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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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...
...a replica of the French Imperial Eagle taken from the French 62nd Regiment by the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, that was made from wood taken from the North Gate at Hougoumont after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, now resides in the Essex Regiment Museum in county town of Chelmsford.
Two Imperial Eagles were taken at the Battle of Waterloo; the Royal Dragoons catpured the eagle of the 105th Lign and Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the eagle of the 45th Ligne.
The Eagle bore the same significance to French Imperial regiments as the colours did to British regiments – to lose the Eagle would bring shame to the regiment, who had pledged to defend it to the death.
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...
...a replica of the French Imperial Eagle taken from the French 62nd Regiment by the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812, that was made from wood taken from the North Gate at Hougoumont after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, now resides in the Essex Regiment Museum in county town of Chelmsford.
Two Imperial Eagles were taken at the Battle of Waterloo; the Royal Dragoons catpured the eagle of the 105th Lign and Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the eagle of the 45th Ligne.
The Eagle bore the same significance to French Imperial regiments as the colours did to British regiments – to lose the Eagle would bring shame to the regiment, who had pledged to defend it to the death.
Testimonials
Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for a fabulous tour of Waterloo last weekend. The time you spent with us at the outset by bringing to life the Panorama (which was spectacular in itself) provided exactly the right context for our subsequent visits to the key sites of Le Haye Sainte, Le Belle Alliance, Le Caillou, Plancenoit and of course Hougoumot. I felt able to put the pieces of the jigsaw together in my own mind and appreciate the enormous significance of each individual factor.
There are so many levels of interest within the battle – the intellectual illustrated by the strategic dispositions and movements of thousands of men and horses, the emotional epitomised by the fate of the 27th Inniskillins and the personal brought to life by the quotations of individuals - some famous like Captain Mercer and others almost lost in the shrouds of time like Private Matthew Clay. To balance and project all of these elements is critical to a full appreciation of the event and I thought you delivered brilliantly.
Thank you.
John Wood
Black Notely, Braintree
I wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed the Waterloo experience with you at the weekend. It's very clear that your overall knowledge of The Battle of Waterloo provided me and the other members of this tour with a valuable insight into the battle as it evolved. Your attention to detail, the clear, well designed maps and anecdotal, almost personal references brought the events of June 1815 to life in a very informative and engaging way.
Excellent.
I would also like to thank you for your very thorough planning for the tour's duration, the journey, the accomodation and general care for us "on tour". A terrific experience and one that I am keen to repeat.
Thank you,
Derek Price
Bocking, Braintree
Thank you so much for investigating about my grandfather's time when he was serving in the Suffolk Regiment during the Boer War.
I can't tell you how pleased I was to have learned so much from the information you have been able to provide me in the smart information pack.
All I had was my grandfathers wedding certificate and a photograph of my grandmother with my my mother aged 3 years old. It is sad to think that grandfather was killed in action and never saw his daughter. She was a baby when he was killed just 3 months old.
At least now I feel I can at last lay him to rest.
Thank you again.
Yours sincerely,
Mareen Leeming
Bocking, Braintree
I wanted to drop you a few lines to say thanks for the fabulous trip to the battlefield at Waterloo.
It's difficult to single out particular highlights of the trip as there were so many! One of them has got to be sitting at the top of the Lion Mound (breath-taking in more than one way!) and using the excellent maps you prepared to see how the battle moved from one phase to the next.
Another for me was standing in the actual room where Napoleon slept in on the eve of the great battle.
However the very best part for me of the whole trip was the walking tour of the famous Hougoumont Farm. Your blow by blow account of this epic struggle really brought it to life — you could almost smell the black powder smoke. Seeing some French Cavalry re–enactors there was the icing on the cake for me.
It's obvious from your depth of knowledge and your enthusiasm, that you've put a great deal of time and effort into researching this battle, and made the tour so much more interesting. I look forward to travelling with you again.
Many thanks
Paul Fowler
Colchester
What an interesting day reliving the Battle at Waterloo. I learnt so much more information about this battle and Frank really brought the scene to life with his wonderful knowledge of the event. We visited all the main sites involved and I really felt the history come alive.
I would recommend this tour and would love to go again, maybe on the 3 day tour, where you could spend a bit more time immersed in the history and soaking up the surroundings. A truly memorable experience, not to be forgotten.
Michael Beresford
Braintree
Kevin and I would like to formally thank you for the excellent guidance which you gave us to the battlefield of Waterloo, and the surrounding areas of interest to that topic. The selection of good museums added to our enjoyment.
Our comforts in travel, meals and accommodation were well taken care of, and we'd like to thank you for the convenience of booking our hotel and especially for your attention to the details.
As for your knowledge of the subject, it is impeccable. We were totally enthralled by your dramatic and compelling re–telling of what occurred leading up to and subsequent to the historic events of 1815. Your descriptions of the personalities, the large and small details, the setting of the scenes, and the unfolding of that gripping drama to its conclusion, we found thrilling. Your souvenir folder was an unexpected bonus.
We have no doubt that we wouldn't have found a better guide.
Kaaren and Kevin Palmer
South Australia
Frank, thank you for a most insightful day at Waterloo. Your knowledge of the ebb and flow of the battle was impressive; however your intimacy with the details of the pivotal fight for Hougoumant was very very special. I really enjoyed the recitation of the participants of all segments of the battle, which you had indexed to each site of the entire battle, of their recollections and feelings about what was going on around them, as if they were actually part of your tour. Standing on the spot that they stood on, and hearing their voices and feeling that took place over a 194 years ago added something I've not experienced before, and added much to the total experience. I would most enthusiastically recommend your guidance to Waterloo to anyone who is interested in an insightful tour of this history changing battle.
Robert Gogerty
Seattle, Washington
USA
Frank Toogood is a superb battlefield guide. I recently was in Brussels on business and able to devote one day to a quick overview of Waterloo. I met Frank at 9 am and from then on through 5:30 pm he walked me through a clear and compelling description of the strategic, tactical and human highlights of the battle. He was thoroughly prepared and handled all of my questions with insight, humour and perspective. Two or three days certainly would have been better, but no matter how much time you may have available, I can't imagine a more able companion to help you understand what happened at Waterloo.
William Oliver
Senior Vice President
AT&T
New Jersey, USA
Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for a fabulous tour of Waterloo last weekend. The time you spent with us at the outset by bringing to life the Panorama (which was spectacular in itself) provided exactly the right context for our subsequent visits to the key sites of Le Haye Sainte, Le Belle Alliance, Le Caillou, Plancenoit and of course Hougoumot. I felt able to put the pieces of the jigsaw together in my own mind and appreciate the enormous significance of each individual factor.
There are so many levels of interest within the battle – the intellectual illustrated by the strategic dispositions and movements of thousands of men and horses, the emotional epitomised by the fate of the 27th Inniskillins and the personal brought to life by the quotations of individuals - some famous like Captain Mercer and others almost lost in the shrouds of time like Private Matthew Clay. To balance and project all of these elements is critical to a full appreciation of the event and I thought you delivered brilliantly.
Thank you.
John Wood
Black Notely, Braintree
I wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed the Waterloo experience with you at the weekend. It's very clear that your overall knowledge of The Battle of Waterloo provided me and the other members of this tour with a valuable insight into the battle as it evolved. Your attention to detail, the clear, well designed maps and anecdotal, almost personal references brought the events of June 1815 to life in a very informative and engaging way.
Excellent.
I would also like to thank you for your very thorough planning for the tour's duration, the journey, the accomodation and general care for us "on tour". A terrific experience and one that I am keen to repeat.
Thank you,
Derek Price
Bocking, Braintree
Thank you so much for investigating about my grandfather's time when he was serving in the Suffolk Regiment during the Boer War.
I can't tell you how pleased I was to have learned so much from the information you have been able to provide me in the smart information pack.
All I had was my grandfathers wedding certificate and a photograph of my grandmother with my my mother aged 3 years old. It is sad to think that grandfather was killed in action and never saw his daughter. She was a baby when he was killed just 3 months old.
At least now I feel I can at last lay him to rest.
Thank you again.
Yours sincerely,
Mareen Leeming
Bocking, Braintree
I wanted to drop you a few lines to say thanks for the fabulous trip to the battlefield at Waterloo.
It's difficult to single out particular highlights of the trip as there were so many! One of them has got to be sitting at the top of the Lion Mound (breath-taking in more than one way!) and using the excellent maps you prepared to see how the battle moved from one phase to the next.
Another for me was standing in the actual room where Napoleon slept in on the eve of the great battle.
However the very best part for me of the whole trip was the walking tour of the famous Hougoumont Farm. Your blow by blow account of this epic struggle really brought it to life — you could almost smell the black powder smoke. Seeing some French Cavalry re–enactors there was the icing on the cake for me.
It's obvious from your depth of knowledge and your enthusiasm, that you've put a great deal of time and effort into researching this battle, and made the tour so much more interesting. I look forward to travelling with you again.
Many thanks
Paul Fowler
Colchester
What an interesting day reliving the Battle at Waterloo. I learnt so much more information about this battle and Frank really brought the scene to life with his wonderful knowledge of the event. We visited all the main sites involved and I really felt the history come alive.
I would recommend this tour and would love to go again, maybe on the 3 day tour, where you could spend a bit more time immersed in the history and soaking up the surroundings. A truly memorable experience, not to be forgotten.
Michael Beresford
Braintree
Kevin and I would like to formally thank you for the excellent guidance which you gave us to the battlefield of Waterloo, and the surrounding areas of interest to that topic. The selection of good museums added to our enjoyment.
Our comforts in travel, meals and accommodation were well taken care of, and we'd like to thank you for the convenience of booking our hotel and especially for your attention to the details.
As for your knowledge of the subject, it is impeccable. We were totally enthralled by your dramatic and compelling re–telling of what occurred leading up to and subsequent to the historic events of 1815. Your descriptions of the personalities, the large and small details, the setting of the scenes, and the unfolding of that gripping drama to its conclusion, we found thrilling. Your souvenir folder was an unexpected bonus.
We have no doubt that we wouldn't have found a better guide.
Kaaren and Kevin Palmer
South Australia
Frank, thank you for a most insightful day at Waterloo. Your knowledge of the ebb and flow of the battle was impressive; however your intimacy with the details of the pivotal fight for Hougoumant was very very special. I really enjoyed the recitation of the participants of all segments of the battle, which you had indexed to each site of the entire battle, of their recollections and feelings about what was going on around them, as if they were actually part of your tour. Standing on the spot that they stood on, and hearing their voices and feeling that took place over a 194 years ago added something I've not experienced before, and added much to the total experience. I would most enthusiastically recommend your guidance to Waterloo to anyone who is interested in an insightful tour of this history changing battle.
Robert Gogerty
Seattle, Washington
USA
Frank Toogood is a superb battlefield guide. I recently was in Brussels on business and able to devote one day to a quick overview of Waterloo. I met Frank at 9 am and from then on through 5:30 pm he walked me through a clear and compelling description of the strategic, tactical and human highlights of the battle. He was thoroughly prepared and handled all of my questions with insight, humour and perspective. Two or three days certainly would have been better, but no matter how much time you may have available, I can't imagine a more able companion to help you understand what happened at Waterloo.
William Oliver
Senior Vice President
AT&T
New Jersey, USA
Above
French Infantry. "Soldiers generally win battles; generals generally get the credit for them." Napoléon.
Email
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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
Fact...
...the hackle was originally a white plume which His Majesty's Fifth Regiment of Foot had taken from the head dress of fallen French troops at St. Lucia in December 1778. The Fifth Regiment of Foot became His Majesty's Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot with the county affiliations of 1782. In 1829 King George the IV ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot's battle honour, their plume was distinguished by being made red over white. This came from the legend that the men of the Fifth Regiment of Foot having dipped the white plumes in the blood of the French at St. Lucia.
French Infantry. "Soldiers generally win battles; generals generally get the credit for them." Napoléon.
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
Fact...
...the hackle was originally a white plume which His Majesty's Fifth Regiment of Foot had taken from the head dress of fallen French troops at St. Lucia in December 1778. The Fifth Regiment of Foot became His Majesty's Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot with the county affiliations of 1782. In 1829 King George the IV ordered the white plume to be worn by all infantry regiments, and in order not to take away from the Fifth (Northumberland) Regiment of Foot's battle honour, their plume was distinguished by being made red over white. This came from the legend that the men of the Fifth Regiment of Foot having dipped the white plumes in the blood of the French at St. Lucia.
