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.

Frank Toogood
Guiding Member of the
International Guild of Battlefield Guides
Badge Number 39

A bit about me…

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 70 (Essex Yeomanry) Signal Squadron, part of 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (V) with whom I served 10 years. During that time I spent one year attached to 68 (Inns of Court and City Yeomanry) Signal Squadron in the heart of London.

Over two decades later as a successful Creative Director within the Y&R Advertising Group, I’m now also a qualified battlefield guide – It was an ideal opportunity to bring all my passions together into one job – a real labour of love.

I specialise 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, D-Day and Peenemüde, where on the Baltic island of Usedom off the North East coast of Germany, the V–2 was developed and subsequently bombed by the RAF and USAF during WW2.

I have been a member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides since 2006 and held several positions on Council before becoming the Guild Secretary in 2009. Having passed on the baton as Secretary in 2010, I continued to serve on Council as the Members’ Representative until the 2011 AGM when I stepped down from Council after 5 years of service. I was very proud to receive 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 having qualified.

Besides running ‘The Battlefield Guide’, I also freelance for a number of other specialist battlefield tour providers run by other Guild Members such as Battle Honours, as well as doing film work for Battlefield History TV.

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 either taking long walks with my family and our dog exploring the surrounding Essex countryside, or following my other passion for photography.

Finally, I’m also a member of the following organisations:
Essex Yeomanry Association
Western Front Association
Association of Friends of the Waterloo Committee