Corvisier Prize

I was delighted to learn late last week that I have been awarded the 2023 André Corvisier Prize by the International Commission of Military History. The prize, which comes with €3000 in prize money, is awarded in recognition of the best PhD dissertation in military history (in any period and place, and defined in the broadest possible sense) completed at any university in the past calendar year. The award also includes publication of an article in the Commission’s journal and the reimbursement of travel costs to enable me to attend the ICMH’s annual conference in Istanbul in September.

The commendation of the judging panel reads as follows:

Musical Warriors: British Military Music and Musicians during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars covers a period which witnessed a strong increase in the number of military bands. It is a fine example of a dissertation on an original topic little explored by previous scholars. Dr O’Keeffe rightly interprets martial music-making as a core military activity and an integral part of wider musical culture, and maintains that attention to music reveals the depth and reciprocity of interactions between the military and society. For example, effective provision of instrumental education not only encouraged interest in musical soldiering but enabled veterans to find work as professional musicians after discharge.

Seven chapters consider all the aspects of the topic, discussing and, sometimes, revising previous historiography. The focus is on land forces but music in the Royal Navy is not neglected. Bands did not ordinarily play in combat, while pipers were expected to play alongside Highland soldiers in action. However, music fulfilled several practical roles on the battlefield and can be described as a “force multiplier”.

An impressive list of British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealander, and South African archives together with an equally exhaustive set of other sources demonstrates the author’s critical rigour in dealing with his subject.