Anthony Rich

Accredited Guide Number: 74

Based near Birmingham, my guiding centres on, but is by no means restricted to, battles of all eras in and around the Midlands & Welsh Marches. I guide for a wide range of national and local organisations, small groups and individuals. I am Secretary of the Battlefields Trust’s Mercia Region.

My guiding is always on a not-for-profit basis or to raise funds for a pre-agreed charity. When presenting a battle I focus on the human aspects, aiming to bring the drama to life through some of history’s more colourful, but often forgotten, characters, through the recorded words of participants, and through the use of original artefacts and replicas. Born into a Diplomatic Service family I grew up amidst a wide variety of cultures, observing the importance of understanding the past to explain the present. After living behind the Iron Curtain, I served with the British Reserve Forces for 22 years during the Cold War. There I learnt how soldiers behave and armies work. After commanding a rifle company I was selected for international staff and liaison duties. Leading British & foreign regulars and reservists in a multi-national HQ, I was privileged to engage with foreign traditions, cultures and military thinking vastly different to the English-speaking experience.

Battlefield visitors often want to gain leadership and management insights. In presenting these aspects I draw on my experience over some 30 years as a senior manager in the public, private and voluntary sectors as well as my formal qualifications. They include an MPA (a public & voluntary sector specific MBA), the Army Staff College’s Reserves Command & Staff course, & the Emergency Planning College’s Strategic Command Course. On the basis of my experience The Chartered Management Institute elected me as a Fellow and the Institute of Directors as a Member.

Research into all eras of military history fascinates me, as does any opportunity to present a battle from a fresh angle. For example I used a tour of Naseby as a case study on “Prejudiced Thinking” for a public sector senior training day.

In 2016 I was awarded the Guild’s prestigious David Chandler prize for my research work.

Battles

Battle of Teutoberger ForestBattle of the SommeBritish Civil WarsD-DayEnglish Civil WarMarlborough's campaignsMiddle AgesMonmouth RebellionNapoleonNorman Conquest of EnglandOwen Glendower's RevoltRoman Invasion of GermanyThe Jacobite RebellionsWWIWWIIWars of the RosesWaterloo CampaignYpres

Countries

BelgiumEnglandEuropeFranceGermanyNetherlandsScotlandUnited KingdomWalesWestern Europe

Caters For

Adult Coach GroupsBattlefield WalksClubs and SocietiesEvening PresentationsLeadership & Management TrainingSelf-drive ToursShort ToursSmall Groups

Areas of Expertise

Wars covered:

  • All periods of warfare in the UK including:-
    – Dark Ages
    – Norman Invasion
    – Mediaeval Warfare
    – Owen Glendower’s Revolt
    – Wars of the Roses
    – English Civil Wars
    – Monmouth’s Rebellion
    – The Jacobite Rebellions

 

  • The Roman Invasion of Germany & Battle of Teutoberger Forest (AD 9)
  • Marlborough’s Campaigns
  • The Waterloo Campaign
  • World War 1 (NW Europe)
  • World War 2 (NW Europe)

 

Areas of expertise:

Shorter Day/Half Day Tours

Any UK Battle can be covered, but suggested day / half day tours include:-

  • Deerhurst 1016, Gloucestershire (near Tewkesbury)
  • Lincoln 1216, Lincolnshire
  • Evesham 1265 Worcestershire
  • Pilleth/Bryn Glas, 1402 Welsh Borders (easily combined with Mortimer’s Cross)
  • Shrewsbury, Shropshire 1403
  • 1st & 2 nd St Albans, Hertfordshire 1455 & 1461
  • Blore Heath & Ludford Bridge both 1459, both Shropshire,
  • Northampton 1460, Northamptonshire
  • Mortimer’s Cross 1461 Herefordshire
  • Towton, 1461 (inc Ferrybridge) Yorkshire
  • Edgecote, 1460 (close to both Cropredy & Edgehill) NorthamptonshireNibley Green,
    Gloucestershire 1470, Gloucestershire
  • Tewkesbury 1471, Gloucestershire
  • Bosworth 1485, Leicestershire
  • Stoke Field 1487, Nottinghamshire
  • Edgehill 1642 Oxfordshire (can be combined with Cropredy)
  • Hopton Heath 1643, Staffordshire
  • Cropredy Bridge 1644 Oxfordshire (can be combined with Edgehill)
  • Marston Moor 1644, Yorkshire
  • Naseby 1645, Northamptonshire
  • Worcester 1651 (can include Charles II’s escape and/or Powick Bridge 1642)
    Worcestershire
  • Sedgemoor 1688, Somerset

 

Longer Suggested Tours:-

  • Teutoberger Forest, Nr Osnabruck, Germany (could be combined with Waterloo,
    Ramilies, both Belgium & Arnhem. Netherlands)
  • Anglo-Scottish Border Warfare (Hadrian’s Wall, Homildon Hill & Flodden, all
    Northumberland)
  • The Western Front (Somme and/or Ypres Salient, France & Belgium).
    D-Day (especially Sword Beach & the failure of plans for early capture of Caen)

 

Other specialisms:

  • German & French languages (both fluent if ungrammatical)
  • Collection of “touch & feel” original and replica equipment & artefacts