Show notes
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.Buy Alistair's books: https://www.helion.co.uk/people/alistair-nichols.phpSupport the show at: www.patreon.com/thenapoleonicwarspodKeywords: British Army, Napoleonic Wars, foreign soldiers, Swiss Regiment, German Legion, military recruitment, desertion, prisoners of war, foreign regiments, military historyTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Foreign Troops in the British Army02:49 Perceptions and Stigmas Surrounding Foreign Soldiers05:59 Stereotypes and Positive Accounts of Foreign Soldiers09:08 Diverse Sources of Foreign Soldiers12:00 The Multinational Nature of the British Army15:03 Reasons for Recruitment of Foreign Soldiers17:47 The Longevity and Future of Foreign Regiments29:10 The Evolution of Foreign Regiments in the British Army31:24 The Risks of Joining the British Army34:53 Desertion and Recruitment of Foreign Soldiers40:35 French Emigres and Their Role in the British Army43:34 The Stories of French Soldiers in British Service54:35 Life After Service for Foreign Soldiers