Frank Toogood
The Battlefield Guide
Guiding Member of the
Guild of Battlefield Guides,
Badge Number 39
The Battlefield Guide
Guiding Member of the
Guild of Battlefield Guides,
Badge Number 39
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Alternatively, there's always
the telephone:
+44 (0)1916 45 1812
+44 (0)7948 56 2085
Fact...
...during their first engagement of the Second Boer War in January 1900, the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment assaulted Red Hill, locally known as Rooi Kop overlooking Colesberg.
In order to keep the element of surprise, the men wore no boots, their rifles unloaded though bayonets were fixed, attacked after midnight in pitch black. The Battalion suffered many casualties, including the Commanding Officer and 2826 Private Stephen Pryke. The hill was subsequently renamed Suffolk Hill by the Boers in recognition of the courage during the assault.
After three years of arduous campaigning, the Battle Honour 'South Africa 1899–1902' was awarded to the Suffolks.
For more information, visit the website of the Suffolk Regiment »
Talk
Call Frank for free on your PC
or Mac using Skype
Find out more about the
benefits of Skype »
Alternatively, there's always
the telephone:
+44 (0)1916 45 1812
+44 (0)7948 56 2085
Fact...
...during their first engagement of the Second Boer War in January 1900, the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment assaulted Red Hill, locally known as Rooi Kop overlooking Colesberg.
In order to keep the element of surprise, the men wore no boots, their rifles unloaded though bayonets were fixed, attacked after midnight in pitch black. The Battalion suffered many casualties, including the Commanding Officer and 2826 Private Stephen Pryke. The hill was subsequently renamed Suffolk Hill by the Boers in recognition of the courage during the assault.
After three years of arduous campaigning, the Battle Honour 'South Africa 1899–1902' was awarded to the Suffolks.
For more information, visit the website of the Suffolk Regiment »
Frank Toogood
In 1965 I entered the world rather appropriately at the British Military Hospital in Iserlohn, Germany. (Perhaps this is the reason I have such a profound interest in the military!)
As a young man I faced something of a dilemma. I knew that I wanted to join the army but I couldn't make up my mind whether to join the Blues and Royals or the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry. At this point fate stepped in and presented me with yet a third choice – Art School. Having won a scholarship, it seemed rather wasteful to turn it down so armed with brushes and paints I left for the North Essex School of Art.
However, still needing to satisfy my ambition for soldiering I decided that the Territorial Army would provide me with the perfect opportunity to have the best of both worlds. So I joined the 70th (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, part of 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V) with whom I served 11 years.
Two decades later as a successful and award winning designer, I'm now also a battlefield guide specialising in Waterloo, the Waterloo Campaign and Hougoumont – 'the battle within a battle'. I also guide the Great War with a particular interest in the Essex Yeomanry, naturally and 'Peenemüde', where on the Baltic Coast island of Usedom in North East Germany, the V–2 was developed and subsequently bombed during Operation Hydra by the RAF on the 17–18 August 1943.
It was an ideal opportunity to bring all my passions together into one job – a real labour of love.
Following the International Guild of Battlefield Guides' 2009 AGM, I was elected Guild Secretary — a position I'm very proud to hold. I'm also a member of the Western Front Association, Association of Friends of the Waterloo Committee and a Trustee of Project Hougoumont, whose aim it is to restore this historic site in time for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 2015.
That's me proudly receiving my Guide's Badge from the Guild's Patron, Prof. Richard Holmes CBE TD JP, at the Guild's 2008 Annual Dinner at RAF Uxbridge.
Besides running 'The Battlefield Guide', I also freelance for a number of other battlefield tour providers, that are run by other badged members of the Guild.
On a personal note, I'm married to my wife Ariane and we have three lovely children. When I'm not performing my Guide duties, I can be found taking long walks with my family and our dog exploring the surrounding Essex countryside.
Member
Frank is also a member of the following organisations:
In 1965 I entered the world rather appropriately at the British Military Hospital in Iserlohn, Germany. (Perhaps this is the reason I have such a profound interest in the military!)
As a young man I faced something of a dilemma. I knew that I wanted to join the army but I couldn't make up my mind whether to join the Blues and Royals or the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry. At this point fate stepped in and presented me with yet a third choice – Art School. Having won a scholarship, it seemed rather wasteful to turn it down so armed with brushes and paints I left for the North Essex School of Art.
However, still needing to satisfy my ambition for soldiering I decided that the Territorial Army would provide me with the perfect opportunity to have the best of both worlds. So I joined the 70th (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, part of 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V) with whom I served 11 years.
Two decades later as a successful and award winning designer, I'm now also a battlefield guide specialising in Waterloo, the Waterloo Campaign and Hougoumont – 'the battle within a battle'. I also guide the Great War with a particular interest in the Essex Yeomanry, naturally and 'Peenemüde', where on the Baltic Coast island of Usedom in North East Germany, the V–2 was developed and subsequently bombed during Operation Hydra by the RAF on the 17–18 August 1943.
It was an ideal opportunity to bring all my passions together into one job – a real labour of love.
Following the International Guild of Battlefield Guides' 2009 AGM, I was elected Guild Secretary — a position I'm very proud to hold. I'm also a member of the Western Front Association, Association of Friends of the Waterloo Committee and a Trustee of Project Hougoumont, whose aim it is to restore this historic site in time for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 2015.
That's me proudly receiving my Guide's Badge from the Guild's Patron, Prof. Richard Holmes CBE TD JP, at the Guild's 2008 Annual Dinner at RAF Uxbridge.
Besides running 'The Battlefield Guide', I also freelance for a number of other battlefield tour providers, that are run by other badged members of the Guild.
On a personal note, I'm married to my wife Ariane and we have three lovely children. When I'm not performing my Guide duties, I can be found taking long walks with my family and our dog exploring the surrounding Essex countryside.
Member
Frank is also a member of the following organisations:
Above
That's me demonstrating how a British Army India Pattern Brown Bess Flintlock Musket would have been used by an Infantryman during the Battle of Waterloo.
I sometimes take on tour deactivated weapons and ammunition, so that my customers can get a real feel of what it would have been like to handle such items and learn the drills the soldiers would have had to have gone through in the heat of the battle.
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Alternatively you can
write, sending to:
Frank Toogood
The Battlefield Guide
Cobwebs Barn
Canterbury Grange
Bocking, Braintree
Essex CM7 5NA
United Kingdom
That's me demonstrating how a British Army India Pattern Brown Bess Flintlock Musket would have been used by an Infantryman during the Battle of Waterloo.
I sometimes take on tour deactivated weapons and ammunition, so that my customers can get a real feel of what it would have been like to handle such items and learn the drills the soldiers would have had to have gone through in the heat of the battle.
Fields marked (*) are required
Alternatively you can
write, sending to:
Frank Toogood
The Battlefield Guide
Cobwebs Barn
Canterbury Grange
Bocking, Braintree
Essex CM7 5NA
United Kingdom
