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You can also find my new book, "Something Like Philosophy: A Symposium of Military Privation & Suffering" here: https://www.nativeoak.org/bookshop'>https://www.nativeoak.org/bookshop

~~Video Description~~

During the 18th Century, the Caribbean was no set of island paradises! Instead, soldiers who were deployed there faced a near certain death to an inhospitable climate and ravaging sicknesses. The islands were, in the words of a young Horatio Nelson, a "Hell Hole" and according to another British officer, the "Scourge of Europeans". But, why was this the case? And if these little islands were so horrifically deadly, why would so many nations be sending their soldiers there to wither away and die?

~~Sources & Further Reading On This Topic~~

You can find Leach's account, plus the "Present State of the West Indies", to read for free at my website, https://www.nativeoak.org/library'>https://www.nativeoak.org/library

The other sources can be found here:

The 38th Foot in the West Indies: https://westindiacommittee.org/histor...

The West Indian Soldier
https://westindiacommittee.org/histor...

~~Other Links & Contact Info~~

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~~Timestamps~~
Intro 00:00
Sterling & Slaves 01:11
Sponsorship 05:12
The Scourge of Europeans 07:17
Little or Nothing Worth 22:00
The Hell Hole 28:40
Conclusion 35:25