From The Observer: A Webley Mark VI revolver carried at the Battle of the Somme by JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, is to go on display next month. The weapon was acquired two years ago by London’s Imperial War Museum from the Tolkien estate and will be shown at the museum and in an online exhibition marking the 90th anniversary of the battle. Tolkien served in the trenches as a signaller from July to October 1916. Nigel Steel, head of research at the museum, said his experience would have ‘darkened his mythological world and given him an insight into personal combat’. The exhibition will be at iwm.org.uk
Souvenir of Tolkien’s WW1 ordeal on show
May 21st, 2006 by xoanon
