Bertrand Russell and the Conscientious Objectors

Despite the widespread patriotic support for the Great War, there were many people in Britain who opposed it for moral, economic or political reasons. Some conscientious objectors (COs) were happy to aid the war effort in non-combatant capacities, while others refused to do any work that would contribute to the war effort. Despite being labelled …

“Nevile’s Court a Hospital…”: The First Eastern General Hospital

At the beginning of the War, Colonel Joseph Griffiths, a surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, led plans to build a large open-air field hospital in Cambridge, to be called the First Eastern General Hospital (Territorial Force). Cambridge was an ideal location thanks to its rail connections and the resources available because of the University and Addenbrooke's …

The Master’s Family

“If you return home safely while your old father is living, it will be truly the crowning joy of his long life.” - H.M. Butler to J.R.M. and G.K.M. Butler, 13 August, 1915 Every family in Britain was touched by the Great War and the Butler family was no exception. Henry Montagu Butler (1833-1918), Master of …

The 5th Officer Cadet Battalion at Trinity and St. John’s

From 1803 to 1916, young military officers had been trained in conjunction with University education through the Officers Training Corps (OTC), forming the National Reserve of officers. However, due to the unforeseen number of casualties in the first two years of the War, conscription was introduced in 1916 and in the same year the Officer …

Trinity and the First World War

Welcome to the online edition of the Trinity and the First World War exhibition, being held in the Wren Library from July to October, 2014...