I’m Charlie Trumpess, a military historian passionate about sharing some of the forgotten stories of the Second World War. I hold a Master’s degree in Military History by Research from the University of Buckingham, and my work focuses on exploring the causes, actions, and consequences of conflict. I’m an Associate Fellow of the prestigious Royal Historical Society and a member of the Historical Writers’ Association. 

Growing up in North London, I was surrounded by military history, thanks to my father’s remarkable collection of historic firearms and militaria. This early exposure ignited a lifelong fascination with military equipment, vehicles, and the stories of those who served, ultimately shaping my career as a military historian specialising in Britain’s elite Guards regiments during the Second World War.

My debut work, A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945, published by Pen & Sword Military, reveals the extraordinary story of how the five regiments of Foot Guards—the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh Guards—made the dramatic transition from elite infantry to tank warfare. This groundbreaking study documents the controversial move from their traditional fighting role as highly disciplined foot soldiers to a mechanised role that demanded entirely different skills, including mechanical aptitude and armoured tactics.

Drawing on fresh archival material and veteran testimonies, I meticulously trace the Guards Armoured Division and 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade from their formation and training through to their operations during the campaign in Northwest Europe. The book examines legendary operations including D-Day, Operation Goodwood, and Market Garden, revealing how these traditional infantry units overcame institutional resistance and technical challenges to master armoured warfare. Particularly compelling is my analysis of why it took over a decade for the official history of the Guards Armoured Division to be published, uncovering the military establishment’s ambivalence about this fundamental transformation.

My work explores how the Guards’ renowned discipline, elite standards, and military excellence translated into their new armoured role, while addressing the practical difficulties of retraining seasoned infantry soldiers for tank operations and the innovations they developed to master this demanding new form of combat.

I’m currently working on an exciting new project with Fonthill Media, The Birth of British Special Forces: How the Guards Regiments helped forge the SAS, Commandos and Paras, which examines the role of the Brigade of Guards (now known as the Household Division) in the development of Britain’s special forces. This work reveals how Guards officers were disproportionately represented in the formation of Britain’s revolutionary special forces during World War II.

Set against the backdrop of 1940, when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, I document Winston Churchill’s call for elite raiding forces and how Guards officers answered that call. I demonstrate how men like Bill and David Stirling, Robert “Lucky” Laycock, and Frederick “Boy” Browning leveraged their military excellence, leadership training, and institutional connections to establish the Commandos, SAS, Long Range Desert Group, and Parachute Regiment.

This upcoming work represents the first systematic investigation of how elite infantry regiment culture directly influenced the creation of special forces—a connection that previous histories have treated as incidental rather than fundamental. I trace the Guards’ influence from the earliest Commando raids through the LRDG’s desert reconnaissance missions, the formation of the SAS in North Africa, and the first British airborne operations, including Operation Colossus.

Both works reflect my commitment to rigorous research and my ability to uncover previously unexplored connections within the field of military history. My writing combines scholarly precision with engaging narrative, making complex military transformations accessible to both academic and general audiences.

In addition to writing, I manage The War Years website, a platform dedicated to bringing military history to life through articles, videos, and community engagement. I’m also a member of several historical groups, including the Society for Army Historical Research, the Army Records Society, and the 29th Division Association.

My expertise extends beyond pure military history to encompass the tactical, cultural, and institutional factors that shaped these elite units. Through my detailed examination of the Guards regiments, I illuminate broader themes about military adaptation, elite unit evolution, and the development of modern warfare.

I hope that these studies will help establish me as a definitive chronicler of the Guards regiments’ wartime transformation, revealing how Britain’s most elite infantry soldiers became pioneers of modern armoured and special forces warfare.

I’m available for interviews, book signings, and as a guest on radio, TV, webinars, and podcasts. If you would like to discuss my work or collaborate on a project, please don’t hesitate to contact me.