Paul Woodadge - From Battlefield Guide to You-Tuber
You may have found this website looking for a DDay Tour and yes I was a battlefield guide from 2002 to 2018, but now I am a YouTuber and in August 2019 my YouTube hosted TV channel went live.
Background
I was born and raised in Colchester, one of England's oldest and most historic towns. In the 1st Century, Colchester (Camulodunum) was an important Roman city and garrison and to this day is home to several British Army barracks. Colchester lies in the north of the county of Essex, close to Suffolk and in the area of many WWII American 8th Airforce sites. I attended the Colchester Royal Grammar School, founded in 1206 and given its Royal charter by Henry VIII.
I was born and raised in Colchester, one of England's oldest and most historic towns. In the 1st Century, Colchester (Camulodunum) was an important Roman city and garrison and to this day is home to several British Army barracks. Colchester lies in the north of the county of Essex, close to Suffolk and in the area of many WWII American 8th Airforce sites. I attended the Colchester Royal Grammar School, founded in 1206 and given its Royal charter by Henry VIII.
Normandy
I have been a regular visitor to the D-Day beaches and battlefields since the 1980s, having been told accounts of the invasion by my Great Uncle Cyril Rand who landed on Sword Beach on D-Day as an officer in the Royal Ulster Rifles. I had other family members who served in WWII, all of whom told me stories, and in many ways these shaped my childhood. Also as small boy in 1970s England as my generation did, I played with plastic Airfix Spitfire planes, Dinky Churchill tanks and read WWII comics like Commando, Battle and Warlord. WWII has always been a huge part of my life. |
My Reputation
Since I became established in Normandy, I was fortunate lucky enough to become internationally regarded as both a battlefield guide, and also as a "friend of the WWII veterans." Although not qualified in terms of academic achievements, people seem to appreciate my passion and enthusiasm for showing people the historic sites. This has made me the "go to guy" for many organisations and fellow historians around the world. I am grateful for the thanks and acknowledgement I receive in books by many leading historians including: Normandy '44, DDay and the Battle for France by James Holland, Storm of War by Andrew Roberts, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers by Larry Alexander, Dog Company: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc by Patrick K O'Donnell, Breakout from Juno by Mark Zuehlke and many others.
Historical Consultant
For information about my work as a Historical Advisor and consultant on TV and Film projects, I invite you to visit the specific pages.
Author - Books and articles
My book Angels of Mercy was published in April 2013 and still sells regularly online - you can also find it for sale in some of the Normandy museums. I also wrote a chapter for "Guardians of Remembrance: managing and interpreting "D-Day's sites of memory" by Geoffrey Bird, which was published in 2016.
Pieces I have written for War History online as a Guest Blogger.
Other History Interests
Prior to moving to Normandy in 2001, I was involved in WWII history in other ways. For 20 years I was a WWII re-enactor and living historian and travelled to and organised events all over England, France and the Netherlands. I was also the owner of two WWII military vehicles, a British Morris C8 cargo truck and with my father an American Scout Car.
Since I became established in Normandy, I was fortunate lucky enough to become internationally regarded as both a battlefield guide, and also as a "friend of the WWII veterans." Although not qualified in terms of academic achievements, people seem to appreciate my passion and enthusiasm for showing people the historic sites. This has made me the "go to guy" for many organisations and fellow historians around the world. I am grateful for the thanks and acknowledgement I receive in books by many leading historians including: Normandy '44, DDay and the Battle for France by James Holland, Storm of War by Andrew Roberts, In the Footsteps of the Band of Brothers by Larry Alexander, Dog Company: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc by Patrick K O'Donnell, Breakout from Juno by Mark Zuehlke and many others.
Historical Consultant
For information about my work as a Historical Advisor and consultant on TV and Film projects, I invite you to visit the specific pages.
Author - Books and articles
My book Angels of Mercy was published in April 2013 and still sells regularly online - you can also find it for sale in some of the Normandy museums. I also wrote a chapter for "Guardians of Remembrance: managing and interpreting "D-Day's sites of memory" by Geoffrey Bird, which was published in 2016.
Pieces I have written for War History online as a Guest Blogger.
Other History Interests
Prior to moving to Normandy in 2001, I was involved in WWII history in other ways. For 20 years I was a WWII re-enactor and living historian and travelled to and organised events all over England, France and the Netherlands. I was also the owner of two WWII military vehicles, a British Morris C8 cargo truck and with my father an American Scout Car.