His precious: The revolver JRR Tolkien carried with him in the trenches of WWI is going on display for the first time

Webley MK V was standard British service revolver at the outbreak of war

Version was given to the author as he endured life in front line trenches

Tolkien served in the war in 1916 before contracting trench fever

During the dark days of the First World War, 2nd Lieutenant JRR Tolkien kept his revolver close to him at all times as he fought to survive the front-line trenches.

Now the precious gun is going on display for the first time, helping Lord of the Rings fans connect with the history that helped shape the author's writing.

The Webley MK VI was given to Tolkien who joined the 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers in June 1916 .



JRR Tolkien's revolver was given to him as he endured life in the front line trenches of the Somme in 1916 Claire Wilson, exhibitions manager, at the Imperial War Museum examines the weapon, which was the standard British revolved at the outbreak of World War I



He was an Oxford University in 1914, but only two years later was serving as a battalion signals officer during the Battle of the Somme, one of the bloodiest conflicts in history.



Best known for his classic titles The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien served in the Great War through the summer and autumn of 1916 before contracting trench fever due to weeks of tension being weighed down in wretched conditions.



He was sent back to hospital in Birmingham, West Midlands, where he remained unfit for the rest of the war, and so began to write early versions of his 'Middle Earth' stories.



Debate still continues regarding the extent to which Tolkien's war experiences influenced his literary work, however the impact of the battle remained with him for the rest of his life and fans say its influence can clearly be seen in his writing.

His gun, which was an updated version of the Webley Mk V - the standard British service revolver at the outbreak of World War I - will go on display in the Imperial War Museum North's Main Exhibition Space in Manchester this month.

The museum is holding an exhibition next year to mark the centenary of the war, called 'From Street To Trench: A War That Shaped A Region'.



Tolkien is best known for his books, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy

Graham Boxer, director of IWM North, said: 'This December, just as the latest The Hobbit film launches in cinemas, visitors to IWM North will be able to see this weapon and connect further with Tolkien's magical stories which were born from harrowing wartime experiences.



'Exhibiting this object is for us the start of what will be an extremely busy time as we prepare to launch our major First World War Centenary exhibition.'



Tolkien graduated from the University of Oxford in June 1915 and soon obtained a commission in the army as a Second Lieutenant.



In June 1916 Tolkien went to France and was posted to the 11th Battalion, The Lancashire Fusiliers.



Between June and November 1916, more than one million people were killed in the Battle of The Somme.



Tolkien and his battalion were posted there from 1916 and he occupied front line trenches in Beaumont-Hamel, Serre and the Leipzig Salient.



The Imperial War Museum tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

