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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    Temple University, Philadelphia : “ Our own Honor Eoll in comparison is much shorter but it makes us fully appreciative of the greater sacrifices that the University of London was called upon to make.” Sheffield University : “ . . . a great record and one of which not only the University of London but the whole University life of the country may well be proud.” Yale University : “ The volume is being placed in the University Library where it will be of permanent value.” University of London Club : ”... will be much prized by the Members, containing as it does the record of service of many of their colleagues.” London University Union Society : “A very memorable record of the services which the men of our University rendered during the War.” Marshal Foch : ” II a ete tres sensible a votre pensee et me charge de vous transmettre ainsi qu’au Senat de L’Universit6 de Londres ses remerciements.” Field-Marshal Sir Henry Wilson : ”... a standing memorial of the O.T.C. of your University.” Secretary of State for War .•”... a sincere appreciation of the gift.” Lord Haldane : “ You know how keen my interest was m its Officers Training Corps.” Dr. C. E. Maclean, Director, American University Union in Europe : ”... worthy of the noble band of students whose memory it would celebrate.” In the same year (1921) that the messages of congratulation were being received from all parts of the world, the Chairman of the Finance Committee (Professor S. L. Loney) was considering whether an economy could be effected in the expenditure of the Military Department of the University, and the Finance Committee convened a conference of representatives of that Committee, of the Academic Council, and of the Military Education Committee. Their report filled more than four foolscap pages of the Senate Agenda of 22nd February, 1922. Diverse questions were can¬ vassed, such as the reasons for the small number of cadets — one reason suggested being that in public schools the O.T.C. was used for punitive purposes. The amounts at issue were a bagatelle in relation to the finances of the University, including a contribution of a quarter (^50) to my salary as Military Secretary. In face of national financial stringency and unemployment, one would have expected the Senate to discuss research into the cause and cure. It should be added that when the profe:sors faced empty classrooms during the war, no one suggested they should be deprived of their salaries. A saving of ;^309 a year, the salary of the Lecturer in Military Science, who had practically no students, was dismissed summarily. The lecturer had the good fortune to be a member of the conference ! After prolonged discussion in the Senate, I was MacArthured. Canon Douglas, afterwards Chairman of Convocation, and Sir William (now Lord) Beveridge, after-' wards Vice-Chancellor, valiant for justice, moved the reference back of the resolution and received substantial support. To the Adjutant, a regular officer, who was a former cadet of the University O.T.C., was assigned the administrative work. Professor Louis Napoleon George Filon of University College, a pre-war Officer of the O.T.C., member of the Senate, chairman of the Establishment Committee, afterwards chairman of the Military Education Committee, Brevet-Colonel Commanding the O.T.C. and Vice-Chancellor, was the heroic figure in these pro¬ ceedings. He was not in favour of the purchase of the Standing Camp and wrote to me on January 23rd, 1923 : ” I have told you repeatedly before, and I tell you now, that you paid the penalty for your financial policy, which has landed the O.T.C. and the Militar}?- Education Committee in a very serious financial situation and made it quite impossible, among other things, to retain the services of a paid Secretary.” He continued ; ” In saying this I no more rob you of your reputation than anybody