Kenneth Steer

Kenneth Arthur Steer, (12 November 1913 – 20 February 2007) was a British 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 Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Wath Grammar School, a selective state school in Wath-upon-Dearne. He went on to study history at Durham University, where he was the president of the Durham Colleges Historical Society in the Epiphany term of 1934. He stayed at Durham to undertake post-graduate study concerning the archaeology of Roman County Durham. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1938. Within the commission, he initially worked as an investigator looking at ancient monuments in Scotland. He saw active service in Italy during the Italian Campaign, In 1957, he was appointed Secretary, the Chief executive, of the RCAHMS. 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 New Year Honours, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his service as Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. He was an elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSA Scot).