World War I: Difference between revisions

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<center>{{quote|Who battled have with bloody hands<br>Through evil times in barren lands,<br>To whom the voice of guns<br>Speaks and no longer stuns...|[[Geoffrey Bache Smith]], ''[[A Spring Harvest]]''}}</center>
<center>{{quote|Who battled have with bloody hands<br>Through evil times in barren lands,<br>To whom the voice of guns<br>Speaks and no longer stuns...|[[Geoffrey Bache Smith]], ''[[A Spring Harvest]]''}}</center>


[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] served in the British Army during '''World War I''' (or the "'''Great War'''"), most notably in the bloody [[Battle of the Somme]]. The earliest works of the [[Legendarium]]&mdash;collected in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]''&mdash;were began during the conflict. The extent to which the war and Tolkien's experience of it are reflected in his written work is a matter of much interest in Tolkien scholarship.
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] served in the British Army during '''World War I''' (or the "'''Great War'''"), most notably in the bloody [[Battle of the Somme]]. The earliest works of the [[legendarium]]&mdash;collected in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part Two]]''&mdash;were begun during the conflict. The extent to which the war and Tolkien's experience of it are reflected in his written work is a matter of much interest in Tolkien scholarship.  


==Participants==
==Participants==
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* '''[[19 August|August 19]]''' - Tolkien and G.B. Smith meet at Acheux.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[19 August|August 19]]''' - Tolkien and G.B. Smith meet at Acheux.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[26 October|October 26]]''' - While in reserve, Tolkien's battalion is inspected by [[wikipedia:Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Sir Doulgas Haig]], the British commander at the Battle of the Somme.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[26 October|October 26]]''' - While in reserve, Tolkien's battalion is inspected by [[wikipedia:Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Sir Doulgas Haig]], the British commander at the Battle of the Somme.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[27 October|October 27]]''' – J.R.R. Tolkien is struck by trench fever, which ends his contribution to the war after just 5 months.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[27 October|October 27]]''' – J.R.R. Tolkien is struck by trench fever, which ends his active service after just 5 months.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[28 October|October 28]]''' – Tolkien is hospitalized.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[28 October|October 28]]''' – Tolkien is hospitalized.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[8 November|November 8]]''' - Tolkien is repatriated. He now stays at a hospital in [[Birmingham]].<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[8 November|November 8]]''' - Tolkien is repatriated. He now stays at a hospital in [[Birmingham]].<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[18 November|November 18]]''' - The Battle of the Somme ends. Neither side wins. Tolkien is officially stricken off as a casualty by his Batallion.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[18 November|November 18]]''' - The Battle of the Somme ends. Neither side wins. Tolkien is officially stricken off as a casualty by his Battalion.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[29 November|November 29]]''' - G.B. Smith is hit by shrapnel, and wounded on his right arm and thigh.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[29 November|November 29]]''' - G.B. Smith is hit by shrapnel, and wounded on his right arm and thigh.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[3 December|December 3]]''' - G.B. Smith dies of gas-gangrene in his wounds. The news does not reach Tolkien until the 16th.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[3 December|December 3]]''' - G.B. Smith dies of gas-gangrene in his wounds. The news does not reach Tolkien until the 16th.<ref name="Garth"/>
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* '''[[11 October|October 11]]''' - Tolkien is officially released from Brooklands Hospital, Birmingham.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[11 October|October 11]]''' - Tolkien is officially released from Brooklands Hospital, Birmingham.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[11 November|November 11]]''' - The War comes to an end in a cease-fire.<ref name="WP"/>
* '''[[11 November|November 11]]''' - The War comes to an end in a cease-fire.<ref name="WP"/>
===1919===
===1919===
* '''[[17 February|February 17]]''' - [[Hilary Tolkien]] returns home.<ref>[[Hilary Tolkien]], [[Angela Gardner]] (ed.), ''[[Black and White Ogre Country]]'', page 50</ref>
* '''[[17 February|February 17]]''' - [[Hilary Tolkien]] returns home.<ref>[[Hilary Tolkien]], [[Angela Gardner]] (ed.), ''[[Black & White Ogre Country]]'', page 50</ref>
* '''[[28 June|June 28]]''' - The war officially ends, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.<ref name="WP"/>
* '''[[28 June|June 28]]''' - The war officially ends, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.<ref name="WP"/>
* '''[[15 July|July 15]]''' - Tolkien is released from service.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[15 July|July 15]]''' - Tolkien is released from service.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[16 July|July 16]]''' - Tolkien is officially demobilized.<ref name="Garth"/>
* '''[[16 July|July 16]]''' - Tolkien is officially demobilized.<ref name="Garth"/>
==Further Reading==
''[[Tolkien and the Great War]]'' by [[John Garth]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/p_tolkien_app.htm J.R.R. Tolkien's army commission application]
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/firstworldwar/people/p_tolkien_app.htm J.R.R. Tolkien's army commission application]
 
*[http://johngarth.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/why-world-war-one-is-at-the-heart-of-lord-of-the-rings/ Why World War One Is at the heart of Lord of the Rings] by [[John Garth]]
{{references}}
{{references}}


[[Category:World War I| ]]
[[Category:World War I| ]]

Latest revision as of 20:53, 13 October 2023

Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform.
"Who battled have with bloody hands
Through evil times in barren lands,
To whom the voice of guns
Speaks and no longer stuns...
"
Geoffrey Bache Smith, A Spring Harvest

J.R.R. Tolkien served in the British Army during World War I (or the "Great War"), most notably in the bloody Battle of the Somme. The earliest works of the legendarium—collected in The Book of Lost Tales Part Two—were begun during the conflict. The extent to which the war and Tolkien's experience of it are reflected in his written work is a matter of much interest in Tolkien scholarship.

Participants[edit | edit source]

Barrovians:

Others

Timeline[edit | edit source]

See also Timeline of World War I at Wikipedia

1914[edit | edit source]

1915[edit | edit source]

  • June 10 - Exams start at Oxford University. Because of the war, only Tolkien and 24 others remain in the entire University. Tolkien passes.[1]
  • June 28 - Tolkien applies at the Oxford recruiting office to join the army.[1]
  • July 15 - Tolkien becomes a second lieutenant, and is appointed to the 13th Service Battalion of the Lancashire Fusilliers.[1]
  • September 25 - The Big Four of the T.C.B.S. - Tolkien, Smith, Wiseman and Gilson - have their last meeting.[1]
  • November 21 - G.B. Smith is shipped to France.[1]

1916[edit | edit source]

1917[edit | edit source]

  • January 12 - Tolkien's leave of absence (to recover from his trench fever) ends, but he is far from recovered.[1]
  • January 29 - Tolkien faces a Medical Board in Birmingham, but he is not deemed fit to return to war.[1]
  • February - Tolkien faces his second Medical Board, but is again deemed unfit for duty.[1]
  • February 27 - Tolkien faces his third Medical Board, and again his leave is extended.[1]
  • April 18 - Tolkien and Wiseman, the Great Twin Brethren, meet in Harrogate, and discuss the fate of the Barrovians and the future of the Society.[1]
  • April 19 - Tolkien, in revalidation, is assigned to the Humber Garrison, but is not fit enough.[1]
  • June 1 - Tolkien is considered fit for service again, but he is not reassigned to the Lancashire Fusilliers.[1]
  • June 29 - J.R.R. Tolkien succumbs to gastritis while at Brocton Camp.[1]
  • August 1 - "Tea Cake" Barnsley is killed in Ypres.[1]
  • October 13- Tolkien is found unfit for duty for six months, but able to do a desk job.[1]
  • November – Tolkien moves into 50 St. John's Street.[1]
  • November 16 - The Tolkien's first son, John, is born.[1]

1918[edit | edit source]

  • October 11 - Tolkien is officially released from Brooklands Hospital, Birmingham.[1]
  • November 11 - The War comes to an end in a cease-fire.[4]

1919[edit | edit source]

Further Reading[edit | edit source]

Tolkien and the Great War by John Garth

External links[edit | edit source]

References