Academic adventures in Bloomsbury / [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone].

  • Humberstone, Thomas Lloyd.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Academic adventures in Bloomsbury / [Thomas Lloyd Humberstone]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a high standard of training were to be maintained. The Committee did not overlook —• and it would certainly be recognised by cadets who were members of the Contin¬ gent during the War — that the existence of a Standing Camp during the War would have been of the greatest possible value for the intensive training of cadets. Accordingly a recommendation was submitted to the Senate of the University to authorise the purchase of an area of 76 acres of arable and grass land situated about two miles from Princes Risborough and 35 miles from London, adjoining on one side Chequers Park, on another side Pulpit Hill belonging to the Earl of Buckinghamshire, and with frontages on the Icknield Way and another public road on the other two sides. This recommendation was adopted by the Senate on July 23rd, 1919, and the purchase has since been completed. The outstanding advantage of this land for the purpose of a Standing Camp is that it includes a 600 yards rifle range. During the War the combatant units of the Contingent encamped for three successive years (1916, 1917 and 1918) in Chequers Park, by kind permission of Col. the Right Hon. Lord Lee, and the range was used each year for the musketry training of cadets, most of whom afterwards served in the War. There is therefore already a close association between the War work of the University of London O.T.C., and the Standing Camp. Other advantages offered by the site are the natural beauty of the surrounding country and the in¬ vigorating character of the air ; the soil formation which, being chalk, dries rapidly after rain, and is therefore most suitable for camping ; and the excellence of the Railway service. Princes Risborough being on two main lines — the Great Western Railway to Birmingham and the Great Central Railway. The altitude is from 500 to 600 feet above sea level. Subject to certain restrictions. Col. Lord Lee has generously consented to allow the University of London O.T.C. to exercise in Chequers Park and he states that with regard to the ultimate future — when the house will revert to the nation to be used as the home of the Prime Minister for the time being — he can give no pledges, but he has no reason to suppose that his official heirs ” will be less accommodating than himself. 4 ' The Vice-Chancellor submitted to the King for his acceptance a copy of the Roll of War Service of the University of London Officers Training Corps, which had been specially bound by the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts, and His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept the copy ; further, in accordance with the request of the Senate, he presented specially bound and stamped copies of the Roll to the number of one hundred to selected Universities, City Companies, Institutions, Societies and eminent persons and received numerous letters of grateful acknowledgment, from which the following are quotations :— University of Belgrade .•“... will be much appreciated and kept for genera¬ tions ...” University of California : “ The University of California is indeed honoured because of its selection to receive a copy of this important record.” Cambridge University : “ The University of London may indeed be congratu¬ lated on such a magnificent record of national service.” Harvard University : “ . . . will be placed in our library where I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.” Leland Stanford Junior University : ” It presents a thrilling and inspiring record of service and achievement. ... I send our heartiest congratulations upon this splendid record. ...” University of Liverpool : ‘‘I beg to thank the Senate of the University of London for the copy of the Roll and to express my appreciation of the way in which it has been produced.”