The Royal Engineers

Who were the Royal Engineers? How were they formed? What did they do? And why do they matter in the context of the Napoleonic Wars? 

The world's leading expert on the Royal Engineers during the Napoleonic Wars, Dr Mark Thompson, returns to the show to discuss this unit, their impact, and their controversies during the Napoleonic era. We discuss everything from crime to animosity with 'Black Bob' Craufurd and notable figures such as John Fox Burgoyne.

Mark's Books:

https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Dr-Mark-S-Thompson/a/2446

https://www.helion.co.uk/people/mark-s-thompson.php

Keywords

Royal Engineers, Napoleonic Wars, military engineering, John Fox Burgoyne, Wellington, siegecraft, military history, engineering legacy

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Royal Engineers

02:29 The Origins of the Royal Engineers

05:05 Engineering Duties in the Napoleonic Era

10:04 Reputation and Perception of the Royal Engineers

14:01 Promotion and Structure within the Royal Engineers

19:51 Characteristics of Royal Engineers

22:51 Behaviour and Discipline of Royal Engineers

31:29 John Fox Burgoyne and His Legacy

31:39 The Legacy of John Fox Burgoyne

35:30 Burgoyne's Role in the Royal Engineers

38:17 The Napoleonic Wars: Engineers in Action

46:08 Challenges Faced by Military Engineers

52:03 The Controversy of the Waterloo Map

01:01:27 Memoirs and Historical Accounts of Engineers

01:05:09 The Evolving Reputation of the Royal Engineers