Paul Oldfield

Accredited Guide Number: 51

In a military career spanning 36 years, Paul served in most of the usual hotspots, including three years in Ulster, plus the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq. Other appointments included running the MOD’s Africa team for three years, commanding a mountain and arctic warfare unit and a tour with the Gurkhas. With his military experience he is able to bring a soldier’s insight to battles of the past.

Paul was educated in Sheffield and at Victoria College, Jersey, where he became interested in the German occupation and fortifications. He ran his first tour in 1983 on the Somme and has been involved in WW1 and WW2 tours since. Paul is a member of the Western Front Association and Gallipoli Association. He joined the Guild in April 2008 and was presented with Badge 51 on 20th November 2010. He was heavily involved in the Guild’s support for Help for Heroes’ annual Big Battlefield Bike Ride from 2012, including leading the guiding team 2014-18.

In 1988 he co-authored Sheffield City Battalion in the Pals series. Cockleshell Raid was published in Pen & Sword’s Battleground Europe series in 2012 and Bruneval followed in 2013. He is currently writing a series of sixteen books, Victoria Crosses on the Western Front. The first was published in July 2014 and the final volume is expected in late 2025.

Battles

20 C.Advance to VictoryArrasAubers RidgeBattle of The AisneBattle of the SommeBruneval RaidCambraiCassinoD-DayDieppeDunkirkFestubertGallipoliLoosMessinesMonsNeuve ChappelleNormandy LandingsNormandy Preparations in UKOperation FranktonOperation Market GardenRetreat to the MarneSt Nazaire & DieppeThe Somme 1918WWIWWIIYpres

Countries

BelgiumEuropeFranceItalyWestern Europe

Caters For

Bespoke GroupSmall Groups

Areas of Expertise

Other specialisms:

  • Personal research
  • Other battles/campaigns considered if time permits proper research