My dear Michael … it is clear that we are now not far from a point when national service will be obligatory … If it would be possible to join before the beginning of term, that might be a good thing to do. [John Sampson Archive, SP9/2/1/18]

30 August 1914. Letter to his son Michael from John Sampson (1862-1931), University Librarian at the University of Liverpool. This week’s war: 4.