Grant Repshire

Discipline: English

Project Summary

The Papers of FW Harvey: As part of a REACT studentship, I am working in collaboration with the Gloucestershire Archives to catalogue and study the papers of FW Harvey. Harvey is best known as a poet of the First World War, penning such poems as 'Ducks' and 'If We Return'. Harvey served with 1/5 and 2/5 Gloucestershire Regiment during the war, serving in the ranks and eventually earning a commission as a lieutenant following his being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for valour.  He was influential in the creation and production of the first trench newspaper, the 5th Gloucesters Gazette. The Gazette gained a literary following which led to publication of two collections of Harvey's poetry during the war, the second of which he published while being held in a German prisoner of war camp. He was also a part of a much larger literary and musical community centred in Gloucestershire, with notable friends such as Ivor Gurney and Herbert Howells.

Supervisory Team

Supervisors: Prof Tim Kendall, University of Exeter; Dr Angelique Richardson, University of Exeter; Julie Courtenay, Gloucestershire Archives

Wider Research Interests

Military History, War Poetry, War Memoirs, Digital Humanities, Opportunities to use social media for education outreach.