Military History Books
by Charlie Trumpess
I have published two books on Second World War military history. Both grew out of a long-standing interest in the Brigade of Guards and the part they played in shaping the British Army during the war.
The Guards are best known for ceremony and tradition. Drill, discipline, and standards that have changed little in centuries. What drew me to them as a subject was the question of what happens when you take soldiers steeped in that tradition and ask them to do something completely different. In the Second World War, the answer proved remarkable. Some of the Army's oldest and most conservative regiments moved into armoured warfare and helped build the special forces from the ground up. They did not simply adapt. In many cases, they led.
That tension between tradition and change is at the heart of both books. How did the Guards make the leap from the parade ground to the tank and parachute? What was it about their culture that made their officers so well placed to create and command Britain's new raiding forces? The more I looked at the evidence, the more those questions pointed to a story worth telling in full.
The Birth of British Special Forces
This book traces the origins of Britain's special forces in the summer of 1940. When Churchill called for raiding forces to strike at Nazi Germany, it was officers from the Brigade of Guards who shaped much of what followed. They had the social connections to get things done, the confidence to challenge military convention, and the authority to bring others with them.
The book draws on war diaries, official documents, ministerial notes, personal papers, and recorded accounts from veterans. It traces the Guards' influence from the first Commando raids in occupied Europe to the formation of the LRDG and SAS in North Africa, and to the first British airborne operations. Key figures include Bill and David Stirling, Robert Laycock, and Frederick "Boy" Browning.
My book does not shy away from the harder questions. It looks at the cost of special forces in terms of manpower, the debates over how they were used, and the arguments about their overall effectiveness. It also traces the Guards' connection to special forces beyond 1945, through the Cold War to the present day, including G Squadron SAS and the Guards Parachute Platoon.
Who is this book for?
Anyone with an interest in the Second World War, the origins of British special forces, or the long reach of today’s Household Division. If you watched the BBC’s drama series SAS: Rogue Heroes and want the full historical picture behind it, or if you are a researcher looking for historical sources, this book covers the ground.
Published by Fonthill Media, late spring 2026. Hardback. Available to pre-order now.
A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941–1945
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During the Second World War, some of Britain's most senior infantry regiments swapped their ceremonial duties for tanks. This book tells the story of how that happened, and what it meant in practice.
It is a comparative study of the Guards Armoured Division and the 6th Guards Tank Brigade. Both came from the same regimental tradition, but they prepared for war in different ways. The book examines how those differences in training translated into battlefield performance, for better and for worse.
What does the book cover?
The book follows both formations from their creation in 1941 through to the end of the war in northwest Europe. It examines the debate about whether the Guards were the right choice for armoured warfare, and how infantry soldiers trained for ceremonial duties learned to operate tanks. It then raises the central question: did the training methods of each formation affect their performance in action, and if so, how?
Who is this book for?
The research draws on fresh archival material, including the personal papers of the Earl of Rosse, not used in earlier accounts. The book also asks why the official history of the Guards Armoured Division took more than a decade to publish, and how the Guards Armoured were portrayed in post-war films.
Anyone with an interest in the Second World War, British military history, or the Guards regiments. Whether you are a researcher, a family member with a connection to the Guards' armoured formations, or simply want a clear account of how soldiers adapted to a new form of warfare, this book is for you.
Published by Pen & Sword Military, 2025. Hardback, 224 pages. ISBN: 9781036107888. RRP: £20. Now also available as an eBook. Download the official press release.