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Dr. Gregor Davey has been a battlefield guide for over ten years specialising in educational tours for schools. He guides family history tours and tours about the technical aspects of warfare.

He holds a ‘PhD from King’s College, London (Thesis: ‘Intelligence and British Decolonisation: the development of an imperial intelligence system in the late colonial period 1944-1966’); an M.A, (History) with Distinction from the Open University (Thesis: Director, Adviser or Defender of a Faith? The Role of the Inspector General of Colonial Police 1948-1966’); B.A,(Hons.) from the University of Sydney (Thesis: “The role of the Royal Irish Constabulary in providing models for counter insurgency operations by other Colonial Police forces in the British Empire”); a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in History and an NVQ4 in Advice and Guidance.

He is research active and is currently working on a number of articles on the development of standardised models of intelligence machinery in colonies on ‘hand over’ and on the links between administrative developments and intelligence machinery in the British empire between the 1760s and the 1960s.

He has worked as a teacher at secondary level and a lecturer at tertiary level. He now works as an educator at tertiary level. His historical interests include: colonial campaigns; the American revolution; Canadian history; the history of the First World War; Second World War; and Cold War. He is a specialist in the history of the British Empire. He is interested in the history of the Baltic area especially the history of Finland. He has special interests in the history of intelligence and colonial policing, insurgency and counter-insurgency. He runs bespoke courses on these areas of interest and is open to negotiation on other specialist areas.

He served for twenty years in the Australian and British Reserve Forces as an artillery officer ending up as a Battery Commander in the rank of Major. During this period he completed: various ‘to arm’ courses; Junior Wing of the Reserve Command and Staff College in Australia; and the All Arms Battle Group Commander’s Course at Warminster.

He leads tours of the First World War Western Front and the Second World War in Europe with emphasis on British, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Indian, South African and other colony experiences. He specializes in bespoke tours to meet the individual interests of his customers.

Based near Birmingham, my guiding centres on, but is by no means restricted to, battles of all eras in and around the Midlands & Welsh Marches. I guide for a wide range of national and local organisations, small groups and individuals. I am Secretary of the Battlefields Trust’s Mercia Region.

My guiding is always on a not-for-profit basis or to raise funds for a pre-agreed charity. When presenting a battle I focus on the human aspects, aiming to bring the drama to life through some of history’s more colourful, but often forgotten, characters, through the recorded words of participants, and through the use of original artefacts and replicas. Born into a Diplomatic Service family I grew up amidst a wide variety of cultures, observing the importance of understanding the past to explain the present. After living behind the Iron Curtain, I served with the British Reserve Forces for 22 years during the Cold War. There I learnt how soldiers behave and armies work. After commanding a rifle company I was selected for international staff and liaison duties. Leading British & foreign regulars and reservists in a multi-national HQ, I was privileged to engage with foreign traditions, cultures and military thinking vastly different to the English-speaking experience.

Battlefield visitors often want to gain leadership and management insights. In presenting these aspects I draw on my experience over some 30 years as a senior manager in the public, private and voluntary sectors as well as my formal qualifications. They include an MPA (a public & voluntary sector specific MBA), the Army Staff College’s Reserves Command & Staff course, & the Emergency Planning College’s Strategic Command Course. On the basis of my experience The Chartered Management Institute elected me as a Fellow and the Institute of Directors as a Member.

Research into all eras of military history fascinates me, as does any opportunity to present a battle from a fresh angle. For example I used a tour of Naseby as a case study on “Prejudiced Thinking” for a public sector senior training day.

In 2016 I was awarded the Guild’s prestigious David Chandler prize for my research work.