‘The Blimp’ is one of the items telling the story of Christ’s College during the First World War.
‘The Blimp’ is one of the items telling the story of Christ’s College during the First World War.
What is it?
It is the front cover of 'The Blimp', a souvenir magazine made by F Company No. 2 O.C.B. in 1917. Cadets in training for army commissions were stationed at Christ’s College which the First World War had practically emptied of students. They marked their time at Christ’s with cartoons, creative writing, news about the company and photographs of the men.
Why is it so special/ what is the story?
From 1916 onwards cadets were seen as the real inhabitants of the College, as they stayed for up to five months. They took part in College life, joining in games of tennis, swimming in the College swimming bath and singing in the College choir. The music society is said to have flourished through the collaboration of the remaining students and the cadets. ‘The Blimp’ gives us a glimpse of the College’s history about which we would otherwise know very little.
Can we see it?
‘The Blimp’ is one of the items telling the story of Christ’s College during the First World War in our current exhibition. The exhibition, in Christ’s Bodley Library, is open on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September for Open Cambridge.
Want to know more?
An extended version of the ‘Christ’s at War’ exhibition is available online at https://christsatwar.wordpress.com/
To find out more about Christ’s College Library visit https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/college-life/library/
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