Britain’s “Point of Failure” — The Brigadiers Who Almost Lost WW2

When we think of 1940, we picture Dunkirk, the fall of France and the BEF racing for the Channel. But behind the headlines were real officers making real decisions — the brigadiers. Too senior to ignore, not quite famous enough to be remembered. In this episode, my friend and part-time co-host Chris Brice talks to military historian Dr Phil McCarty about his new book Point of Failure: British Brigadiers in France and Norway, 1940. They explore who these men were, how they were selected, and why some rose to greatness while others quietly vanished after the débâcle of 1940. Expect discussion of staff college bottlenecks, Monty and Brooke’s patronage, public school myths, territorials, and why the brigadiers of Normandy look both similar to — and subtly different from — their 1940 predecessors. Plus some cracking stories along the way. If you enjoy British Army history told through real people rather than map arrows, you’ll enjoy this one. Purchase Phil's book here - Discover Chris Brice's books here - Join my mailing list for a free eBook about the Zulu War -

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Britain’s “Point of Failure” — The Brigadiers Who Almost Lost WW2 is an episode from The Redcoat History Podcast by Redcoat History.

This episode is 80:24 long.

This episode was published on Dec 8, 2025.

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