Tim Stoneman

History

Tim Stoneman - Maritime Historian And Guide. tjstoneman@dsl.pipex.com Tim has guided tours to battlefields and remembrance sites since 2008, leading groups of veterans, schools parties, serving military and the general public to widen understanding of the meaning and realities of conflict, in both present-day and historical contexts.  Before this, he served in the Royal Navy, for 35 years, when he took part in several historical studies as the maritime expert.  These helped broaden his life-long interest in naval history to encompass land and air campaigns of the 20th century. Whilst preferring to look at battles with a nautical or amphibious flavour, such as Gallipoli, Dunkirk or Normandy, he is equally at home covering actions on the Somme, in Flanders, or other land-locked regions.  Some have interests nearer to home; Tim has also led students, civilians and servicemen on visits to memorials, museums and historic sites in the UK, such as those in London and Portsmouth. 

Movies

Assault on Normandy: Gold Beach - Battle for the Beachhead
Assault on Normandy: Gold Beach - Battle for the Beachhead
Presenter
69 Infantry Brigade had a highly successful landing and now had to fight its way through German defences to its objectives eight miles away. It was here that the veteran warrior, Sergeant Major Stan Hollis, continued the actions that led to him receiving the only D Day Victoria Cross.Meanwhile, 231 Infantry Brigade,were attempting to recover the situation and fight through German strong points towards Arromanches and Point 54 ridge. These battles lacked the coordination between infantry and tanks achieved by 69 Brigade and were up against field grade German infantry. Hours behind schedule, the village of Ryes was taken. This allowed the much delayed second wave consisting of 56th and 151 Infantry Brigades to deploy and exploit the early successes, reaching the outskirts of Bayeux by dusk. Meanwhile, in the west, the hard pressed 231 Infantry Brigade and 47 Commando continued its advance through enemy held territory to Port en Bessin, Arromanches and the Longues sur Mer Battery.
Assault on Normandy: 6th Airborne
Assault on Normandy: 6th Airborne
Presenter
The Overlord plan called for the use of airborne troops to secure the flanks of the D Day landing and to form a buffer to keep the German counter-attacks away, thus allowing 3rd Division to advance from Sword Beach to seize Caen. 6th Airborne Division was given this task. It was later to be joined by Lord Lovat's Commando Brigade..These tasks included seizing Pegasus Bridge and Merville Battery by 9 Para, whose guns were thought to dominate Sword Beach.Meanwhile, the remainder of the 3 and 5 Parachute Brigades were to secure key objectives. In the event they were widely scattered and facing counter-attack by 21st Panzer Division. Despite this the men of 6th Airborne heroically achieved their mission.
Assault on Normandy: Gold Beach - Battle for the Beaches
Assault on Normandy: Gold Beach - Battle for the Beaches
Presenter
Gold Beach is the story of the highly successful assault by 50th Northumbrian Division and 231 Malta Bde on the central beach of the Allied D day landings. The beach was one of the 2 extra beaches that Montgomery had added to the COSSAC plan and the two veteran formations chosen were highly successful achieving nearly all their objectives despite some hard and bloody fighting. It was on this beach that WO2 Stan Hollis won the only VC of D Day.
Bruneval Raid: Operation Biting
Bruneval Raid: Operation Biting
Presenter
In 1941 Dr RV Jones realised that the Germans had developed their own radar system that would account for increasing RAF bomber casualties. An enemy Würzburg system was located on the cliffs of Northern France at Bruneval. An operation was planned to seize it involving all three Services, including the newly raised C Coy, 2 Para, commanded by Major John Frost. The planning went well but the rehearsals were all disastrous. As the narrow window of moon and tide approached it was decided 'to bash on'. Nine of the twelve sticks of Paratroopers were dropped by 51 Squadron and the Germans were caught napping. However, they quickly responded and the Paras had a serious fight on their hands to keep the enemy at bay while the experts, who the Paras had orders to kill rather than let fall into enemy hands, dismantled the radar. With the enemy closing in the job was done and the force withdrew. It seemed that they may be caught but they made it to their badly delayed landing craft.