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