Stuart Robertson

Growing up in North Yorkshire during the 1980s, Stuart's early life was very much influenced by his grandfather, H. A. ‘Jock’ Brownbridge, who served eight years in the British Army between 1938 and 1946. A veteran of the Dunkirk evacuation along with campaigns fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France (Dragoon), Belgium, Holland and Germany, ‘Jock’ would receive a Mention in Despatches for evacuating casualties under fire in Italy in July 1944. It was his grandfather who installed within Stuart his passion for military history, and having studied history at university, having been elected to the membership of the Royal Historical Society in 2016, Stuart is now in his third decade living in Normandy and working there as a professional historian, lecturer and battlefield guide.

Having led primarily a North American clientele around the Normandy battlefields, Stuart's appreciation of a huge number of misunderstandings relating to the Normandy Campaign led him to address this within his book Command and Valour. Here he seeks to put right those inaccuracies and myths whilst also presenting the story, for the first time within a single volume, of the 21 Medals of Honor and Victoria Crosses which were awarded during the Normandy Campaign. 

Command and Valour: The Strategy of Operation Overlord and How 21 Heroic Deeds Helped Enable Victory in Normandy

The D-Day invasion and the subsequent Battle for Normandy is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and most written about episodes of military history. It would therefore be reasonable to assume that after eight decades had passed, that generations of historians would have reached a consensus of the definition of the roles of the main protagonists in leading the way for the Western Allies most famous victory during the Second World War.

It is indeed astonishing to consider that many of the most commonly held perceptions of what exactly happened in 1944 are nothing but deeply ingrained myths, repeated so often that they now go unchallenged.

In Command and Valour, the author addresses these myths head on, readdresses the truth of the battle reaching conclusions which may surprise many of those who thought they already knew all there was to know on such an iconic subject. Alongside this story, the author recounts, for the very first time in a single volume, the instances of incredible valour which led to the 21 Victoria Crosses and Medals of Honor to be awarded during the Normandy Campaign.

Reviews for Command and Valour:

Stuart Robertson’s deep knowledge of his subject oozes off every page.  This is not just a gripping account of individual heroism it is also a book that contains plenty of fresh perspectives, fascinating insights and lots of very sound historical judgement.  'Command and Valour' is a fine book that puts right a lot of historical injustices. James Holland - Historian, author, broadcaster and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Command and Valour is a lively and accessible narrative of the 1944 Normandy campaign.  Stuart Robertson makes an articulate, powerful and timely plea for renewed scholarly engagement with the complexities of Allied campaign planning and execution. This book helps readers understand not only how choices at the highest command levels affected the course of the campaign, but also how individual courage and self-sacrifice was so often needed to translate the generals’ plans for victory into military success on the ground.  Highly recommended. Dr Simon Trew - Department of War Studies, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Stuart Robertson’s Command and Valour is not only a succinct depiction of the Normandy Campaign, but, more importantly, it masterfully dispels numerous myths which have become entrenched within the popular perception of the battle. A welcome breath of fresh air. Mark Zuehlke - Best-selling author of the Canadian Battle Series.

Stuart Robertson is a doyen of the Battlefield Guide Community, renowned for combining meticulous research, understanding and a rare ability to communicate. In ‘Command and Valour’, Robertson confronts issues which have previously generated much ill-informed discussion before presenting his own considered perspectives. ‘Command and Valour’ offers a powerful account which, no-matter your pre-conceptions, is a significant addition to our understanding of what happened in Normandy in June 1944. This book deserves to be read." Major General Graham Hollands - Royal Artillery.