH U BOTH LOV HISTORY SO MUCH TO LEARN OF HUMANS WAYS....
I really enjoyed the background information and the stories of the battles. I've wanted to know more about these events because my great-great-great grandfather was a colour sergeant in the 62 a foot and fought in this war. He returned safely to England, and then migrated to the United States. In his life history he tells of having his uniform shot to shreds, and even getting hit in the leg with a spent ball. It didn't penetrate, and he came out of the battle without a wound.
Thank you for your description of the battle of ferozeshah, on Gough's initial plan to attack early without waiting for Littler's division,it was influenced by the desire to avoid Tej Singh reinforcing the Sikh army at Ferozeshah,the delay in attacking as per Gough 's plan meant there was less daylight to complete the attack,the army broke fast at 10:30 but after reorganizing, with Littler's the attack started at 16:00.
The unsteadiness of the Bengal Native Infantry is borne out by the 2415 casualties suffered by British regiments which contributed 6000 to the Army.Whereas the Bengal Native Infantry composed 10000.
It is not clear that ,surrender was contemplated.After midnight,Sir Henry Hardinge ordered the 80th Foot,the south Staffordshire, to attack ,and spike a cannon ,which they did,Also Sir Harry Smith who was out of touch with Gough and Hardinge told his officers that it was certain that the Army would renew the attack on the next day,and moved his troops to Misreewala to join Littler 's .
Will you be doing the battle of Aliwal and Sobraon as well?
Thank you both for covering this piece of history!😃
Hi thanks a lot for the feedback. Sounds like you really know your stuff. We have recorded an interview about Sobraon and we are also hope to chat about the 2nd Anglo-Sikh war later this year.
Very interesting tale, I never knew that the British and the Sikh armies fought against one another.
To my knowledge I always thought the Sikh fought alongside the British and had through their great strength and tenacity won the admiration of the British Raj.
I am over 70 and to this today I have always respected the Sikh’s as a courageous people.
Great series on the Sikh War. I wish these were up on the podcast channel tho so one coukd download, listen in car, etc
Hi John - thanks. I will post them to the podcast but I am saving them till after I have finished the Peninsular war series.
I have an East India Company percussion musket that was used in this war. HM 31st Foot (having been in India since 1825) was ordered in March 1844 to be rearmed with new EIC percussion muskets to replace the flintlocks they used in the 1842 Punitive Expedition. My musket is marked on the butt in the standard manner for royal units.
The 31st was ordered home from India in 1846, and turned their EIC guns in at Fort William on July 30th of that year.
The musket was reissued to a Sepoy unit in 1848, and ended up in Nepal after the Mutiny in 1857.
Magnificent
Very much looking forward to the next collaboration between Amarpal and you. Ferozeshah... a close run thing!
Cheers Chris - next up Sabraon and then in a future video we will look at 2nd Sikh War.
Some army, politics just had to command both sides of the war.
Very interesting set of videos - thanks for making this!
Cheers, John.
it's so cool to see my ancestors on a screen 😅 the goughs who fought with them was brave, but I beleive 1st viscount hugh gough ended up relived of duty because there was alot of deaths under his command. I only seen records and images but seeing these and this info in more detail is awsome thanks 🙂🙋🏻♀️
Battle of Assaye ( Arthur Wellesley versus Anthony pohlmann's Maratha forces) , battle of Sabraon and Battle of Chillian wala were very very close with high British casualties
My great great great grandad was in the 9th Regiment of Foot and was wounded at Ferozeshah. On their march they had outpaced their supplies and the only food they had before the battle consisted of elephant feed pellets. When I was in India a few years ago I went and visited the memorials on the sites of the battles of Mudki, Ferozeshah, and Sobraon. The location (and even the existence) of these memorials was not common knowledge among locals, and I didn't even know when I set out whether they were all still standing. There was also a small museum in Ferozeshah devoted to the war, although it was in a poor state of repair.
Thanks mate / I’d love to visit one day
It would have been much better if some Zulu chief had lead the Sikhs into battle instead of incompetent and treacherous Indian noble.
Now there’s a great plot for an alternative history novel!
👏🏾
Not incompetent, just treacherous. Which is even more dangerous
Interesting stuff.
Honorable people the Sikhs, put up a good stand against the British 😮
sir can u tell me which sikh sardaar loose the black flag to sarg. Karkland in the battle of Ferozsha
"No we dont know" lol.
Please could you give us the army numbers and the breakdown of regiments at the beginning so that we do know please?
Wow i had no idea about any of this! A battle where potentially SIX KING'S REGIMENTS could have been captured (with their Colours!), several British generals the British Governor-General of India captured too!! What a disaster it would have been for Victorian Britain. And I had absolutely no idea about this.
One important question though. If Tej and Lal Singh wanted this war to remove the Khalsa system which was undermining the Sikh officer corps why did the soldiers obey them and leave the battlefield on the brink of victory? I can't square this.
@Redcoat: British military history The Sikh Army, largely European trained (mostly by French, Italian and American officers) certainly had more and heavier guns than the British. The Sikh's had about 25,000 men and around 150 guns at Ferozeshah, as against 18,000 Anglo-Indian troops with about 70 guns. The real problem for the British at Ferozeshah, that was not mentioned in the video at all, was that some, at least, of the Indian Sepoy regiments hung back during the attack, leaving most of the actual fighting to the mere six British infantry battalions and one cavalry regiment present. This happened in several of the battles in both the first and second Anglo Sikh wars. I have never, ever, seen any evidence whatever that the British gave the slightest thought to surrender at Ferozeshah and I find that idea extremely unlikely indeed.
Hi. I’ll have to go back to the primary sources and double check. With regards the Sepoy line it may well be true but I’m also sometimes wary of the ‘we would have won easily but for the sepoys/Spanish/local auxiliaries let us down’. It will be a fun battle to learn more about and debate for sure 👍🏼
@@redcoathistory The Sepoys seem to have been a bit intimidated by the Sikh's fearsome reputation. Many British first hand accounts mention the Indian Infantry hanging back and not really getting into the Sikh positions, from several battle in both Anglo-Sikh wars. Incidentally Gough was not as incompetent as he is sometimes portrayed. He knew the Sikh artillery was more numerous and heavier and, that being the case waiting for a longer artillery bombardment, that the British were going to lose, hardly made much sense.
Yes I just read Flashman snd the mountain of light - not exactly a primary source but cracking none the less snd even good old flashy had a grudging respect for Gough
Hi thx for the comment. There are plenty of very interesting first hand accounts of the night of Ferozeshah. Hardinge was certainly conscious that the British were staring defeat in the face. He ordered his son and the German Crown Prince who was accompanying the British force off the battlefield to prevent their capture/death. He also ordered the burning of all his private papers that night. Whether he and Gough would have surrendered after attempting resistance on the 2nd day or fought to the death is difficult to say of course. But certainly I think a victory was out of the question particularily because a fresh Sikh army 20,000 strong arrived the next day.
@@99IronDuke There are accounts of the sepoys hanging back although as Chris mentioned in some cases this could be matter of shifting the blame to explain a reverse. Having said that I think the sepoys who were - lets face it - not fighting for their own cause might have had a slightly more mercenary outlook. Regarding the artillery Gough did allow the British artillery a fair chance before he ordered an advance.
How about a piece on 1st an 2nd Afghan war ?
If Mudki was a stalemate then how was Gough able to advance to Ferozeshah to meet the main Sikh army?
Amazed at how ignorant I am - never heard of Ferozeshah before yet essentially it could have been the battle that ensured there would not be a British Indian Empire , given the incompetence of Gough, if it had not been for the political in fighting and treachery within the Sikh Empire.
Yes the British had a close shave to be sure. I’d like to read more on Gough before I’d be comfortable calling ‘incompetent’ / Flashman quite liked him!
@@redcoathistory I suppose he was getting on a bit and a little set in his ways. That and over-confidence I guess.
Regarding Gough I can recommend Dr. Brice's book (Brave as a Lion) - very well written and very comprehensive
@@AmarpalSinghSIdhu very grateful for suggestion and will pursue it, in the meantime I have ordered your own book on the First Anglo Sikh War and greatly looking forward to reading it and later the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Thoroughly enjoying your history videos.
@@AmarpalSinghSIdhu Oh fantastic thanks a lot - will look that up.
This was really interesting. Is there a book available? Heard something mentioned in the vid.
Just read the notes and seen the link 🙄. Once again great video.
@@paulspaintshed3511 Cheers Paul!
Try "Flashman and the Mountain of Light"- by George Macdonald Fraser. Funny and historically accurate.
@@thetapeloops9522 It is certainly a classic. I've read it three times now.
@@thetapeloops9522 I'll check it out. Always meant to read the Flashman books but somehow never quite got around to it.
Gough's bull at a gate tactics gave Hardinge grey hairs. With 700 British dead at Ferozeshah Hardinge thought Gough would wipe out the army.
Is there a book where we can find who was fighting on each side? For example were there indians in the British army? Were they hindus or muslims? Who was in the Sikh army, where there any phatans? Other muslims? Who was supporting who and when?
Hi sir. Amarpal Bhai has written a number of books. I’m sure they can be found online. The answer to your questions is yes and yes…most of the ‘British’ army were Indians and the Sikh army also included Hindus and Muslims. Thanks
Too many ”you knows". No I don't ! That's why I'm watching 😉
Very off putting the ‘ you knows ‘ are probably stopping me watching other videos on the subject which is a shame
Gouth must have been over confident, let that be a lesson to you. Never underestimate your opponent.
The greatest what if were the Nizami's proposed anti-british Allience and the death of yashwant rao Holkar. What if he invaded culcatta like he intended to do, what if other king accepted his Allience against the British? So many what if during this period.
Many thanks for your comments - I guess that is one of the reasons that history is so complicated and fascinating.
Please comment on the role of purbiyas
Call me picky but the Napoleonic Wars were /later/ so Harding's experience in /India/ informed his actions in the /Napoleonic Wars/, not the other way around as the video insinuates in the 08:50s.
Was Sikh opinion of tactics informed by Napoleon being at heart an artilleryman so they had more artillery than the British?
Was delaying attacking immediately actually a 'mistake' or in the context of the times was it considered 'bad form' to attack before the enemy was ready? I'm reminded of Wellington at Waterloo refusing an artilleryman permission to take a shot at Napoleon 'It is not the business of army commanders to shoot at each other'. Personally using modern morality I think you take any advantage you can get, and killing Napoleon at that point would have at the very least have had a demoralising effect on the whole French army and boosted allied morale.
I also think surrendering would have sent to wrong signals to the south of India; the mahrattas would have smelt blood in the water and gone for the throat while the British were politically and militarily demoralised. I don't doubt Gough and Harding would have been replaced or at least had to face a board of inquiry, so while all that disruption was going on the mahrattas would have taken advantage and hit back.
(I don't know about /forgotten/, I'm not so sure they will ever be /forgiven/ either)
Hi Julian - sorry mate but the Napoleonic wars were well before the Sikh wars.
@@redcoathistory I thought it was talking about the 1790s?
@@julianmhall No mate 1845-46
@@redcoathistory I see where I slipped up.. I assumed they were during Ranjit Singh's lifetime as they're all part of the same series but obviously they were after he died.
@@julianmhall No worries mate - happens to the best of us!
How lucky the British Army got in this battle
The real question is: where the Singhs right in liberating their country from a capricious Kalsa with UK help or not? The "treachery" is a misnomer for a sophisticated and desperate political choice. Personally I do not know, but I could imagine that Punjab was better off without the Kalsa. Please let me know your arguments pro or contra this prelaetorian de.facto regime.
Cor blimey . A close rum thing .
Based on the number of battle casualties that day 694 British killed compared to 3.000 Sikhs it really sounds like a British victory.
Under Gough there was no prospect of surrender or retreat. Otherwise a good video.
Lal Singh effectively saved Gough and Hardinge's ass!
Sikhs won the battle but lost the war
A hangry sekh jatt found a Glass so he drink so much water and harm himself. Means they got power once and after it they talk to much 😂
Don't watch. Waste of time. It needed diagrams, not talking heads. i wish The History Chap had done this. I didn't understand any more about this war afterward than before. I am disgusted.
Tajiks are also Persians. Pars and Tajik are one people. The word Tajik means (the rapist of the crown. The king. Those who have the crown of the kingdom). This word was used by the Persians. And then the word was put over the eastern Persians. the cities of Honze. Gilgite. Wahan. Chatral. Sivat. Kashmir in Pakistan are also Tajiks.. Information about the number of Tajiks in the world. The data provided by the UK special services (UK) in 2019. But in reality and today in 2023 the population and the number of Tajiks in the world. In Afghanistan, twenty -two million Tajik. In Iran, 75 million Tajik. In Uzbekistan, 15 million Tajik. There are six and a half million Tajik in Pakistan. And in other countries, 10 million Tajiks. Tajikistan has 9500000 nine million five hundred thousand Tajik. The total number and population of Tajiks in the world is one hundred and thirty -eight million Tajik. the cities of Honze. Gilgite. Wahan. Chatral. Sivat. Kashmir in Pakistan are also Tajiks.. تاجیک هم پارس هستن . پارس و تاجیک یک مردم است . محنی کلمه تاجیک ( تاجدار ها . پاد شاه ها . کسانی که تاج پادشاهی بر سر دارند ) است . که درقدیم برای پارس ها می گفتن . و بعدأ این کلمه را بالای پارس های شرقی گزاشتن . . مردم شهر هنزه . گلگت . واخان . چترال . سوات . کشمیر در پاکستان هم تاجیک هستن . . معلومات در باره تعداد و شمارش تاجیک ها در جهان . داده ها توسط خدمات ویژه انگلستان در سال 2019 ارائه شده است . اما در واقعیت و امروز در سال ۲۰۲۳ نفوس و تعداد تاجیک ها در افغانستان ۲۲۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ بیست و دو میلیون نفر تاجیک . در ایران ۷۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ میلیون نفر تاجیک . در ازبکستان ۱۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ پانزده میلیون نفر تاجیک . در پاکستان ۶۵۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ شش و نیم میلیون نفر تاجیک . و در تاجیکستان ۹۵۰۰۰۰۰ نو و نیم میلیون نفر تاجیک .و در دیگر ممالک ۱۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ ده میلیون نفر تاجیک . که در مجموع تعداد و نفوس تاجیک ها ۱۳۸۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ یک صد و سی و هشت میلیون نفر تاجیک می شود . Таджики также Это Персы. Парс и Таджик - Это один народ . Слово Таджик означает ( насител Короны. Короля. Те, у кого есть корона королевства). Это слово говарили о персах. А потом слово поставили над восточными персами. Народ городов Хонзе. Гильгет. Вахан. Чатрал. Сиват . Кашмир в Пакистане тоже они Таджики . Информация о количестве Таджиков в мире. Данные, предоставленные спец.служббами Великобританни (UK) в 2019 году. Но в действительности и сегодня в 2023 году население и количество Таджиков в мире . в Афганистане, двадцать два миллиона таджик. В Иране 75 миллионов таджик. В Узбекистане 15 миллионов таджик. В Пакистане шесть с половиной миллиона Таджик. И в других странах 10 миллионов таджиков. В Таджикистане 9500000 девять миллион пять соть тысяч Таджик . Общее количество и население Таджиков в мире составляет сто тридцать восемь миллиона Таджик
What a shame Lal Singh you fool
Sikhs won like always
The battle casualties that day disagree.
3.000 Sikhs killed compared to 694 British.
@@daveglynn748 did your father counted that?
One Sikh = 125 000 people. Sikhs are called Lions. Sikhs never lost any battle and history also says that Sikhs decimated British with ease.
@@naveetbaweja219
Yes of course they did mate. Keep yourself safe and say hello to your carer for me😂
@@naveetbaweja219 which histroy is this?
@@youreright...1284 its everywhere, one of our Guru held his chopped head in one hand fought. If it wasn't for Sikhs, India would have been a Muslim nation now
Without chatting british never win any war 😂
chatting as in 'gub-sup'?
@@redcoathistory ya british army won bcoz of they cheated with indian king.
@@KARMA2BACK Yes - it's a brilliant strategy. As Bruce Lee famously says in Enter the Dragon - the 'art of fighting without fighting'. Thanks for your input brother. Are there any stories from Indian military history you would love me to cover on the show?
@@redcoathistory bro it's not brilliant strategy
In india we call it demon and devils on earth who cheated in war they are coward. They never follow rule how you can say that it's strategy..
If you really want to cover indian military bettel then plz bettel of khanva. Bettel of bhartpur 1804-5
One more thing bro british army never follow own rule and treat. And they called ourself educated..
@@redcoathistory and also cover how they killed innocent people. Innocent farmer hire tax , they rule in India just because of they are brilliant in cheating no one can beat in this field.
Why havnt u mentioned about Dogras backstabbing Sikh empire...(& why u said British were least interest in Punjab...offcourse they were...they were that's why they got designs beyond Punjab into Afghanistan where 1 British garrison was brutally defeated & humiliated by Afghans in between Khyber & Jalalabad....!!
Yes ,British didnt attacked Sikh Empire b'cuz ( a) Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sandhawalia-- had a professionally trained strong army.....& Ranjit Singh forced British to sign the treaty of Borders 1st in 1809 with *Lord Metcalfe * & then with "William Bentick" in 1832..
British continuously were trying to underplay dodgy deals...secretly joining hands with Dogras of Kashmir( which sidhu sahib u havnt mentioned) why-??? R u in some sort of pressure from the Britsih government or indian ones to not mention the actual facts behind the fall of Sikh Empire.
Why havnt u mentioned that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was truly killed as a treacherous act of Hindus & British.. or slowly poisoned....& why havnt Sidhu sahib u mentioned that Shehzada kharak Singh & grandson Nau-Nihal Singh was actually brutally murdered by Dogras .... & then Dogras paid eqivalent to £10million to the British so that British should give Dogras the territories of Jammu and Kashmir back (which they did)& in return Dogras even bribed many Khalsa army commanders not to reach as backup in support of their Khalsa brothers while when they will be in a pitched battle ....which happened in the last Anglo-Sikh battle of Mudki in which Brits in truth actually lost from Khalsa army but just because Khalsa army didnt received any backup...hence British took over my great Sikh Empire....& u being a Jatt Sikh trying to hide facts.....
U should be ashamed of urself ....ull b answerable at Gurus court....-!!
dont think we r stupid ...we Sikhs very well knows not only our history but even who's our friend or foe
Sikhs became tatus, (rented mules) for the British in reality, in the British army etc fighting for them...even today