David Harvey
Accredited Guide Number: 63
I began exploring battlefields, castles and other defensive sites as a teenager. These early interests became a lifelong passion in understanding the past through battles as turning points in history and led to membership of the Guild and gaining qualification as an accredited member.
A full career in policing has trained me in a detective’s way to look for corroboration of facts. There’s a saying ‘never let facts get in the way of a good story’, however I believe the truth holds a more revealing narrative than a mere story. Revisiting the accepted course of events is a rewarding way to explore scenes of battle, encouraging discussion about accepted facts.
Graduating from the School of Ancient History and Archaeology, Leicester University in 2012, I have a familiarity with modern archaeological techniques. This enables me to explain how advances in scientific analysis may significantly add insight for battlefield tourists. An example of this has been scrutinising the recent revelations of King Richard III’s battle wounds and reassessing the conduct of the battle of Bosworth through field walking and geophysical surveys.
I have visited and studied a wide range of historical sites across the Mediterranean and Europe from ancient to modern eras. Organising private tours to interesting locations overseas and in the U.K. has become a real pleasure, providing additional research and discrete visits according to client needs.
As a local historian, I am a member of a variety of community based groups with interest in maintaining a living heritage, such as the Rutland Historical Society. My archaeological skills are maintained through field-walking, surveys and excavations with community archaeological teams and Leicester University.
Personal historical interests extend from Roman occupation of Britain through Saxon and Viking settlement to the Norman Conquest. I have particular knowledge of the English Civil War and an understanding of the Wars of the Roses with fresh interpretation of the end of medieval age with the defeat of Richard III.
Battles
Ancient / RomanRoman Invasion of BritainMiddle AgesViking battlesViking battles in YorkshireNorman Conquest of England 1066Fulford 1066Hastings 1066Stanford Bridge 1066100 Years War 1337-1453Agincourt 1415British Civil WarsWars of the Roses 1455-87English Civil War 1642-1651Naseby 164519th CenturyNapoleonic WarsWaterloo Campaign 1815Ligny 1815Quatre Bras 1815WaterlooWavre 181520th CenturyFirst World War 1914-18Western Front - Counterattack (1916)Battle of the Somme 1916Western Front - Attrition (1917)Hindenburg Line 1917Vimy Ridge 1917Messines 1917Third Battle of Ypres 1917Passchendaele 1917Second World War 1939-45Occupation of Europe (1940)Fall of France 1940Dunkirk 1940Liberation of Europe (1944)D-Day - Op Overlord 1944Normandy Campaign and breakout 1944Op Market Garden 1944 - Arnhem Eindhoven NijmegenBattle of the Bulge 1944-5Band of Brothers 101 AirborneEastern Front WW2Battle of Halbe 1945Fall of Berlin 1945
Countries
BelgiumCyprusEnglandEuropeFranceGermanyGreeceItalyNetherlandsScotlandUnited KingdomWalesWestern Europe
Caters For
Adult Coach GroupsBespoke GroupCollege GroupsIndividualsPilgrimage GroupsSchool GroupsSmall Groups