[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.46,0:00:15.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Ronald Reuel Tolkien,\Nwas born on the 3rd January, 1892.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.71,0:00:19.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He and his brother Hilary,\Nexperienced a difficult childhood.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.01,0:00:22.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When Tolkien was just four,\Nthey lost their father, Arthur,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.49,0:00:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to rheumatic fever.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.03,0:00:26.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As a widow with low income,\Nhis mother Mabel,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.95,0:00:30.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,home schooled the brothers and played\Na vital role in their early education
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.64,0:00:31.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and development.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.99,0:00:38.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien was a smart young boy, with\Na fascination and thirst for languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.91,0:00:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien sat the entrance exam for King\NEdward's School, Birmingham and passed.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.21,0:00:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From the Autumn of 1900,\Nfor a fee of 12 pounds a year,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.06,0:00:51.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien would be educated\Nin an environment
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.56,0:00:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would help fulfil\Nhis academic potential.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.48,0:00:56.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Going to \NKing Edward's was
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.64,0:00:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vitally important to Tolkien;\Nhe was an exceptionally
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.58,0:01:04.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,talented boy. King Edward's offered him\Na vast amount of scope
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.76,0:01:09.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and also the company of other boys\Nwho were similarly talented.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.16,0:01:13.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which was probably quite\Nhard for Tolkien to find.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.43,0:01:19.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Not only did he play rugby\Nbut he was a leading light
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.00,0:01:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the debating society\Nand the literary society.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.28,0:01:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was the life and soul really,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.25,0:01:29.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he missed the school a great deal,\NI think, when he finally had to leave.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.70,0:01:34.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: At the age of just 11, Tolkien\Nand his brother Hilary
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.06,0:01:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lose their mother Mabel to diabetes.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.49,0:01:40.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grief stricken, he plunges\Nhimself into school life
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.12,0:01:43.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more energetically than before.\NAcademically he excels,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.98,0:01:48.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but in 1905 meets his intellectual rival,\NChristopher Wiseman.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.55,0:01:53.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien met his greatest\Nfriend at King Edward's,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.74,0:01:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Christopher Wiseman on the rugby pitch.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.73,0:02:00.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A musician, a mathematician;\Nquite different from Tolkien.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.99,0:02:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They developed such a strong\Nbond on the rugby field
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.88,0:02:06.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they called themselves;\N"The Great Twin Brethren",
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.17,0:02:10.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was a phrase from\N"Lays of Ancient Rome" by Lord Macauley.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.73,0:02:13.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: They also were\Nfriendly rivals in the school,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.80,0:02:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,both being very academic boys.\NWiseman had a formidable intellect
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.82,0:02:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he was interested\Nin a lot of the things
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.28,0:02:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that Tolkien was getting interested in;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.45,0:02:26.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,languages, I think he was looking at\NEgyptian and was looking at hieroglyphics.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.52,0:02:28.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien and Wiseman\Nmust have helped define each other
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.78,0:02:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through their teenage years\Nbecause they would argue;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.08,0:02:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would argue strongly\Nabout all their beliefs in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.07,0:02:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Wiseman was\Na very talented musician;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.83,0:02:42.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien was supposed to be tone deaf\Nbut that didn't stop them getting on!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.33,0:02:46.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Tolkien also befriends,\Nson of the headmaster, Rob Gilson.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.67,0:02:50.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien, Wiseman and Gilson,\Nform a strong bond
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.68,0:02:53.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which will last throughout\Ntheir school years and beyond.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.79,0:03:00.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Outside of King Edward's, Tolkien's life\Nis about to change, yet again.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.30,0:03:04.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien was living\Nin lodgings with his brother, Hilary,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.25,0:03:10.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when he was 16 he met fellow lodger,\NEdith Bratt, who was 19 at the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.64,0:03:17.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And she was a beautiful young girl;\Ntalented pianist and also an orphan.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.85,0:03:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the two of them bonded\Non their shared sadnesses
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.09,0:03:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also on their hopes and dreams.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.94,0:03:28.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The difficulty for Ronald,\Nas she called him, and Edith,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.84,0:03:33.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was that he was a Roman Catholic\Nand she was an Anglican.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.24,0:03:37.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Tolkien's Guardian, Father Francis\NMorgan, a Catholic Priest,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.42,0:03:41.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feels this is major divide; and also\Nbelieves that Edith will distract Tolkien
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.85,0:03:45.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from his attempts to get\Ninto Oxford University.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.02,0:03:49.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Father Francis Morgan,\Nforbade them from seeing each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.44,0:03:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even from communicating.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.77,0:03:55.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was thrown back upon\Nhis friendships at King Edward's
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.03,0:04:01.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was this final phase of his time\Nhere, that he began to flourish
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.75,0:04:06.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and make the place his own;\Nhe and his friends ruled the roost.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.71,0:04:10.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Making the most of\Nhis final year at King Edward's
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.49,0:04:12.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the friendships he has formed,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.73,0:04:15.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien and his peers create\Nan informal society.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.58,0:04:22.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These young intellectuals gather\Nin the school library
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.10,0:04:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and do what they are\Nforbidden to do: brew tea.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.12,0:04:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Outside of school hours, they meet\Nin a cafe at Barrow's Stores in Birmingham
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.77,0:04:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so, self-mockingly, they call themselves\Nthe "Tea Club and Barrovean Society"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.04,0:04:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the TCBS for short.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.29,0:04:39.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(nostalgic music)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.44,0:04:41.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: The core of the TCBS \Nwas probably
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.37,0:04:43.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien and Wiseman and the others
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.99,0:04:47.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gravitated around them. There was Robert
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.29,0:04:49.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quilter Gilson, the son of the headmaster
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.60,0:04:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here; Rob was a cultured and sociable chap,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.76,0:04:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was perhaps the social glue of the group;
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.37,0:04:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he would welcome anyone and find common
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.16,0:05:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cause with them. A gentle artistic fellow
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.80,0:05:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who loved to sketch.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.62,0:05:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: He was a gifted artist and
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.79,0:05:10.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had ambitions to be an architect.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.34,0:05:14.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a late arrival, Geoffrey Bache Smith,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.88,0:05:19.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was fascinated by mythology, Celtic
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.24,0:05:21.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mythology; so this gave him common ground
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.19,0:05:22.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with Tolkien; \Nit was another of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.73,0:05:23.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien's passions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.39,0:05:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Smith was quite an accomplished
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.92,0:05:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and advanced poet who recommended contemporary
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.87,0:05:31.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,poetry to Tolkien. When he started writing
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.18,0:05:34.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,poetry, Tolkien was to a certain extent,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.54,0:05:37.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inspired by Smith and the wider group.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.28,0:05:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that was really the beginnings of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.28,0:05:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien as a writer.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.78,0:05:43.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: From the beginnings which were
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.43,0:05:46.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mostly about fun, later on, during the war years,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.76,0:05:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this developed into a fellowship from which
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.76,0:05:53.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,each of them drew tremendous strength and
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.17,0:05:54.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,comfort.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.65,0:05:56.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Later that year, Tolkien's time at
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.73,0:05:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,King Edward's comes to an end and he begins
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.24,0:06:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his first term at Oxford, having successfully
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.18,0:06:03.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gained entrance.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.55,0:06:08.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the eve of his 21st birthday, and his
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.01,0:06:10.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,independence from Father Francis Morgan,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.44,0:06:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien writes to Edith and less than a
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.77,0:06:15.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,week later, they are re-united.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.47,0:06:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Edith is engaged to marry another man,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.75,0:06:19.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but despite almost certain ridicule,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.88,0:06:22.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she agrees to break the engagement to be
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.01,0:06:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with her Ronald.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.43,0:06:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the next few months, a growing sense of
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.90,0:06:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trouble brews across Europe and on the 28th
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.96,0:06:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of June, 1914, everything changes.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.10,0:06:38.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(gun shot sound)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.83,0:06:40.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(solemn music)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.45,0:06:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gavrillo Princip is arrested for the
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.27,0:06:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.78,0:06:50.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A diplomatic crisis ensues and within weeks,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.41,0:06:54.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Europe's major powers are at war.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.27,0:06:57.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Germany invades Belgium and Britain declares
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.36,0:07:00.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,war on Germany. Parliament issues a call
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.61,0:07:03.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to arms from the British public.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.27,0:07:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: There isn't a rush to the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.16,0:07:07.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,colours straight away. It becomes much more
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.80,0:07:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,obvious that people are willing to join
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.50,0:07:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up when atrocity stories start to emerge,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.75,0:07:14.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you get a much more concerted rush
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.55,0:07:15.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to join.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.73,0:07:17.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: There was an air of excitement
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.57,0:07:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the war, there was a naive sense that
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.40,0:07:23.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this would allow young men to fulfil their
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.15,0:07:25.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,potential in a way that wasn't possible in
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.38,0:07:27.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,peace time. There was a tremendous sense
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.31,0:07:30.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of patriotism and a sense of duty towards
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.61,0:07:33.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whatever England, or Britain, stood for.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.52,0:07:35.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: They are attracted to the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.53,0:07:37.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,idea of a settling of accounts with the Germans,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.83,0:07:39.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least some of them will be. On the
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.46,0:07:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whole, they thought they were going to give
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.19,0:07:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Germans a bloody nose.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.53,0:07:45.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: "The Germans has been dastardly"
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.13,0:07:48.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and needed to dealt with and shown their place.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.38,0:07:50.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: Men join up out of economic
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.17,0:07:53.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,necessity and you'll find that in any war.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.59,0:07:57.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Life is not very exciting and the romance
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.32,0:08:00.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and colour of joining the army and being
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.40,0:08:03.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,part of something very big indeed, I'm sure
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.11,0:08:04.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has some allure.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.40,0:08:06.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(solemn music) And they see things
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.37,0:08:08.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in rather romantic ways, which of course is
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.97,0:08:11.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doomed to fail; we all know what the First
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.36,0:08:14.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,World War turns into. It's not a war of
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.08,0:08:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,movement, of dash and élan; it's not cavalry
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.70,0:08:20.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,charges and distant trumpets; I'm afraid
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.33,0:08:22.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the pitter-patter of machine gun fire
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.95,0:08:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the crump of artillery that's going to
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.46,0:08:25.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dominate.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.34,0:08:31.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So they, I think, have expectations about what
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.82,0:08:33.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the war will be like, and I think their main
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.70,0:08:36.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emotion was, will it be over before I can
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.00,0:08:37.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get to France.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.96,0:08:42.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien, who's reading covered
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.10,0:08:45.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ancient heroic literature, that is surprisingly
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.84,0:08:49.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,frank about what happens in war, went into
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.92,0:08:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the war much more open-eyed. He described
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.78,0:08:56.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,himself as a "young man with too much
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.83,0:09:00.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,imagination" and so he did not relish battle
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.03,0:09:01.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in any sense.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.21,0:09:03.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: And I think that applies
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.04,0:09:05.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to, not just men like Tolkien who fought in it,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.02,0:09:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also the politicians and generals who
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.72,0:09:09.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,directed it; I think a lot of people
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.85,0:09:12.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,understood that this war could be terrible.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.35,0:09:15.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: What you get in the letters
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.56,0:09:17.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between Gilson, Tolkien and Wiseman and
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.79,0:09:20.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then in Smith's poetry, is a serious
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.69,0:09:25.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,determination to do their duty and that they
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.44,0:09:27.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,should be prepared to give their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.61,0:09:31.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A realistic appreciation that this is a dark time
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.02,0:09:33.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that they've got to come through it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.37,0:09:36.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: G.B. Smith and Rob Gilson both join
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.58,0:09:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the army in 1914, Tolkien's brother, Hilary,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.35,0:09:43.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,signs up as a bugler and Christopher Wiseman
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.58,0:09:47.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,joins the navy. Tolkien however, faces a
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.72,0:09:48.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,dilemma.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.50,0:09:52.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Tolkien was in a difficult
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.24,0:09:54.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,position when war broke out; he had a year
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.27,0:09:57.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of his degree at Oxford to run and Tolkien
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.69,0:10:00.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,needed a degree badly because he wanted to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.18,0:10:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pursue an academic career; he didn't have
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.49,0:10:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,any money in his family unlike Gilson and
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.26,0:10:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,therefore, having committed three years to
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.72,0:10:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the degree it was very important that he
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.28,0:10:15.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,completed it. So he discovered a scheme
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.54,0:10:18.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whereby he could undergo some training
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.94,0:10:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Officer Training Core whilst
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.84,0:10:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,completing his degree, which he did triumphantly
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.45,0:10:25.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a first at Oxford.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.49,0:10:27.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: He follows good friend, G.B.Smith, into
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.89,0:10:30.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Lancashire Fusiliers in the hope of being
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.80,0:10:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,posted to the same battalion.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.92,0:10:34.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien was looking for something
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.93,0:10:38.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the army through which he could use his
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.26,0:10:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particular talents, and his particular talents
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.18,0:10:43.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were languages and writing systems; he was
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.12,0:10:45.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fascinated by codes and so forth. So it was
Dialogue: 0,0:10:45.47,0:10:48.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,only natural that he would train up as a
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.92,0:10:49.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,signaller.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.68,0:10:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: It would have meant that
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.68,0:10:52.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien was exposed to the technology
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.85,0:10:54.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,available at the time and it must have
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.59,0:10:58.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interested him; so the use of the radio, the
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.59,0:11:01.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,use of signals, of semaphore.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.21,0:11:04.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: He learnt morse code,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.19,0:11:07.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he learnt how to use signalling lamps, field
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.52,0:11:10.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,telephones; which of course went on largely
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.16,0:11:12.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be ineffective or not to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.58,0:11:14.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He became Battalion Signalling
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.38,0:11:18.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Officer for his Battalion. Tolkien had to
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.07,0:11:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,oversee the communications of a Battalion
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.87,0:11:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of between 600 and 1,000 men depending on
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.46,0:11:26.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,manpower at the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.13,0:11:27.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: His basic job of course
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.46,0:11:29.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was to act as a link between the various
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.88,0:11:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,layers of command, and that he would be
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.25,0:11:35.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,responsible for incoming orders and making sure
Dialogue: 0,0:11:35.67,0:11:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the right people got those and of course
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.68,0:11:40.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he'd be responsible for telling command further
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.39,0:11:42.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up the line about the situation on his sector.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.75,0:11:44.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: So he was an absolute lynch pin
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.83,0:11:48.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a war which depended absolutely on how
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.83,0:11:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much information you had about your enemies
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.02,0:11:52.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,position.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.40,0:11:55.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: In March of 1916 as his training nears
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.13,0:11:57.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its completion, both Tolkien and Edith
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.46,0:11:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,become aware that he will soon be sent to
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.82,0:12:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Front. They marry and just over two
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.36,0:12:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,months later, Tolkien is shipped off to France.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:07.02,0:12:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two of them part, not knowing if they
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.07,0:12:13.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will ever see each other again.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.09,0:12:24.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Loud battle sounds, Guns Firing, Shouting)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.08,0:12:38.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(ominous music)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.10,0:12:41.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: When Tolkien arrives at the Front, the
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.58,0:12:44.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,War has been raging for almost two years.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.46,0:12:46.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The cost of the War is clear;
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.40,0:12:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the countryside is scarred and the casualties
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.47,0:12:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,high.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.24,0:12:53.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After a virtual stalemate of trench warfare
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.63,0:12:57.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,throughout 1915, and with a new wave of
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.12,0:13:00.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands of freshly trained recruits, it is
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.10,0:13:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clear the Big Push is imminent.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.35,0:13:04.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(marching feet)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.31,0:13:07.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien's Battalion remains in reserve, but
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.11,0:13:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he fears for the lives of his old school
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.43,0:13:12.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,friends who are at the Front.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.61,0:13:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within a month of his arrival in France
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.74,0:13:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Allies launch the Somme Offensive.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.83,0:13:21.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At 7.30am, on Saturday 1st of July,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.83,0:13:23.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the troops in the British Frontline,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.75,0:13:25.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go over the top.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.55,0:13:29.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(whistle sound echoes)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.21,0:13:48.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the first day of the Offensive alone,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.08,0:13:51.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,20,000 men are killed, 35,000 are wounded
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.95,0:13:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and over 2,000 are reported missing.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.24,0:14:00.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: \NThe first casualty was the plan.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.37,0:14:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It started to fall apart very rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.10,0:14:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tragically for the men caught out in the open, \Nit was a death sentence.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.18,0:14:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,1 in 5 men who went into combat on the 1st of July was killed.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.62,0:14:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: It was the most disastrous day
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.27,0:14:19.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the history of the British Army, and
Dialogue: 0,0:14:19.16,0:14:23.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a tragedy for the entire country. There were
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.29,0:14:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,villages that had lost all their young men.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.27,0:14:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: It's marked as a loss of
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.38,0:14:35.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,innocence, that the 20,000 that were killed
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.38,0:14:37.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,represent a turning point in British
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.61,0:14:40.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,consciousness and the relationship perhaps
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.19,0:14:42.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between those who make decisions and those
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.85,0:14:44.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are forced to carry them out.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.54,0:14:48.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(soft piano music)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.16,0:14:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Among the many men that are lost on that
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.76,0:14:59.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,day, is dear friend and TCBS member,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.60,0:15:03.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Robert Gilson.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.08,0:15:07.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He led his Platoon over the top
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.86,0:15:10.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took charge of his Company, but was shot
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.67,0:15:13.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the middle of No Man's Land.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.87,0:15:18.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: He was in the fourth wave.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:18.73,0:15:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He saw the first wave go in and fail,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.22,0:15:24.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the second wave go in and fail,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.57,0:15:26.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the third wave go in and fail.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:27.90,0:15:30.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he, as a part of the fourth wave, had
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.51,0:15:34.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to go in; and they still went. And that
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.47,0:15:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think is the most poignant and probably
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.92,0:15:39.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the most tragic thing about the 1st of July
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.27,0:15:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,1916. That this generation, had so much faith
Dialogue: 0,0:15:44.84,0:15:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their superiors, probably had so much
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.07,0:15:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,commitment to their fellows that they were
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.34,0:15:52.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prepared to go, even though it meant certain
Dialogue: 0,0:15:52.75,0:15:55.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,death.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.06,0:15:58.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Tolkien heard about this
Dialogue: 0,0:15:58.72,0:16:01.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after his first action on the Somme a couple
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.69,0:16:04.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of weeks later; and he was devastated.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.76,0:16:07.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It shook him to the foundations of his
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.62,0:16:10.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,beliefs. He had, as all of the members of
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.54,0:16:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the TCBS had, built up their group as a
Dialogue: 0,0:16:14.28,0:16:18.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fellowship, with ideas and a spirit that had
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.97,0:16:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something to give to the World. In which
Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.28,0:16:25.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all four of them were vital parts, and now
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.55,0:16:27.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of them was dead. So what did that mean
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.90,0:16:30.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about their overall purpose? And also his
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.71,0:16:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,purpose.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:32.94,0:16:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Geoffrey Smith wrote him a
Dialogue: 0,0:16:34.32,0:16:39.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,letter in which, clearly Smith experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:16:39.79,0:16:43.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,feelings of devastation and a sense that the
Dialogue: 0,0:16:43.86,0:16:47.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fellowship had been broken. Rob would never
Dialogue: 0,0:16:47.11,0:16:52.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,become an architect, he would never fulfil
Dialogue: 0,0:16:52.17,0:16:55.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his part in whatever they dreamed of.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:56.05,0:16:57.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garthm: And I think it took him quite
Dialogue: 0,0:16:57.64,0:17:01.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some time to recover from that. The other
Dialogue: 0,0:17:01.99,0:17:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,two members, Wiseman and Smith, were
Dialogue: 0,0:17:04.51,0:17:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,determined to persuade him that, no, the TCBS
Dialogue: 0,0:17:07.70,0:17:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,purpose continued and I think eventually
Dialogue: 0,0:17:10.04,0:17:12.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien took heart from that.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:13.62,0:17:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Tolkien writes to Rob's father, Headmaster
Dialogue: 0,0:17:16.34,0:17:18.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at King Edward's school to offer his
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.64,0:17:21.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,condolences. The TCBS lost a bright young
Dialogue: 0,0:17:21.96,0:17:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,man, a talented artist and most painfully
Dialogue: 0,0:17:25.78,0:17:28.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of all; a dear friend.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:33.64,0:17:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien's war has well and truly started and
Dialogue: 0,0:17:36.50,0:17:38.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over the coming months he is subject to the
Dialogue: 0,0:17:38.30,0:17:41.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many hardships of trench warfare.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:41.49,0:17:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He spent his time in and out
Dialogue: 0,0:17:43.48,0:17:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the trenches. Battalions would be rotated
Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.80,0:17:50.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the Frontline to the reserve trenches
Dialogue: 0,0:17:50.29,0:17:54.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to rest, as they laughably called it, but
Dialogue: 0,0:17:54.27,0:17:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it wasn't really rest, it was training.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:56.38,0:17:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien talked about the universal weariness
Dialogue: 0,0:17:59.07,0:18:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of all this war. But during this period he
Dialogue: 0,0:18:01.39,0:18:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was involved in three attacks, he was
Dialogue: 0,0:18:04.20,0:18:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very fortunate not to have to go through the
Dialogue: 0,0:18:06.48,0:18:08.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,first day of the Somme; he was a few miles
Dialogue: 0,0:18:08.80,0:18:11.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,back from the Frontline at that time.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:11.48,0:18:13.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His Battalion moved forward for a second
Dialogue: 0,0:18:13.64,0:18:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wave of attacks, they were launched against a
Dialogue: 0,0:18:15.87,0:18:18.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,village called Ovillers; which had been the
Dialogue: 0,0:18:18.07,0:18:21.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,German Frontline. One of the first things that
Dialogue: 0,0:18:21.41,0:18:25.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he encountered was, complete chaos in the
Dialogue: 0,0:18:25.23,0:18:27.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,battlefield communications system. It was very
Dialogue: 0,0:18:27.70,0:18:31.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,primitive. It was only partly built; damaged
Dialogue: 0,0:18:31.24,0:18:35.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the fortunes of battle. He had signallers
Dialogue: 0,0:18:35.23,0:18:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going across No Man's Land carrying flares
Dialogue: 0,0:18:38.70,0:18:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to say, we have arrived. Further flares -
Dialogue: 0,0:18:41.54,0:18:43.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"we have taken prisoners", they carried
Dialogue: 0,0:18:43.99,0:18:46.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pigeons; pigeons were about the most reliable
Dialogue: 0,0:18:46.39,0:18:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,method of communication. One of Tolkien's
Dialogue: 0,0:18:49.02,0:18:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,signallers won a military medal for managing
Dialogue: 0,0:18:52.20,0:18:55.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get his pigeons across No Man's Land and
Dialogue: 0,0:18:55.60,0:18:57.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do the job correctly.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:57.42,0:18:59.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: The attack is a success and many
Dialogue: 0,0:18:59.63,0:19:02.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prisoners are captured. Of all the combat
Dialogue: 0,0:19:02.13,0:19:05.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien encounters, one of the most significant
Dialogue: 0,0:19:05.03,0:19:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,battles is also one of his last; an attack
Dialogue: 0,0:19:08.94,0:19:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on Regina Trench.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:10.04,0:19:12.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: This was in October, by which
Dialogue: 0,0:19:12.55,0:19:15.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,time the battlefield had been reduced to mud.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:16.46,0:19:19.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The attack had been delayed by heavy rain
Dialogue: 0,0:19:19.46,0:19:21.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but on October 21st there was a cold snap
Dialogue: 0,0:19:21.79,0:19:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the ground was frozen hard and the
Dialogue: 0,0:19:23.70,0:19:25.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attack was able to go ahead.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:25.97,0:19:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Deep boom. Loud Artillery Fire)
Dialogue: 0,0:19:30.44,0:19:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Gunfire, bullets zipping by)
Dialogue: 0,0:19:32.52,0:19:47.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(solemn music)
Dialogue: 0,0:19:47.72,0:19:51.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He saw violent death, he also
Dialogue: 0,0:19:51.66,0:19:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saw and felt extreme terror.
Dialogue: 0,0:19:56.64,0:19:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He never, as far as we know, described at
Dialogue: 0,0:19:59.58,0:20:02.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,length what trench warfare was like but he
Dialogue: 0,0:20:03.14,0:20:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,summed it up in two words, in one of his
Dialogue: 0,0:20:05.46,0:20:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,letters, and this was; "animal horror".
Dialogue: 0,0:20:09.28,0:20:12.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It would reduce you from humanity and
Dialogue: 0,0:20:12.99,0:20:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,turn you into a retched beast desperate only
Dialogue: 0,0:20:16.76,0:20:19.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to cower and survive. And it's very
Dialogue: 0,0:20:19.100,0:20:22.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interesting if you look in The Lord of The Rings
Dialogue: 0,0:20:22.19,0:20:25.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whenever the characters are in situations of
Dialogue: 0,0:20:25.20,0:20:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,extreme fear, they're always described as
Dialogue: 0,0:20:28.28,0:20:34.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stooping and stupefied, un-manned by terror.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:34.82,0:20:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: A lot of British trenches
Dialogue: 0,0:20:36.63,0:20:38.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were deliberately uncomfortable because
Dialogue: 0,0:20:38.67,0:20:40.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Generals wanted the men to believe
Dialogue: 0,0:20:40.59,0:20:42.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they were only temporary, that they
Dialogue: 0,0:20:42.48,0:20:44.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would be advancing beyond this, that this
Dialogue: 0,0:20:44.37,0:20:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wasn't their home.
Dialogue: 0,0:20:47.36,0:20:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Out on the Western Front, Tolkien feels
Dialogue: 0,0:20:50.40,0:20:53.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,isolated from home and letters to, and from,
Dialogue: 0,0:20:53.07,0:20:56.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Edith are a lifeline. For reasons of
Dialogue: 0,0:20:56.15,0:20:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,strategic importance Tolkien is forbidden
Dialogue: 0,0:20:58.58,0:21:01.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from sharing his location in his letters, so
Dialogue: 0,0:21:01.93,0:21:04.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he devises a code of dots to keep Edith
Dialogue: 0,0:21:04.55,0:21:06.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,informed of where he is.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:06.45,0:21:09.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He simply found the letters
Dialogue: 0,0:21:09.14,0:21:11.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the alphabet within what he wrote to her
Dialogue: 0,0:21:11.99,0:21:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put a dot above the relevant ones to
Dialogue: 0,0:21:13.96,0:21:16.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,spell out the name of the place where he was
Dialogue: 0,0:21:16.68,0:21:20.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,currently located. And Edith kept a map
Dialogue: 0,0:21:20.94,0:21:24.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on her wall and pins to show where he was
Dialogue: 0,0:21:24.55,0:21:27.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at that time.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:27.32,0:21:29.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: After the successful attack on Regina
Dialogue: 0,0:21:29.82,0:21:32.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trench, the Battalion is withdrawn from the
Dialogue: 0,0:21:32.36,0:21:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,front and paraded in front of the top brass.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:35.26,0:21:37.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien however, falls ill.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:37.56,0:21:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: It was trench fever. And this
Dialogue: 0,0:21:40.22,0:21:43.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was a louse born disease due to the unhygienic
Dialogue: 0,0:21:43.28,0:21:44.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conditions in the trenches.
Dialogue: 0,0:21:44.45,0:21:46.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: It spread through contact
Dialogue: 0,0:21:46.80,0:21:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with lice and it symptoms aren't very pleasant
Dialogue: 0,0:21:51.05,0:21:53.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It gives you a headache, you can have stomach
Dialogue: 0,0:21:53.72,0:21:56.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,cramps, you can have pain in you joints
Dialogue: 0,0:21:56.53,0:21:59.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in your bones, you can get lesions on
Dialogue: 0,0:21:59.40,0:22:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your skin; it's not fatal but it can become
Dialogue: 0,0:22:02.74,0:22:05.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very debilitating. So debilitating you can't
Dialogue: 0,0:22:05.56,0:22:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,be an effective soldier. Tolkien got a very
Dialogue: 0,0:22:08.05,0:22:10.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,bad case, so bad that he had to be invalided
Dialogue: 0,0:22:10.51,0:22:12.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"back to Blighty" as they put it.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:12.38,0:22:13.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in fact it was the end of his war.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:13.81,0:22:15.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: It saved Tolkien's life, it took
Dialogue: 0,0:22:15.64,0:22:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,him out of the battlefield and back to Britain.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:19.84,0:22:23.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was shipped home to Birmingham, to
Dialogue: 0,0:22:23.01,0:22:24.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The First Southern General Hospital as it
Dialogue: 0,0:22:24.82,0:22:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was called at the time, which was actually set
Dialogue: 0,0:22:27.50,0:22:29.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up in the grounds of Birmingham University.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:29.84,0:22:33.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was there that Tolkien was re-united
Dialogue: 0,0:22:33.42,0:22:37.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with his wife, Edith and where he began
Dialogue: 0,0:22:37.04,0:22:40.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,writing the first stories of Middle-Earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:22:41.04,0:22:43.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His re-union with Edith was deeply emotional
Dialogue: 0,0:22:43.97,0:22:47.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and was an inspiration for various pieces of
Dialogue: 0,0:22:47.03,0:22:49.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,writing in his mythology, notably the
Dialogue: 0,0:22:49.38,0:22:52.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,story of Luthien and Beren; which features
Dialogue: 0,0:22:52.97,0:22:54.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Silmarillion and is mentioned in
Dialogue: 0,0:22:54.86,0:22:57.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Lord of The Rings. A love story between
Dialogue: 0,0:22:58.26,0:23:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a mortal man and an immortal elf.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:01.09,0:23:01.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Gentle Piano Music)
Dialogue: 0,0:23:01.96,0:23:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: However, Tolkien's respite is short lived.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:05.16,0:23:07.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Shortly after returning to Birmingham, Tolkien
Dialogue: 0,0:23:07.65,0:23:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,learns from Christopher Wiseman, that
Dialogue: 0,0:23:10.20,0:23:14.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good friend G.B.Smith has been killed.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:17.35,0:23:19.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: The Battle of the Somme was
Dialogue: 0,0:23:19.29,0:23:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over, and Smith had been organising a
Dialogue: 0,0:23:22.62,0:23:25.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,football match for his men about four miles
Dialogue: 0,0:23:25.70,0:23:28.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,behind the Frontline, when a stray shell
Dialogue: 0,0:23:28.31,0:23:31.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exploded near him.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:31.21,0:23:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was hit by shrapnel and developed what
Dialogue: 0,0:23:34.90,0:23:37.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they called Gas Gangrene, which killed
Dialogue: 0,0:23:37.83,0:23:41.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,him within a few days. Early in 1916, while
Dialogue: 0,0:23:41.57,0:23:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien was still in training, he had a letter
Dialogue: 0,0:23:44.91,0:23:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,G.B.Smith, who by that time was in the trenches
Dialogue: 0,0:23:47.74,0:23:48.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in France.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:48.72,0:23:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: Smith was about to go out on Night Patrol.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:51.76,0:23:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The officer who had led the patrol the night before
Dialogue: 0,0:23:53.77,0:23:57.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had been captured and most likely killed.
Dialogue: 0,0:23:57.47,0:23:59.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: It was about the most dangerous
Dialogue: 0,0:23:59.54,0:24:02.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,activity that you could do on the Western Front
Dialogue: 0,0:24:02.01,0:24:04.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Smith was about to go into it and he took
Dialogue: 0,0:24:04.14,0:24:08.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the opportunity to write to Tolkien, and
Dialogue: 0,0:24:08.02,0:24:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,tell him; "I'm about to go out on Night Patrol,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:15.66,0:24:18.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am a wild and wholehearted admirer of
Dialogue: 0,0:24:18.48,0:24:22.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what you've written and what you will write"
Dialogue: 0,0:24:22.68,0:24:28.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He told Tolkien, "you I'm sure are chosen,
Dialogue: 0,0:24:28.97,0:24:32.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you must publish."
Dialogue: 0,0:24:33.28,0:24:35.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Smith was essentially the first Middle-Earth
Dialogue: 0,0:24:35.96,0:24:37.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fan.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:37.09,0:24:39.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: Smith says in the letter that
Dialogue: 0,0:24:40.91,0:24:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,death couldn't put an end to the TCBS, to
Dialogue: 0,0:24:44.52,0:24:48.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the "immortal four" as he put it, that Tolkien
Dialogue: 0,0:24:49.33,0:24:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may say the things that he had wanted to
Dialogue: 0,0:24:52.90,0:24:56.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,say, long after he is there to say them.
Dialogue: 0,0:24:56.99,0:25:00.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's very moving because Tolkien, although
Dialogue: 0,0:25:00.91,0:25:04.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very much his own individual artistic self,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:05.54,0:25:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think did see his later career as an
Dialogue: 0,0:25:08.92,0:25:12.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attempt to fulfil the artistic dreams that
Dialogue: 0,0:25:12.16,0:25:13.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they'd shared.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:13.18,0:25:17.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: He was able to gather his strength
Dialogue: 0,0:25:17.35,0:25:23.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and perhaps see Smith as an ideal to be lived up to.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:24.66,0:25:27.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: In the summer of 1918, Tolkien and
Dialogue: 0,0:25:27.77,0:25:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wiseman gather some of Smith's poems and
Dialogue: 0,0:25:30.00,0:25:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have them published in a small volume,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:32.43,0:25:36.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,entitled; "A Spring Harvest".
Dialogue: 0,0:25:37.49,0:25:40.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien's war is over, but the impact of his
Dialogue: 0,0:25:40.06,0:25:43.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,experiences will stay with him forever, and
Dialogue: 0,0:25:43.13,0:25:46.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will even feature in his future writings.
Dialogue: 0,0:25:46.03,0:25:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: The whole experience of the War
Dialogue: 0,0:25:47.74,0:25:52.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had an ongoing affect on much of Tolkien's
Dialogue: 0,0:25:52.20,0:25:53.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mythology. As soon as Tolkien returned from
Dialogue: 0,0:25:53.63,0:25:55.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the Somme he started writing a story called,
Dialogue: 0,0:25:55.57,0:25:58.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"The Fall of Gondolin" which was the first
Dialogue: 0,0:25:58.46,0:26:01.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,element of his mythology that dealt with battle.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:02.03,0:26:04.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the fascinating thing about it is that the
Dialogue: 0,0:26:04.29,0:26:07.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attacking forces use things that are termed
Dialogue: 0,0:26:07.56,0:26:09.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by Tolkien, "dragons" or "beasts" or "monsters"
Dialogue: 0,0:26:09.66,0:26:13.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're described as metallic and rolling
Dialogue: 0,0:26:13.94,0:26:16.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they spout fire and some of them have
Dialogue: 0,0:26:16.27,0:26:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,troops inside them, and it's pretty clear that
Dialogue: 0,0:26:18.70,0:26:22.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is a kind of mythologising of the Tank.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:22.04,0:26:23.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which was Britains secret weapon, which
Dialogue: 0,0:26:23.85,0:26:26.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had just been launched on the Somme while
Dialogue: 0,0:26:26.29,0:26:27.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien was there.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:27.37,0:26:31.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Lord of The Rings focusses on a fellowship,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:31.17,0:26:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're separated on different battlefronts,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:33.61,0:26:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much like the TCBS were.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:34.94,0:26:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: It's almost unimaginable that,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:37.44,0:26:39.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in writing of the breaking of the fellowship,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:39.62,0:26:42.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in The Lord of The Rings, that Tolkien wouldn't
Dialogue: 0,0:26:42.21,0:26:45.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been influenced by his own loss during
Dialogue: 0,0:26:45.46,0:26:47.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the First World War and the breaking of the
Dialogue: 0,0:26:47.82,0:26:49.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,TCBS fellowship.
Dialogue: 0,0:26:49.88,0:26:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a late letter in which he mentions
Dialogue: 0,0:26:53.08,0:26:56.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the dead marshes, through which Frodo,
Dialogue: 0,0:26:56.14,0:27:00.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sam and Gollum travel, owe something to
Dialogue: 0,0:27:00.15,0:27:02.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,northern France, in the area of the Somme
Dialogue: 0,0:27:02.43,0:27:03.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he fought.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:03.48,0:27:06.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: Frodo and Sam are very much
Dialogue: 0,0:27:06.74,0:27:10.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the equivalent of an officer and his batman; his
Dialogue: 0,0:27:10.29,0:27:12.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,servant. And Tolkien actually said that, "my
Dialogue: 0,0:27:12.84,0:27:17.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sam Gamgee is inspired by the Privates and
Dialogue: 0,0:27:17.82,0:27:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Batmen I knew in the First World War".
Dialogue: 0,0:27:21.90,0:27:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Frodo represents really, the feelings of a young
Dialogue: 0,0:27:25.08,0:27:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,man like Tolkien himself, thrown into a war
Dialogue: 0,0:27:28.32,0:27:31.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unwillingly and having to shoulder a terrible
Dialogue: 0,0:27:31.21,0:27:35.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,burden; a burden of duty. You can see that
Dialogue: 0,0:27:35.49,0:27:39.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Frodo develops symptoms of what we would now
Dialogue: 0,0:27:40.37,0:27:42.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or
Dialogue: 0,0:27:42.64,0:27:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,War Trauma, or what they called then,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:44.80,0:27:48.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Shell Shock. He becomes withdrawn from
Dialogue: 0,0:27:48.93,0:27:52.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the World, increasingly enclosed within himself
Dialogue: 0,0:27:52.41,0:27:55.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he says he can't remember what grass was like,
Dialogue: 0,0:27:55.20,0:27:57.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what sunlight was like.
Dialogue: 0,0:27:57.76,0:28:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the war is over in The Lord of The Rings,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:01.10,0:28:03.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Frodo does not strut his stuff as a hero,
Dialogue: 0,0:28:03.89,0:28:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he is visibly traumatised by the whole
Dialogue: 0,0:28:05.78,0:28:09.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,experience. This was very true of many of the
Dialogue: 0,0:28:09.41,0:28:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,soldiers who returned from the Western
Dialogue: 0,0:28:11.60,0:28:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Front, unable to talk about the experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:28:14.99,0:28:17.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that had affected them so deeply.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:17.80,0:28:22.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(retrospective piano music)
Dialogue: 0,0:28:22.31,0:28:24.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: The generation that fights
Dialogue: 0,0:28:24.13,0:28:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the First World War, should be called courageous.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:27.24,0:28:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: The sacrifice of that generation
Dialogue: 0,0:28:30.37,0:28:31.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was extraordinary.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:31.43,0:28:35.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: It was a tragic loss not only for
Dialogue: 0,0:28:35.27,0:28:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,families, for friends, but for civilisation as
Dialogue: 0,0:28:39.40,0:28:45.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a whole. It shook long-held beliefs and
Dialogue: 0,0:28:45.48,0:28:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,assumptions in honour and glory.
Dialogue: 0,0:28:48.39,0:28:51.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: It is the first thorough
Dialogue: 0,0:28:51.57,0:28:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going war of the machines. So many
Dialogue: 0,0:28:56.79,0:28:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands and ultimately millions of men
Dialogue: 0,0:28:59.58,0:29:04.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could be wiped out, could be destroyed without
Dialogue: 0,0:29:04.09,0:29:05.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,necessarily facing their individual enemy.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:05.84,0:29:08.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: These men don't have
Dialogue: 0,0:29:08.18,0:29:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the privilege of dying one at a time, they die
Dialogue: 0,0:29:11.50,0:29:14.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on mass; and it's those numbers that I think
Dialogue: 0,0:29:14.11,0:29:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,traumatise us so much. That's why we have
Dialogue: 0,0:29:17.20,0:29:20.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the memorials at Thiepval and Menin Gate;
Dialogue: 0,0:29:20.82,0:29:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's just one long list of names.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:24.10,0:29:26.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These bodies have simply disappeared, and
Dialogue: 0,0:29:26.68,0:29:28.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're all separate lives but they've all
Dialogue: 0,0:29:28.59,0:29:29.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vanished at once.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:30.73,0:29:33.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: When you read the King Edward's
Dialogue: 0,0:29:33.48,0:29:38.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,School Chronicle, as I have to research
Dialogue: 0,0:29:38.12,0:29:42.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tolkien's life here, you get to know the boys
Dialogue: 0,0:29:42.93,0:29:45.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with whom he grew up and you see their
Dialogue: 0,0:29:45.35,0:29:47.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,achievements, you see what they were learning,
Dialogue: 0,0:29:47.32,0:29:50.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you see how wonderfully intelligent, potentially
Dialogue: 0,0:29:50.33,0:29:55.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creative and brilliant they were. And then
Dialogue: 0,0:29:55.03,0:29:57.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the First World War; and you see that they're
Dialogue: 0,0:29:57.32,0:29:58.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,heading for this.
Dialogue: 0,0:29:58.77,0:30:01.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: These young men, with their
Dialogue: 0,0:30:01.16,0:30:03.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whole lives in front of them, have, yes it's
Dialogue: 0,0:30:03.70,0:30:05.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a phrase that we all know, have been cut off
Dialogue: 0,0:30:05.83,0:30:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in their prime. They were full of potential,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:08.22,0:30:10.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,full of life, full of vigour, full of plans,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:10.37,0:30:12.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,full of ambition; wanting to do all kinds of
Dialogue: 0,0:30:12.48,0:30:14.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,things with their professional lives and
Dialogue: 0,0:30:14.12,0:30:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their personal lives, and denied that opportunity.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:16.50,0:30:18.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,John Garth: When you look at the fortunes
Dialogue: 0,0:30:18.93,0:30:21.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of war, it's quite astonishing that Tolkien
Dialogue: 0,0:30:21.39,0:30:24.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,survived and went on to produce the great
Dialogue: 0,0:30:24.06,0:30:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,works of literature that he did; works that
Dialogue: 0,0:30:26.24,0:30:28.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have shaped our culture. And one does
Dialogue: 0,0:30:28.54,0:30:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wonder how many others didn't survive,
Dialogue: 0,0:30:33.02,0:30:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what potential was locked inside them that
Dialogue: 0,0:30:35.20,0:30:39.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they never had time to bring out of themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:39.07,0:30:43.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there is an uncountable loss there.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:44.19,0:30:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Simon Stacey: G.B.Smith gives a brief glimpse
Dialogue: 0,0:30:47.73,0:30:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of a young life snuffed out and only very
Dialogue: 0,0:30:52.70,0:30:56.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,incompletely communicating its dreams.
Dialogue: 0,0:30:56.79,0:30:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: This is a generation that did
Dialogue: 0,0:30:59.07,0:31:01.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not talk about the way it felt. So in that
Dialogue: 0,0:31:01.44,0:31:04.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sense I think the psychological affect was
Dialogue: 0,0:31:04.58,0:31:07.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,long lasting. A number of veterans surived
Dialogue: 0,0:31:07.100,0:31:10.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the war only to find that they couldn't survive
Dialogue: 0,0:31:10.63,0:31:11.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the peace.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:11.87,0:31:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,VO: In the chapel at King Edward's School,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:14.53,0:31:18.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,eight brass plaques hold the names of
Dialogue: 0,0:31:18.80,0:31:21.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,245 Old Edwardians who lost their lives during
Dialogue: 0,0:31:21.35,0:31:24.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the First World War. Tolkien and his TCBS
Dialogue: 0,0:31:24.98,0:31:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,friends, are just four of almost
Dialogue: 0,0:31:26.82,0:31:29.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fifteen hundred Old Edwardians who answered
Dialogue: 0,0:31:29.48,0:31:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their country's call and fought in The Great War,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:32.82,0:31:35.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and each of their stories is worth telling.
Dialogue: 0,0:31:36.60,0:31:38.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Golightly: The graveyards that you can
Dialogue: 0,0:31:38.98,0:31:42.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,walk around in northern France now have become
Dialogue: 0,0:31:42.43,0:31:45.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,almost 21st century cathedrals; where some
Dialogue: 0,0:31:45.45,0:31:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really important questions need to be ask about
Dialogue: 0,0:31:47.66,0:31:50.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the nature of war and the nature of
Dialogue: 0,0:31:50.43,0:31:55.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sacrifice, and in the First World War's case,
Dialogue: 0,0:31:55.100,0:32:01.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the scale of that sacrifice. Whether any war
Dialogue: 0,0:32:01.07,0:32:05.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could be worth that.
Dialogue: 0,0:32:13.32,0:32:27.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Piano Solo)