Kenneth Steer

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Kenneth Steer

Wath Grammar School
Alma materDurham University
OccupationArchaeologist
EmployerRoyal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS)
TitleSecretary of the RCAHMS
Term1957 to 1978
PredecessorAngus Graham
SuccessorJohn Dunbar
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1941–1946
RankCaptain
Battles/warsWorld War II
  • Italian Campaign
  • North West Europe Campaign
AwardsMentioned in dispatches

Kenneth Arthur Steer,

archaeologist and British Army officer. During World War II, he saw active service in Italy and later served as a Monuments Man in Germany. From 1957 to 1978, he served as Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
.

Early life

Steer was born on 12 November 1913 in

post-graduate study concerning the archaeology of Roman County Durham. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1938.[1] Excavations as a student included the Roman villa in Rudston, and Hadrian's Wall under Eric Birley and Ian Richmond.[4]

Career

Early career

In 1938, having completed his university education, Steer was appointed to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland as an assistant archaeologist.[5][6] Within the commission, he initially worked as an investigator looking at ancient monuments in Scotland.[2] He mainly worked in Roxburghshire and the Southern Uplands.[1]

In the early part of World War II, he worked as a civil servant with the Scottish Office at St Andrew's House.[1][2]

Military service

Steer was

56th Division. Near the end of the war he was transferred to the 5th Infantry Division.[5]

In June 1945, when hostilities ceased, he joined the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program.[4] He was posted to the North Rhine Division which was based in Düsseldorf.[5] His duties including directing the basic repairs of historic buildings. One example of this work is Cologne Cathedral that was saved for later restoration.[2]

Later career

Upon returning from Europe, Steer rejoined the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. He worked on the archaeology of Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire and Stirlingshire.[4] He used his experience of using aerial photography for military intelligence, and applied it to his civilian career, discovering many unknown sites.[2] From 1950 to 1955, he worked on the RCAHMS survey of 'marginal lands' in Scotland that were at threat from encroaching agricultural development.[4][8] In 1957, he was appointed Secretary, the Chief executive, of the RCAHMS.[1]

He gave the Horsley Lecture of the

Rhind Lecture for the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1968. He served as President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland between 1972 and 1975.[4]

Honours and decorations

In April 1946, he was

Mentioned in Dispatches 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe'.[9] For his service during World War II, he received the following campaign medals; the 1939–1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945
.

In the 1978

of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSA Scot).[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Kenneth Steer". The Scotsman. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. ^
    doi:10.9750/PSAS.137.1.4
    .
  3. ^ "Durham University News". The Durham University Journal. 29: 384.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Kenneth Steer". The Times. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Kenneth Steer ( 1913–2007 )". The Monuments Men. Monuments Men Foundation. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  6. ^ "No. 34529". The London Gazette. 8 July 1938. p. 4419.
  7. ^ a b "No. 35980". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 April 1943. p. 1738.
  8. ^ "Marginal Land Survey". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  9. ^ "No. 37521". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 April 1946. pp. 1672–1713.
  10. ^ "No. 47418". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1977. pp. 8–9.
  11. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1
    . Retrieved 19 November 2018.
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