Simon Burgess
Accredited Guide Number: 108
Simon qualified as a badged guide (Badge 108) in May 2020 and retired from the British Army in November 2022.
He originally served in the Royal Air Force before leaving to pursue a career in the oil industry, and also serving as a reserve officer. Rather to his surprise he ended up joining the Regular Army somewhat later in life than planned.
Simon has served on operations in Gulf War 1, Kosovo, Sierra Leone (as a United Nations Military Observer), Iraq (where he ran Basrah Fire Brigade) and twice as an aviation planner in Afghanistan (including a tour with the US Marine Corps). He has worked at battlegroup, brigade and divisional level.
He has served as the Operations Officer in the Attack Helicopter Force HQ, and as the aviation specialist in the Collective Training Group at the Land Warfare Centre. He has delivered training to brigade and division HQs, particularly in the use of aviation, air assault planning and air land integration.
Simon works for one of the major tour guide companies and regularly guides tours for military and school groups in Normandy, and the Western Front battles of WW1. He has also undertaken a number of direct engagements for military and other groups including HQ level staff rides. He has guided Operation Market Garden and the Sicily landings.
He is particularly interested in Normandy in WW2 (particularly the British 6th Airborne Division) and in all aspects of air power in WW1 and WW2.
He is also passionate about the American Civil War, particularly Gettysburg and the Eastern theatre battles.
Battles
19th CenturyAmerican Civil War 1861-65Antietam 186220th CenturyFirst World War 1914-18Western Front Allies of WW1Soldiers of the British Empire WW1ANZACS on the Western FrontCanadians on the Western FrontWestern Front - Counterattack (1916)Battle of the Somme 1916Delville Wood 1916Fromelles 1916Bapaume 1916Flers - Courcelette 1916Western Front - Attrition (1917)Arras 1917Vimy Ridge 1917Messines 1917Third Battle of Ypres 1917Polygon Wood 1917Passchendaele 1917Other WW1 themesAir Power WW1Shot at Dawn WW1Women and war WW1Logistics WW1Medical WW1Second World War 1939-45Occupation of Europe (1940)Battle of Britain 1940Mediterranean theatre WW2Siege of Malta 1940-42WW2 Commando and other Raids in Occupied EuropeBruneval Raid 1942Operation Jubilee - Dieppe 1942Italian Front WW2Operation Husky 1943 - SicilyLiberation of Europe (1944)Op Overlord Preparations in UK 1943-4D-Day - Op Overlord 1944Normandy Campaign and breakout 1944Op Market Garden 1944 - Arnhem Eindhoven Nijmegen
Countries
BelgiumEuropeFranceItalyNetherlandsNorth AmericaUnited KingdomUnited States of AmericaWestern Europe
Caters For
Adult Coach GroupsBattlefield StudiesBattlefield WalksBespoke GroupClubs and SocietiesCollege GroupsCorporate ToursFamiliesIndividualsMilitary & VeteranPilgrimage GroupsSchool GroupsSmall GroupsStaff Rides