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How our current circumstances offer a window into Lincoln's history
Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research at BGU, has written a series of articles exploring how the current circumstances in which we find ourselves offer a window into the history of both Lincoln and the wider United Kingdom. In the first of these he examines how the introduction of product restrictions by supermarkets harks back to the First World War and the city of Lincoln’s earlier experiences of rationing*. -
Remembrance Day 2020 – Military History students remember the Beechey Brothers
As Armistice Day approaches, we find ourselves in uncharted territory in terms of how we observe and commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during periods of conflict. The Military History team at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) decided to observe this year’s Remembrance Sunday and Day – 11 November – as a collective group and together with their students produced a short video to form part of the commemoration of the First World War. Military History students Matthew Richardson and William Cragg volunteered to read extracts from the letters of the brothers of the Beechey family. All eight of the young men of the Beechey family went off to fight in the 1914-18 conflict. The family lived in Avondale Street, Lincoln. Only three brothers would return, the loss of the Beechey Family, five brothers all told, was one of the gravest a single family suffered in Britain during the Great War. Amy Beechey, their mother, is buried in Newport Cemetery -- a short walk from the BGU campus. The members of the Beechey family who paid the ultimate sacrifice included: Sgt. Barnard Reeve Beechey, killed in action – 25 September 1915, aged 382nd/Lt. Frank Collett Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 14 November 1916, aged 30L/Cpl. Harold Reeve Beechey was killed in action – 10 April 1917, aged 26. Pte. Charles Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 20 October 1917, aged 39Rf/m. Leonard Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 29 December 1917, aged 36 While the current COVID-19 pandemic has meant that our commemorative services and traditions will be altered this year, remembrance and commemoration of the sacrifices made during conflict can take a variety of forms. Whatever form it does take, the importance of continuing to respect and commemorate the fallen was emphasised by the youngest Beechey Brother during the war itself, in 1917. One of the letters you can hear being read in the commemorative short film was written by the youngest Beechey brother, Eric – fortunately he survived the war, and was serving as an army dentist in Malta at the time he penned the letter. Having learned of the death of his brother Harold, the third to have fallen during the war, he wrote to his mother Amy emphasising the importance of ensuring their sacrifice was never forgotten. ‘I really cannot write much as I cannot realise that when I do get home, I shall not find any of the three of us who have paid the last tribute possible to the old country, have sacrificed their lives. We can only pay them the honour due to them, and reverence them forever in our memories’. The commemorative short film will be played just before the two minutes silence on 11 November on the University's social media channels. It will also be available to watch after the silence here. If you are interested in studying Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University please click here. You can also find out about the course at one of the forthcoming open days. For those interested in a taster session, please book onto the Military History masterclass on 17 November 2020. You can follow the activities of the Military History team on Twitter @BGUMilitaryHist -
‘Ideal Candidate’ Academic Appointed as Trustee for Medmenham Collection
Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for Military History and the MA in Social and Cultural History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has been appointed as a Medmenham Collection Trustee by the Medmenham Association. The Medmenham Association was formed in 1946 from those that worked at RAF Medmenham, the allied photographic intelligence unit, during the Second World War (you can find an overview of activities at RAF Medmenham during the war by clicking here). The Association members formed a museum and archive of photographic intelligence, which was then transferred into a charity, the Medmenham Collection.Women made up half of the workforce at Medmenham, and included Winston Churchill's daughter. Unusual for the time, they were treated as equals, and appointed to roles based on their ability. The majority of trustees for the Medmenham Collection are drawn from serving and retired military intelligence officers. However, the board of trustees felt that the board needed additional expertise outside the military and that an academic with a background in intelligence research would enhance the Board’s expertise. Gp Capt Paul Stewart MBE, PhD, RAF (Retd), speaking on behalf of the collection, explained why they had been keen to appoint Dr Hubbard-Hall to the position: “Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, who has supervised a PhD on RAF Medmenham and has extensive knowledge of Second World War intelligence studies was considered to be an ideal candidate for a trustee position." For Dr Hubbard-Hall, who specialises in Second World War Intelligence History, the appointment is timely to her endeavours to shine a brighter light on the role and contribution of women in intelligence: “As an intelligence historian specialising in the Second World War period, with a particular focus on women, it has been an honour to be asked.” If you’d like to find out more about uncovering new adventures on a History or Military History course at BGU, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Days or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. Image credits: Header image - A photographic Interpreter at Danesfield House studies plans and photographs of a BMW factory with the use of a stereoscope. © Medmenham Collection -
War injuries and Skinheads take the stage as BGU students share their prize winning research at history conference
Connie Wragg and Lewis Bird, third year History students at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), presented their research and engaged in discussions at the regional Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase. Run by the East Midlands Centre for History Learning and Teaching (EMC), the Showcase drew speakers from across the East Midlands and encouraged discussions on a very diverse range of historical topics, including the cultural history of milk, female poisoners, and the Black Panther Movement. Both Lewis’ and Connie’s presentations focused on their dissertation specialisms. Lewis examined the politicisation of the Skinhead movement, explaining the group’s multicultural origins before discussing the reasons for their later far right associations, with a particular focus on the role of the media. Connie meanwhile provided an overview of her research on perceptions of maxillofacial injury during the First World War, and the impact that losing their face had on these soldiers’ self-identity. Both presentations were well received, with Connie’s sharing the prize for best presentation of the day with Anya Maude (University of Nottingham) and Kieran Blake (University of Lincoln). Dr Hazel Kent, BGU’s steering group representative for the EMC, accompanied Lewis and Connie to the event and praised the pair for their hard work: “This was a truly inspiring event which demonstrated the depth and range of historical research being done at undergraduate level. Lewis and Connie were superb ambassadors for History at BGU and I am so pleased they took this opportunity to communicate their original and intriguing research to a wider audience. The standard of the presentations was extremely high and I am delighted that Connie’s was judged to be one of the best”. If you would be interested in joining these discussions visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information on our wide range courses including a selection of joint honours BA History degrees, our MA in Social & Cultural History and our new BA (Hons) in Military History. -
History of German PoWs in Britain explored in new book by BGU Historian
Alan Malpass, recently appointed Lecturer in Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has had his book 'British Character and the Treatment of German Prisoners of War, 1939-48' published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book examines attitudes towards German prisoners of war held captive in Britain, drawing on original archival material including newspaper and newsreel content, diaries, sociological surveys and opinion polls, as well as official documentation and the archives of pressure groups and protest movements. Moving beyond conventional assessments of POW treatment which have focused on the development of policy, diplomatic relations, and the experience of the POWs themselves, this study refocuses the debate onto the attitude of the British public towards the standard of treatment of German POWs. In so doing, it reveals that the issue of POW treatment intersected with discussions of state power, human rights, gender relations, civility, and national character. Speaking following publication, Alan discussed what drew him to the study and how it feeds back into the Military History course at BGU: “Having been brought up watching films of British POWs in Germany and the Far East, the captivity of hundreds of thousands of German POWs in Britain instantly interested me when I was told of them having worked on the land collecting in the harvest. If asked about the fate of POWs during WWII, I think most people would immediately think of Steve McQueen attempting to jump the barbed-wire fence on his Triumph motorcycle in The Great Escape and Alex Guinness collapsing on the plunger at the end of The Bridge on the River Kwai. Certainly, I was very surprised when I first learned of the German military cemetery in Cannock Chase and that German POWs were held at a camp just down the road from my parents’ house in Staffordshire during the war. Hopefully the book will help shed further light on this marginalised episode in British memory of the conflict. Given the prominence of Colditz Castle and the Great Escapers in our popular understanding of the Second World War, I wanted to investigate the debates, concerns, and memories the British had concerning the enemy prisoners who were held across the UK in wartime and post-war Britain”. “Prisoners of war might be ‘out of the fight’ when captured, nevertheless their experiences and roles, especially as workers for their captors, are important to consider when studying war and warfare. The history of POWs is as long as that of warfare itself and the codification of international laws to help protect them from abuse is intricately bound up with the development of ethical thought towards conflict. While combat and the ‘face of battle’ are central elements in the study of warfare, our BA (Hons) Military History Course also emphasises the wider social, ethical, and cultural impacts of war and its aftermath”. The BA (Hons) Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage, from the medieval period through to the present day, alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. You can also connect directly with our Military History team on Twitter -
Over £420k invested in local archaeological research
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has received a grant of more than £427,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to invest in the university’s archaeology department. The award was confirmed in a ministerial announcement by Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith. The grant is awarded to institutions that seek to upgrade facilities and enhance their capacity to contribute to the UK’s creative and cultural research economy. BGU has used the grant to refurbish teaching rooms and the archaeology laboratory on campus. The university’s Old School House will now host the new open access Lincolnshire Culture Heritage Research (LCHR) Hub. The funding has also enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the research capabilities of the department, including a 3D laser scanner and a drone fitted with a LIDAR sensor, which can produce high-resolution maps and 3D models of landscapes and historical buildings. Other new equipment such as a magnetometer and a ground penetrating radar allow archaeologists to “see” into the ground and identify what lies beneath without having to excavate. The equipment will be used at the university's upcoming archaeology field school, which will see excavation of the Haw Hill area of Swanpool in Lincoln, where significant archaeological findings are expected. Dr Derwin Gregory, Archaeology Programme Leader at BGU said: "The AHRC grant has allowed us to significantly enhance our facilities and research capabilities, enabling us to provide our students with a first-class learning experience. “The equipment purchased through this funding will also benefit the wider community of archaeology and history groups, who are encouraged to contact the department and arrange use of this sophisticated equipment for their own projects." The AHRC is the UK's largest funder of research and postgraduate training in the arts and humanities. As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), it provides funding and support to institutions in the UK. The funding programmes are designed to support research across the full range of arts and humanities subjects. UKRI is investing £103 million to expand and upgrade the UK’s world class research infrastructure, including digital infrastructure. The investments will support the sector and ensure UK researchers have access to the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science. UKRI International Champion, Professor Christopher Smith, said: “The investments, made across the UK, will provide UK researchers with advanced equipment, facilities and technology, and help maintain the UK’s position as a leader in research and innovation. “This support will ensure the UK is an attractive place for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate.” A full catalogue of equipment available to use can be found here. Dr Derwin Gregory with the Trimble R12 -
Programme Leader of Archaeology and Military History explores the impact of the countryside on armed forces personnel during WW2
In December 2024, Derwin Gregory, had his article accepted into the journal entitled Landscapes. -
Bishop Grosseteste University announced as a partner for Imperial War Museums’ £2.5m art commissioning programme Call for Veterans
The project being led by BGU invites serving and former members of the British Armed Forces who were deployed to Afghanistan to group art therapy workshops. In these sessions, veterans will explore what ‘home’ meant to them whilst serving in operating bases in Afghanistan and what it means to them now. A professional artist will be commissioned to work alongside the project team to create artwork that draws inspiration from the veterans’ experiences. Combined with the veterans’ art, the commissioned artwork will form part of a major new contemporary art exhibition that will explore the personal stories of the conflict in Afghanistan. As part of our wider research project, the team would also like to speak to any serving or former members of the British Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan and are interested in sharing their experiences of operating bases. Photographs and testimonies will be of particular interest. If you are interested in taking part in the project, please contact Dr Derwin Gregory at derwin.gregory@bishopg.ac.uk. Building on over 100 years of contemporary art commissioning by IWM, this new initiative continues the vision and reach of 14-18 NOW, the official UK arts programme for the First World War centenary, and has been made possible thanks to the success of Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed film They Shall Not Grow Old, co-commissioned by IWM and 14-18 NOW. A share of the film’s royalties – £2.5 million – will see investment in artists and arts experiences as IWM partners with 20 cultural organisations and 22 artists from across the UK. The fully funded commissions will each be inspired by the heritage of conflict. Dr Derwin Gregory, Programme Leader for Archaeology and Heritage of BGU, says: “I am excited to be working with serving and former members of the British Armed Forces, in partnership with IWM, to create a major contemporary art exhibition that will allow veterans the opportunity to share their stories of life within operating bases in Afghanistan”. Diane Lees, Director-General of IWM, says: “IWM is delighted to be working in close partnership with such a breadth of UK organisations on this ambitious programme of art commissioning. After a challenging couple of years for the arts sector, we hope that the unprecedented opportunities enabled by the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund will kick-start cultural dialogue as we recover from the wide-reaching impacts of COVID-19”. The IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commissions will go on public display across the UK between 2022 and 2024. For further information about the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund, please visit the IWM website. -
Archaeological dig at The Lawn to start next week
A four-week excavation led by Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) begins Monday 20 June. -
Writing the Air War and Lincolnshire Conference
11th & 12th May 2024
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