One my favourite moments of the series is Wellington verbally destroying Simmerson. His fury is palpable

@daveyb454

3 жыл бұрын

One of mine is when Wellington asks Sharpe to swear there was no promise. And Sharpe swears no one heard and promise. (Wellington respected the honor involved)

@davecrupel2817

3 жыл бұрын

@@daveyb454 i don't understand why such things had to be off-record.

@GenOberst

3 жыл бұрын

@@davecrupel2817 Continuity of command. If Sharpe is going to Captain the Light Company, then he needs to actually command that company in an engagement. If he abandons his post to pursue an Eagle, there's a risk of his command collapsing. While Major Leroy (and Lt. Col. Lawford in the book) are at hand to hold the unit together, the show's budget unfortunately makes the units look much smaller than they should be, in reality the Light Company of a unit like the South Essex would have been spread out in front of the Regiment to screen French Voltigeurs (light infantry) and Chasseurs (sharpshooters similar to British Rifles, but using muskets). For the Light Company to competently do its job of screening the enemy's skirmishers, you would need all 100 soldiers (ideal number at full strength) in the Light Company in pairs thinning out French skirmishers and also harassing the main column as it marched towards the British line. And this would also mean the company Captain would need to be present directing his men on when/where to harass the enemy by dictating to his lieutenants, ensigns and sergeants. Sharpe ends up lucky. He was able to abandon his post and get the Eagle. And there's a roughly happy ending to the story. But the reality of Talavera was that Wellington didn't get a real victory that gained the British Army anything except halting the French center advance to Portugal, because Joseph Bonaparte got skittish. The French were able to withdraw in order, and the fight cost Wellesley (not yet Wellington) time. As he finds out that Marshal Soult was marching South from Galicia to link up with Victor, Jourdan and Joseph. If a Light Company Captain actually did what Sharpe did at the climax of the episode to get the Eagle, there's a very real chance that the rake-and-fire tactic employed by the British on François Ruffin's division would have failed and the British left would have instead collapsed against the French division.

@davecrupel2817

3 жыл бұрын

@@GenOberst Fair enough. Thanks for the explanation. (:

@julianmhall

2 жыл бұрын

@@GenOberst The scale - or lack of - is one reason I would like to see it redone today. CGI could easily manage the scale.

I think another reason Wellington was so outraged at Simmerson was that Simmerson tried to pass all the blame to a dead man whom nearly everyone regarded as a good soldier. Pinning the blame on a dead man who couldn't defend himself was a terribly dishonorable thing to do.

@Irishcrossing

3 жыл бұрын

There is so much to be mad about Simmerson. The death of Lennox, the deaths of so many soldiers for a small scouting party, leaving troops to die, blaming all the faults of himself on a dead man who died in vain, and losing the colors that is held proudly by the British. Simmerson needed to be revoked and disgraced at that point.

@biggfish7010

3 жыл бұрын

Wellington was angry that simmersons stupidity killed lennox. "major lennox was a damn fine officer"

@schoppepetzer9267

3 жыл бұрын

Happens in a corporate environment all the time. You always blame the guy who already quit or retired if a system, project, program isnt working :)

@peadarbarbosa

3 жыл бұрын

Not only on a dead man and a "damn fine officer" but also the man who saved Wellsley's army at Assaye

@cheyannei5983

2 жыл бұрын

@@Irishcrossing don't forget tried to profit off his death; recommending his own pocket/kin be promoted in his stead for action he didn't see!

"Major Hogan's coat buttons up tight over a number of other duties, Sir Henry." I love this line. God, this series was brilliantly written, but this episode in particular had great dialogue. "Major Lennox answered with his life! Which you should have done if you had any sense of honour!"

@seangallagher1947

4 ай бұрын

“You disgraced us, sir! You shamed us, sir! And you will answer! You shall be the first to see a French column, Sir Henry, it is NOT a pretty sight!”

@ParaDox-xb3qw

Ай бұрын

Agreed!!

@michelmendoza1769

10 күн бұрын

Indeed it’s odd to see Sean Bean so young and scrawny

"You've lost the colours, the King's Colours, touched by his own hand. Take my advice, and a pistol, and go behind yer tent and blow out what's left of yer brains" If I may be so bold, I would call that 'Owned'.

@breacat

3 жыл бұрын

Up until that point he had to be polite because Simmerson was his superior officer with friends in high places, but once the colours were lost he could tell him what he really thought.

@JnEricsonx

3 жыл бұрын

@@breacat Right down to letting his accent full-tilt.

@FerretJohn

3 жыл бұрын

Life would have been so much easier if Simmerson had taken his advice

"Take my advice and a pistol. Go behind this tent and blow out the rest what is left of your brain." I love that major!

@breacat

4 жыл бұрын

And it's only after Simmerson loses the King's colors that he can drop all the formality and politeness.

@lampuhijau9900

4 жыл бұрын

@@breacat lol 11year comment

@hanoitripper1809

4 жыл бұрын

Striker

@Rumpelstyltskin

4 жыл бұрын

@@breacat yep. Just biding his time. Kinda like life in the workplace these days, wait until your colleague is totally discredited before administering the kicking. 🤣

I love the way in the debrief scene at 7:30 you can actually see the actor who plays Captain Leroy is totally gripped by the powerful acting of David Troughton when he shows his anger and disgust as Simmerson tries to pass the blame. Honestly one of my favourite scenes in any programme or film, acting at its finest.

@Hyporama

3 жыл бұрын

this show has an amazing amount of perceptive writing, analysis of historical fact and portrayal of character. Criminally underrated.

@benjin0311

3 жыл бұрын

@@Hyporama Totally agree with you, it was excellent. Writing, directing and acting were awesome, like in this scene, acting that makes you feel you're there. It got alot of stick for the fight scenes looking a bit amateur but I thought they were great, always tense and had me on edge, I mean ok you can see that there was no blood and alot of swords that clearly don't make contact but it never takes away from the overall energy and drama of the scene for me.

Leroy has that classic wide-eyed look every kid has had while being yelled at by a parent. And he's not even the one being yelled at!

Sean Bean surviving the whole series, thats soldiering.

@Hyporama

3 жыл бұрын

especially with having been shot as many times as he was

@dragortius9335

3 жыл бұрын

@@Hyporama And slashed, and stabbed, and punched and kicked, and that time sharpe/sean bean got trampled by a horse whilst hiding

This is the episode that hooked me on the Sharpe series. I was bit underwhelmed by Sharpe's Rifles and as a result almost passed on continuing with watching the other episodes. However, I took another shot with Sharpe's Eagle and am glad I did. Terrific. I especially loved Wellington ripping into Simmerson at the end of htis clip. Simmerson was such a great villain.

@PipeSergeant54

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, and a villain all the way through. Did you know that in the Downton Abbey series the same actor played a pastor?

@MotRekrab1347

2 жыл бұрын

@@PipeSergeant54 I can remember watching that episode and just faintly hearing Wellington roaring at him!

I wish they had kept this Wellington. David Troughton looked more like Wellington and in my opinion had much more screen presence than Hugh Fraser. Was just more believable. Unfortunately, David was quite ill before filming Sharpe's Company and so they gave the role to Fraser. In addition, I wish they had kept Hogan too. However. Brian Cox refused to film anymore Sharpe's due to the poor conditions in the Ukraine. Was a real shame as he was much better than the subsequent spymasters.

@richardlebreton6690

2 жыл бұрын

I like Hugh Fraser, but he was a hit distracting as Wellington. I kept half expecting Poirot to rush in "Hastings! Hastings!"

@christopherdean1326

4 ай бұрын

My favourite was always Nairn.

“MAJOR LENNOX ANSWERED WITH HIS LIFE! AS YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE IF YOU HAD ANY SENSE OF HONOR!” Fucking awesome

Just wanted to say - I love the expression on Leroy's face when Simmerson's giving his little speech. You can see him thinking 'God help me if I get asked whether this is true or not...' especially towards the end. Awesome :)

Its amazing you can do with next to no budget and a few guys trained to fall off a horse. Although the bridge blowing up must have eaten into their chips n beer money.

Hogan rarely does the badass thing, but when he does...

the british headquarters at talavera there, looking suspiciusly like birmingham

Sharpe led the Rifles across the bridge in a rescue attempt. Leroy went over the bridge to help rescue as well. Leroy was a damn fine officer.

See, that's why I prefer this Wellington over the one from episode 3 onward. Damn shame. Not to mention Brian Cox getting ill, which caused all those changes of intelligence officers.

"If i wipe the name, i may wipe the shame..." Hahahaha, feel the fucking burn.

I love how Leroy shifts his gaze towards Simmerson when he said that Lieutenant Gibbons led the advance 😂

wellington's rage is wonderful. so is simmersons hair.

A Frenchman carrying the Union Jack? That will not do sir, that will not do

Haha,love seeing Simmerson getting a bollocking!

Thought Brian Cox was brilliant, he had some great lines.

"i lost the kings colours sharpe i lost the colour" man that makes me wanna cry when that happens

"For the love of Jesus, would you stand still, sir"

I love the quill scratching - an irritating and ominous sound. A herald of the upcoming cold stare of death from Wellesley.

@Hyporama

3 жыл бұрын

it's an easy sound to remember if you've ever scratched with a quill. Quite evocative.

the sentiments expressed in this scene over the king's colors illustrates how, during that age, human nature was bound by reverence for perceived divinity

Simmerson: Major Lennox panicked. Wellington: *pauses writing* So you want to go down that road?

@boyscouts83712

3 жыл бұрын

Everyone watching: grab some popcorn 🍿 and sodas 🥤 people, we bout to witness an ass whipping!

@SouthernFriedCyanide

3 жыл бұрын

@@boyscouts83712 Leroy: Should I send for the cleaners or...nevermind, it's too late

@boyscouts83712

3 жыл бұрын

@@SouthernFriedCyanide should we feel bad? Yeah. Are we going too? Nope!

@SouthernFriedCyanide

3 жыл бұрын

@@boyscouts83712 Should we feel bad? Everyone in the room: Shush lad, he's getting to the best part! *munches 🍿*

3:56 My god, I remember laughing my head off at that line! Great shtuff.

Michael Cochrane. What A Great Villain!

“I ran and pissed my pants, that’s my style sah!”

" Ill do what I always do stand and fight "

@Songsmirth He said he had a cousin in Horse Guards, which was basically the Pentagon for that time. It does indeed imply his connections are extremely influential.

@boyscouts83712

3 жыл бұрын

Translation: he has money to buy whatever he fucking wants.

@mjspice100

3 ай бұрын

@@boyscouts83712not that far from the truth, I’ve said this elsewhere in this thread, Simmerson had the financial clout to raise a regiment privately, for this he was made a colonel and knighted, the system at the time allowed this to happen and wasn’t dependant on military experience as is evident with Simmerson. The South Essex is essentially a vanity project for Simmerson who truly believed himself to be a gifted commander which of course he wasn’t.

@CMOT101

3 ай бұрын

Not the pentagon. That's an inferior Seppo thing.

Being English myself, technically speaking we are descended from Northern peoples just like the Germans. The King's German Legion of Wellington's army was one of its finest as well, King George being from Hanover.

Thanks for posting these

Hogan calls his horse Jeremiah even thou it’s a mare 😂😂😂 now that’s soldering

Leroy had to learn that Sharpe is honorable and true.

Im glad those gunpowder kegs on the bridge debris are still intact...

It's really weird Leroy seems to both respect and despise Sharpe

MAJOR LENNOX ANSWERED WITH HIS LIFE!!!

Well at this particular time, the Brits were actually losing in Spain.

Leroy, for being an American (As he says, he's not.. he's Virginian), really does know how to act and when to turn a deaf ear. Saying he heard Sharpe say nothing about any Eagle (which is technically true) means there will be no true way for Sharpe to lie about a fools mission that would for most part be completely impossible. Sharpe may not have made any promise, but his reverence for Major Lennox shone through and told Leroy that he would indeed do his best to fulfill a dying man's wish. So Leroy told the Ensign/Lieutenant to stay away from Sharpe.. which he was proven right about. Leroy is the true Captain of South Essex. A far superior officer than even many Colonels (Simmerson included, naturally.. but he's worth no more to Wellington than a deserting Private). Leroy should be left in charge of every day-to-day maintaining of the Regiment and he'd win the loyalty of most soldiers doing so.

Class acting and great writing.

0:03 i bet that was dobbs that took down that fenchie.... pwned!!!!

too bad david troughton did not continue wellington role for the rest of the series.

Best part of the whole scene was when Hogan, told Simmerson, "Go behind the tent and blow what's left of your brains out"....

"Sharpe. I can make you a captain, but I cannot keep you a captain. There is talk, Sharpe. There is talk of an imperial eagle. There is talk of a promise made to the late Major Hogan. Swear an oath to me that it is just talk, Sharpe, or by God you will walk out of this room a lieutenant." "I swear on oath that nobody heard me make any promise in respect to an imperial eagle, sir." "Colonel Lawson - you may escort Captain Sharpe to the door."

3:35 Some of the powder kegs are still there! IT'S GONNA BLOW! Oh wait...

he lost the imperial flag, many brave young men and a man who makes me proud to be scottish. the crime is cowerdice and the verdict is vengeance.

@otherjr Exactly, this is an incredible performance.

Major Lennox was a great Officer.

I wonder why the French cavalry are always pictured in blue, they wore green for Chasseurs and dragoons and these horsemen are obvioustly not lancers or cuirassers.

@SP-2317

3 жыл бұрын

Budget restraints. These are lancers uniforms btw.

@eugenekearney6971

2 жыл бұрын

@@SP-2317 Polish Czapka hats the square tops. Poles were the lancers. Also French tend to wear the hat dust covers all the time also.

Leroy is trying to go to a happy place

This Arthur does a very good angry Arthur

I love how he said you lost your head.

In Sharpe's Rifles the question is asked why fight for a bloody rag referring to the Standard of St. James. Until the middle of WWI the flag was the guide of where one was supposed to be in the battle. It was then, and is now, also the symbol, the emblem the heart of the unit. The King's Colours were presented to the unit and become the unit in many ways. It makes no difference what nation, your flag deserves honor and respect and to lose the Colours in battle in a disgrace to the unit.

True but it's not the English royal family, it's the British royal family.

7:44 That's THE owned! 150 slashes for him...

If only Simmerson listened to Major Hogan’s advice. So many people wouldn’t have suffered.

@boyscouts83712

3 жыл бұрын

Simmerson was more interested in 💷💷💷💰💰 than people

@kensmith8152

3 жыл бұрын

@@boyscouts83712:Ego, you go, we all go!

"You have lost the colors Sir!! The Colors touched by the kings own hand!!" The weight of that statement and what follows...dude should have listened...but he was a huge narcissist.

this is a good point but ide say WWII's purpose was more directed so that future generations could create countless amounts of games such as call of duty and medal of honor etc.

Major Hogan and Wellington planned that flawlessly, albeit the death of Major Lennox.

Captain Leroy is a man burner and a horse thief! (Lonesome Dove)

These are either Horse Grenadiers although they're wearing here a diamond shako, some polish regiment or Régiment de la Vistule Uhlans

i would agree with you,sir

5:38 Lying! Now that's soldiering.

damn i think micheal bay had a hand in that explosion

sharpes eagle was the first written, he made a bunch of prequals to it

Cheveaux Legers do stand for Light Cavalry, but during the Napoleonic Wars and as always, these units utilized spears and were the equivalent of lancers in other armies. I don't know what they are, but not Legers.

Simmerson is awesome! How shitey would sharpe be without characters like Simmerson.

Some of those barrels of powder were still intact. I'd recover them after the area has simmered down... edit: Where can I get a stunning outfit like Hogan's at the debrief? He always manages to look so fashionably outstanding.

@LordWellington15 Good point!

Though Major Lennox would know to form square to recieve cavalry green troops in their first action would scatter and not do so

Put another shrimp on the barbie?

i´ll stick my neck out here and say the only soldiers i can imagine in uniforms like that are lancers (wearing the typical polish czapka cap). chevaux-légers regiments in the french army did indeed carry the lance and at least one regiment (i can´t remember which one) wore a uniform similar to this - but not in 1809. lanceless poles?

Are those Polish cavalry?

5:24 to 8:03 BEST PART

LOL leroy at 7:41

I don't get why Sharpe is so uneasy. Hogan was there and he saw everything, his name is clear and it was demonstrably Simmerson's fault. Edit: Nvm based Hogan.

@Rumpelstyltskin

4 жыл бұрын

Yes but Sharpe was a nobody with little influence, Hogan was Irish (at this time the Irish regardless of social standing were viewed by other English officers with suspicion and dislike) who relied on Wellesley (who was also Irish) for his standing. Simmerson had "friends at horse guards", little good it did him in the end though. When shit starts to flow, it usually flows downhill. Shape was the lowest ranked officer in the room, hence his nervousness I would imagine.

@SP-2317

3 жыл бұрын

Sharpe has no idea that Hogan and Wellesley dislike Simmerson. He also doesn't trust Hogan.

Hey, at 3:34 there are still a few kegs of powder still unburnt!!

@hobied62

4 жыл бұрын

Just like the bridge at Remargen (sp) cheep explosives not military grade.

Honor

happiness". In the U.S. Civil War both sides thought they were, one was truly right though. In the case of the Sharpe series, what were Europeans squabbling over, who had the right to rule over you, a king or an emperor?

Wilhelm Scream at :21-:22.

Although it may seem rational and logical to see it this way, it is absolutely obvious that never Europe could have done it at that time for the simple reason that pretty much every 500km, people speak a completely different language. A group that cannot understand another one will hardly like it. Look how difficult it is for the EU to take coherent decisions nowadays... More than anything else (religion, nobility..), the language barrier was and is a real problem.

why is Sharpe allways out of breath?

Or it could be just a way to save money to make a good TV series...

I only came here for 3:45

@JVoH4god 3 things I hate: Snobs Townies and, in Teresas words 'Bastado!'

That was Hussers Dragons used speers.

@bradmiller2329

3 жыл бұрын

Dragoons used carbines and sabres. Lancers used Lance's. Cuirassiers used heavy broadswords. Hussars used sabres.

So battle back in the day was a big capture that flag game then?

@bradmiller2329

3 жыл бұрын

Flags scored HUGE points. The soul of the regiment.

hey why did the not formed a square

Alright, then I absolutely agree with you. Napoleonic wars are totally meaningless on the philosophical point of view.I understand why the french followed him though: 10 years after the humiliation that was the invation of the country by allied European forces, they had a revenge to take (irrational but human); and basically, Napoleon was at war against the same countries (+ some others that his ego really wanted). This word surely sums it all up: ego. Maybe you're right. Sharpe should have left

Why where flags (colors) so important? Was it for bragging rights?

Don't get me wrong, the U.S. has made many irrational choices about war (WWI, Spanish-American War, Vietnam, Iraq). What I was trying to contrast in my original statement on this video, was the clear reasons why Europeans went to war at this time and for centuries previously and why the Americans did. The two most interesting wars in history were the American Revolution and the Civil War, both of which people were dying for the principles of the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of...

wold you all stop bickering about the pointlessness of it all this war clearely took place because we had the foresight to know tha it would make a damn goodsetting for tv shows and movies . k thanks

Can anybody explain to me what does it mean when Wellington says that "the south Essex is stood down in name"?

@zaniusmaximus2490

3 жыл бұрын

Losing the Kings colors is symbolic of losing the regiment.

@cerberos5555

3 жыл бұрын

@Zanius Maximus: you mean like it's status as a regiment? As in it is now disbanded?

@DarthRushy

3 жыл бұрын

He means that the South Essex is renamed so nobody would know they're the battalion who lost the King's Colours.

@SP-2317

3 жыл бұрын

He means the regiment is disgraced for losing the Colours. So the name is associated with shame.

@mjspice100

3 ай бұрын

It’s also a direct insult to Simmerson, there was a system where a person who had the money could raise a regiment and be awarded a colonelcy and a knighthood even with no military experience. The South Essex was a vanity project to Simmerson who fancied himself a skilled military commander when he was anything but. Lennox and LeRoy were the only decent officers with any experience, the two lieutenants (Gibbons and Berry) were his nephews and referred to by Wellington as “coffee house fops”. Simmerson is being cashiered in all but name.

Yet they made a very rational mistake if I understood your last comment correctly: they thought their way of life was the best and wanted to give it to all Europe by force. What led us, once again to war, waste of life and desolation. So I don't think irrationality is the key problem here. (And I think that the US did the same when they tried to invade Canada isn't it ?(I'm asking))

COLOURS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😮g

Now I have... Oh well... I'm sorry I missed that, and so, for the fact it made me look like I was considering you an idiot (which I wasn't). It is an interesting point you make. I'm afraid my English level isn't good enough for me to understand exactly what you said, so please, forgive my possible misunderstandings. The french revolution normally put that in place, since the government of 1798 was quite similar to the american government.

well I believe so: I don't see any kind of link between the first ww and the Jews, and Jews were unliked also in France at the beginning of the second ww, yet, we didn't have a civil war about them; the war was against Germany, which speaks german. I believe that we can try to find many difficult reasons as to why people hate each other, but every reason has the same simple root: we don't like what is different; and a different language is something very easy to point out.