The King’s Foreigners: The Men who fought for Britain

What if the British army wasn't actually that British? Alistair Nichols joins us to look at the Foreign troops who took the 'King's Shilling' and served under the British flag. We look at their motivations, their contributions and whether they have been saddled with an unjustified reputation for desertion.

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Keywords:

British Army, Napoleonic Wars, foreign soldiers, Swiss Regiment, German Legion, military recruitment, desertion, prisoners of war, foreign regiments, military history

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Foreign Troops in the British Army

02:49 Perceptions and Stigmas Surrounding Foreign Soldiers

05:59 Stereotypes and Positive Accounts of Foreign Soldiers

09:08 Diverse Sources of Foreign Soldiers

12:00 The Multinational Nature of the British Army

15:03 Reasons for Recruitment of Foreign Soldiers

17:47 The Longevity and Future of Foreign Regiments

29:10 The Evolution of Foreign Regiments in the British Army

31:24 The Risks of Joining the British Army

34:53 Desertion and Recruitment of Foreign Soldiers

40:35 French Emigres and Their Role in the British Army

43:34 The Stories of French Soldiers in British Service

54:35 Life After Service for Foreign Soldiers