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The Last Stand of Richard Corfield: Britain's War with the Mad Mullah

In August 1913, deep in the arid interior of British Somaliland, Captain Richard Corfield led a force of camel-mounted troopers into what would become one of the most dramatic—and overlooked—clashes of Britain’s colonial wars. Outnumbered nearly 30 to 1, Corfield and the Somaliland Camel Constabulary faced the full might of the Dervish forces led by the enigmatic and defiant Mohammed Abdullah Hassan—dubbed by the British as the “Mad Mullah.”

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Was James Bond real? Not exactly. But the man who created him was deeply involved in the shadowy world of wartime espionage. This documentary uncovers the true story of Ian Fleming’s secret war—and how it gave birth to 007.

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On the 16th May 1943, 19 Lancaster bombers form 617 Squadron RAF set out on one of the most daring bombing raids of WW2.

Led by 24-year-old Wing Commander Guy Gibson, their mission waste destroy 3 dams in there industrial heartland of Germany.

Immortalised in the 1955 film, starring Richard Todd; 

This is the story of the Dam Busters.

Listen to the D-Day story of actor, Richard Todd.

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Did the film Zulu get it wrong?

In the 1964 epic, Lieutenant Gert Adendorff rides into Rorke’s Drift with dire news of the disaster at Isandlwana. He explains Zulu tactics, warns of the impending attack—and when asked if he’ll stay to fight, replies:

“Is there anywhere else to go?”
But just a year later, Donald Morris’s classic book The Washing of the Spears claimed he fled—not once, but twice. Ever since, Adendorff has been caught in a st...

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The Quiitinshill Rail Disaster.

Britain's worst ever rail crash where over 220 people were killed including over 200 soldiers heading to Liverpool to embark for Gallipoli.

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The story of the British expedition to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to rescue British civilians being held captive by the Emperor Tewodros in his mountain fortress at Magdala.

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The story of the British Zouaves who fought in the 19th century Papal army.

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In early 871, Wessex stood on the brink. The Great Heathen Army—an alliance of Viking warriors—had already devastated Northumbria and East Anglia, and now turned its full fury toward the last unconquered Anglo-Saxon kingdom. After a Viking victory at the Battle of Reading, King Æthelred of Wessex and his younger brother, Prince Alfred—later known as Alfred the Great—rallied their forces for a decisive counterstrike.

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In the year 865, a new and terrifying force arrived on English shores—not a raiding party, but a full-scale invasion. The Great Heathen Army, a coalition of battle-hardened Viking war bands, swept across the land with ruthless efficiency. 

Northumbria, divided by internal strife, fell quickly. East Anglia offered tribute—then resistance—and paid dearly for it. 

These early campaigns would shatter Anglo-Saxon unity and mark the beginning of a long and brutal struggle for control of England. 

This is the story of when those English Anglo Saxon kingdoms...

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Major General Robert Rollo Gillespie was described the by historian of the British Army as "the bravest man to ever wear a redcoat".

But who was he and what did he do?

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In the year 793, the monks at Lindisfarne—one of the holiest sites in Anglo-Saxon England—were attacked by Viking raiders.

It heralded the start of growing Viking raids and then invasions that would bring Anglo Saxon England to its knees.

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In 1900, the British Empire launched what would become the final and most dramatic chapter in a decades-long struggle with the Ashanti people of West Africa—the War of the Golden Stool. Also known as the Fifth Anglo-Ashanti War, this conflict was sparked not by land or trade, but by a single, sacred object: the Golden Stool, the symbol of the Ashanti nation’s soul and unity.

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Charles Lightoller was the most senior officer to survive the sinking of the Titanic — and nearly three decades later, he took his own small boat to rescue soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. 

Listen to HMS Birkenhead Disaster (the origin of "Women & Children First")

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The ‘Fighting Bradford’s” were 4 brothers from the north East of England who served in the First World War.

The 4 brothers, 3 of whom were killed, were awarded 2 Victoria Crosses, 1 DSO, 2 Military crosses and numerous  Mentions in Dispatches, making them the most decorated British family in that war.

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In this episode I look at "The Man Who Would Be King", a story by Rudyard Kipling and made into a film in 1975 starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine.

A ripping adventure yarn set on the wild frontiers of British India.

But, was there any historical truth to the story?

Related episode:

James Brooke: The White Rajah of Sarawak

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The  almost comical story of the last invasion of mainland Britain in 1797. 

Other podcast that you might enjoy:

Battle of Trafalgar

The Barbary Pirates & England's White Slaves

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Subscriber-only episode

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This is a recording of the weekly live show for Patrons that is broadcast on YouTube.

It is more informal and slightly more spontaneous than my usual episodes.

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Amid the chaos of the British defeat at Isandlwana on January 22, 1879, 22-year-old Private Samuel Wassall of the 80th Regiment displayed extraordinary bravery. 

As the Zulu warriors overran the British camp, Wassall, already escaping on horseback, spotted a fellow soldier struggling in the raging Buffalo River, desperately trying to flee the massacre. 

Without hesitation, Wassall turned back, dismounted under enemy fire, and pulled his comrade from the torrent, placing him on his horse before swimming to safety himself. 

For his selfless act of courage, he was awarded the Vic...

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Penda of Mercia, the last pagan king in Anglo-Saxon England.

A warrior king who was largely written out of history by Christian monks.

You might also enjoy the story of Raedwald: The Forgotten Warrior from Dark Ages Britain.

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William Raynor VC is the oldest Victoria Cross recipient ever.

He was 61 years and 10 months old when he was awarded his Victoria Cross during he 1857 Indian Mutiny (Revolt / Great Mutiny).

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The Battle of Gujrat - the final battle between the Sikhs and the British,

The British victory brought to a close the 2nd Anglo Sikh War and resulted in the annexation of the Punjab.

Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.

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This is the last in my series on the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
Here are all the other episodes:
First Anglo S...

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On the 15th February 1942, the British surrendered the island of Singapore to the Japanese.

85,000 British, Australian, Indian and local troops were taken prisoner.

It was the largest ever surrender in the history of the British army and fatally undermined the British Empire in Asia and the Pacific region.

Many thousands of those prisoners would die in camps before the war finished.

So seeing as the British outnumbered their attackers by 2:1, how did this disaster come about?

And how much was the British commander...

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The Long Lost Relative of William Shakespeare who played a key role in the Great Game between the British & Russian Empires in the 1840's.

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Would you swap a tiny island just 1 mile (or 3 kilometres) square for New York City?

Crazy though that sounds, that is exactly what the British and the Dutch did in 1667.

In a peculiar twist in history, the Dutch swapped their settlement of New Amsterdam on Manhattan island for the island of Run, in modern-day Indonesia.

The Barbary Pirates & England's White Slaves

Rule Britannia

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The little known story of the Barbary pirates and England's White Slaves.

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Did you know that at the same time that the British were involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, white Britons were being sold into slavery in Africa?

For over 200 years, from the reign of James I right up until George III,  Muslim pirates from the abducted thousands of British sailors and sold them in the slave markets on the Barbary Coast in North Africa.

T...

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Measuring less than one square mile, the island of Heligoland in the North Sea, just 30 miles off the north German coast, is an easily forgotten British colony.
But, this Frisian (not German) peaking island of 3,000 inhabitants was part of the British Empire from 1814 to 1890.

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Heligoland had its own British governor (or.Lt. governor), its own flag incorporating the Union flag, and from 1867 issued its own stamps with Queen Victoria’s head on them.

During British rule, the island became a spa resort at...

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“Rule Britannia” is one of the most recognised songs that identifies Great

Britain.

But what is the history behind the song?

In this episode you will discover:

The little-known story of why it was actually written,

The real person Britannia was modelled on,

And why most people are singing the wrong words!

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Almost wiped out by the Zulus, Losing half their men charging Sikh cannon with bayonets, Surrendered twice, captured twice, losing their colours...

Were the 24th Regiment of Foot the unluckiest regiment in the British army?

You decide, as we explore their heroic, bloody and forgotten charge ta the battle of Chillianwala in 1849.

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My other episodes about the British - Sikh Wars:

133 The Battle of Mudki - Opening battle of the 1st war
137 Ferozeshah
141 Battle...

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King Raedwald of East Anglia (reign 599-624 AD), an Anglo Saxon Bretwalda (sort of high king) is believed to be the man who was buried in the Sutton Hoo Ship.

 The ship and its treasures  (many of which are on display in the British Museum)   were discovered in 1939. The centre piece is an amazing warrior helmet.

This is the story of Raedwald, the forgotten warrior king from Dark Ages Britain.

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The battle of New Orleans fought between Great Britain and the USA on the 8th January 1815 resulted in a resounding American victory in which the British lost over 2,000 men killed, wounded or captured.

And Whilst It was the last battle of the war of 1812, it was actually fought after the US and the British had already agreed a peace treaty.

So, was this battle just pointless bloodshed?

Here is a my British perspective.

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The War of 1812, was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain and was a spin off from the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.

Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.

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Did you know that a real life Captain Blackadder went forth across no mans land during the First World War?

As did a Lt. George, a Captain Darling and a Private Baldrick.

This is their story.


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On Christmas Eve (24 December) 1914, Britain was bombed from the air for the first time.
A lone German plane flew over the port of Dover and one bomb was dropped towards Dover Castle.
It missed its target and landed in a civilian street.

This is the story of that historic moment in Britain's history, when the first bomb was dropped on the island and what happened next.

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Chris Green is The History Chap, telling stories that bring history to life.


Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, has often be called the best King England (or Britain) never had.

But who was Prince Albert and exactly what role did he play in British history?

I recently told the story about how Prince Albert helped to prevent a war between the USA and Britain in the 1860’s.

Loads of you got in touch asking me to tell a little bit more about him.

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48 hours after the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbour their aircraft delivered an equally devastating blow to the Royal Navy.

On the 10th December 1941, the warships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by torpedoes launched by Japanese aircraft.

It was the first time that warships defending themselves & sailing in open water had been sunk solely by an air attack.

It would change naval warfare forever.

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In 1820, a group of radical revolutionaries plotted to overthrow the British government.

Their plan? To assassinate the entire Cabinet whilst at a dinner and spark a nationwide uprising.

It was bold. It was desperate. And it was doomed.

This is the story of the Cato Street Conspiracy—a tale of revolution, betrayal, and tragedy in the heart of Georgian London.

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In an epic naval encounter on the 8th December 1914, the Royal Navy decisively defeated German admiral Maximilian von Spee. He along with 4 of his warships and 2,000 of his sailors were lost to the cold waters of the Atlantic.

That’s over double the number of men killed in the Falklands War in 1982.

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On the 3rd December 1854 British redcoats fought rebelling gold miners in Australia.

The Battle of the Eureka stockade was the bloody finale between industrial and political unrest amongst in the mining community and the British authorities, which became a defining moment in Australian history.

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On the night of the 26th November 1703 a storm hit southern Britain in which  over 10,000 were killed, 13 Royal Navy warships were destroyed in the middle of a war with France, windmills caught fire, cows ended up in trees, and even the Queen had to flee for her life!

This is the story of the Great Storm of 1703.

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Just two years after the British victory in the First Anglo-Sikh war in India, the Sikhs squared up to the British all over again.

This is the story about how the 2nd Anglo-Sikh War started and what happened when, on the 22nd November 1848, the two sides met at the Battle of Ramnagar

Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.

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