My name is Charlie Trumpess, and I am a military historian dedicated to sharing the stories of World War II. I hold a Master’s degree in Military History by Research from the University of Buckingham. I am an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a member of the Society of Authors.

Growing up in North London, I was surrounded by military history through my father’s collection of historic firearms and militaria. This early exposure sparked a lifelong fascination with military equipment, vehicles, and the stories of those who served, helping to shape my interest in Britain’s elite Guards regiments during the Second World War.

My first book, A History of the Guards Armoured Formations 1941-1945, published by Pen & Sword Military, examines how and why elements of the five Foot Guards regiments—the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, and Welsh Guards—made the controversial transition from elite infantry to tank warfare.

Drawing on new archival material and veteran testimonies, I trace the Guards Armoured Division and 6th Guards (Tank) Brigade through key operations including D-Day, Operation Goodwood, and Market Garden. My book reveals how these elite infantry units overcame institutional resistance and technical challenges to master armoured warfare, while examining why it took over a decade for the official history of the Guards Armoured Division to be published.

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 Brigade of Guards’ role in developing Britain’s special forces. This work reveals how Guards officers were disproportionately represented in forming Britain’s special forces during World War II.

I document how Guards officers like Bill and David Stirling, Robert Laycock, and Frederick “Boy” Browning leveraged their institutional and social connections to establish the Commandos, SAS, Long Range Desert Group, and Parachute Regiment. This represents the first systematic investigation of how the Brigade of Guards directly influenced the creation of Britain’s special forces, a connection previous histories have treated as incidental.

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

These two studies demonstrate how some of Britain’s elite infantry regiments, known for their ceremonial duties and military traditions, became pioneers in armoured warfare and special forces.

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.