Ovillers-la-Boisselle in Somme, Upper France, France — Western Europe

Vera Brittain

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024

1. Vera Brittain Marker

Inscription.

"There seemed to be nothing left in the world...", Vera Brittain , Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse and Author of the classic 'Testament of Youth', Born into a middle-class home in late Victorian England, Vera Brittain is not the archetypal example of an influential writer, feminist and pacifist., In 1914 she went to Oxford to study English Literature. But in 1915 left to work as a nurse with the VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachment), first serving in England, then Malta and Etaples in France. , She maintained a vigorous correspondence with friends and family but tragically lost her fiancé Roland Leighton in 1915, two of her closest friends in 1917, and her beloved brother Edward, who was killed in Italy in June 1918. , "There seemed to be nothing left in the world, for I felt that Roland had taken with him all my future and Edward all my past." , The profound loss she felt made adjusting to life in a post-war world painfully hard. She returned to Oxford to take up her studies, this time reading History. She began to explore her thoughts, feelings and experiences and put them to paper, resulting in her most famous work, Testament of Youth', which became a best-seller in 1933, with equally powerful sequels following in subsequent decades. , Her unquenchable spirit, her compassion and humanity, despite struggling with overwhelming personal sorrow, drove her to endlessly campaign for peace, equality and justice. Despite bringing deep controversy upon herself, she steadfastly maintained her principles and beliefs. Many of these are now held up as positive values throughout society. , Her daughter Dame Shirley Williams continued to campaign vigorously against injustice and inequality throughout her own life., The Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation. , www.lochnagarcrater.org, 'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace' , “In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”, The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels. , www.lochnagarcrater.org ,

"There seemed to be nothing left in the world..."

Vera Brittain
Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse and Author of the classic 'Testament of Youth'

Born into a middle-class home in late Victorian England, Vera Brittain is not the archetypal example of an influential writer, feminist and pacifist.

In 1914 she went to Oxford to study English Literature. But in 1915 left to work as a nurse with the VADs (Voluntary Aid Detachment), first serving in England, then Malta and Etaples in France.

She maintained a vigorous correspondence with friends and family but tragically lost her fiancé Roland Leighton in 1915, two of her closest friends in 1917, and her beloved brother Edward, who was killed in Italy in June 1918.

"There seemed to be nothing left in the world, for I felt that Roland had taken with him all my future and Edward all my past."

The profound loss she felt made adjusting to life in a post-war world painfully hard. She returned to Oxford to take up her studies, this time reading History. She began to explore her thoughts, feelings and experiences and put them

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to paper, resulting in her most famous work, Testament of Youth', which became a best-seller in 1933, with equally powerful sequels following in subsequent decades.

Her unquenchable spirit, her compassion and humanity, despite struggling with overwhelming personal sorrow, drove her to endlessly campaign for peace, equality and justice. Despite bringing deep controversy upon herself, she steadfastly maintained her principles and beliefs. Many of these are now held up as positive values throughout society.

Her daughter Dame Shirley Williams continued to campaign vigorously against injustice and inequality throughout her own life.

The Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation.
www.lochnagarcrater.org

'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace'
“In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”

The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels.
www.lochnagarcrater.org

Français
« Il semblait qu'il ne restait plus rien au monde... »

Vera Brittain
Infirmière

Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, June 10, 2024

2. Vera Brittain Marker

Détachement d'Aide Volontaire
Auteur de l'œuvre classique Testament of Youth

Née dans un foyer de classe moyenne de l'Angleterre victorienne, Vera Brittain n’est pas l’archetype d'un ecrivain, feministe, pacifiste influents.

En 1914 elle étudie la Littérature Anglaise à Oxford. Elle abandonne ses études en 1915 pour travailler en tant qu'infirmière avec les DAV (Detachement d'Aide Volontaire), servant d'abord en Angleterre, à Malte et puis à Etaples en France.

Elle entretient une correspondance vigoureuse avec ses amis et sa famille, mais, tragiquement, perd son fiancé Roland Leighton en 1915, deux de ses amis les plus proches en 1917, et son frère bien-aimé Edward, qui est tué en Italie en juin 1918.

Il semblait qu'il ne restait plus rien au monde, car je resentais que Roland avait pris avec lui tout mon avenir, et Edward tout mon pasé.

La perte profonde qu'elle ressent rend son adaptation à la vie dans le monde de l'après-guerre particulièrement douloureuse. Elle retourne à Oxford pour y reprendre ses études, choisissant, cette fois, l'histoire. Elle commence à explorer ses pensées, sentiments et expériences et les écrit. En résulte son œuvre le plas célèbre Testament of Youth, qui devient un best-seller en 1933, avec des suites toutes aussi puissantes publiées dans les années suivantes.

Son esprit insatiable,

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 15, 2024

3. Vera Brittain Marker

sa compassion et son humanité, malgré sa lutte contre une tristesse écrasante, la conduisent à mener sans reliche une campagne pour la paix, l'égalité et la justice. Malgré les grosses polémiques qu'elle s'attire, elle maintient fermement ses principes et croyances. Nombreuses d'entre elles qui sont aujourd'hui brandies en étant des valeurs positives à travers la société.

Sa fille, Dame Shirley Williams, a poursuivi, tout au long de sa propre vie, une vigoureuse campagne contre l'injustice et l'inégalité.

Erected by The Lochnagar Crater Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine • War, World I • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1918.

Location. 50° 0.953′ N, 2° 41.871′ E. Marker is in Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France (Upper France), in Somme. It is on Route de la Grande Mine south of Route D20, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 Rte de la Grande Mine, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Hauts-de-France 80300, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony

and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shot at Dawn (a few steps from this marker); The Last Letter of Pte. John Scollen (a few steps from this marker); The Lochnagar Crater of La Boisselle (within shouting distance

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, November 15, 2024

4. Vera Brittain Marker

Looking down from the crater rim. Beets are piled up in the background.

of this marker); The Unseen Scars of War... (within shouting distance of this marker); Pilgrimage: Tom Easton's visits to his friends at Bécourt (within shouting distance of this marker); T'isnt worth it.... (within shouting distance of this marker); 15th and 16th Royal Scots (within shouting distance of this marker); An account by Pte. Billy Disbrey (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ovillers-la-Boisselle.

Also see . . . Vera Brittain at Wikipedia. (Submitted on July 30, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 30, 2024, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on November 16, 2024, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.