U n i v e r s i t y   & W o r l d W a r O n e

In 1909 Ronald commenced study at Oxford University under a scholarship.Without this crucial scholarship he would not have been able to attend. He majored in Anglo Saxon, Middle English and English for his degree. This was a very significant period in his life. It was at University that he formed life long friends that were to influence him and his works greatly in later life. With his friends he started various clubs. One of which was a tea club "The TC"that met in a tea room in Corporation St Oxford. The Club was later changed to the "Barrovian Society"after the barrows stores.

It was at this time that he met Edith Bratt. Edith was three years older than Ronald. They quickly fell in love, but Edith suddenly moved out of Oxford where their relationship fell to pieces, not helped by Father Francis Morgan's advice. Father Francis had turned it all into a huge love affair which put unreasonable pressure on the relationship. One day Ronald asked Father Morgan whether he could write to Edith and he grudgingly granted permission. He had a reply back from Edith and their relationship was resurrected. Just as their relationship was strengthening , a huge shock came to the Nation in the form of World War I. They had to put their relationship on hold.

In spite of the war Ronald was determined to marry Edith. Unfortunantly Father Francis prohibited the marriage until Ronald was 21. So, right on midnight on his 21st birthday, Ronald proposed to Edith by letter. It was accepted and they were married on the 8th January 1914.

Ronald enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1914 with the rank of Liutenant. His university friend GB Smith also joined him. Together the friends were sent to fight at the Somme. It was a hideous experience for Ronald, but nonetheless he managed to commence his "History of Middle Earth" The inspiration for which, was the war, in particular, that even the lowest ranking person could lead a battalion of men when called to retreat.

The War was to have a massive impact on Tolkien. It was in this war that he lost all but one of his university friends- only GB survived. He made a promise to his friends that he would keep alive their aims and values from the Barrovian Society.

After the horror of the War, he returned to Oxford where he found employment translating Anglo Saxon poems and stories such as "Gawain and the Green Knight."

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