Summary

Colour illustration of the Radcliffe Library in Oxford, England. Also known as the 'Radcliffe Camera.'

The Radcliffe Library was built in 1737-1749 by James Gibbs in the Italian Baroque style to house the collection donated by Dr John Radcliffe, the 'nucleus' of what later became the Radcliffe Science Library. The library was built with funds that Radcliffe bequeathed to the university and to be used by students at Oxford University.

Part of a collection of material relating to the World War I service of brothers John and Albert Victor Peile, who both died in the conflict. Younger brother Albert enlisted first. He was a 22-year-old unmarried clerk when he enlisted on 27 August 1914, service number 769, 3rd Battalion. He served in Gallipoli and later France, and was eventually promoted to the rank of corporal. He died in Bullecourt, France on 4 May 1917; his body was never found. He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His brother John Peile was a 38-year-old unmarried miner when he enlisted on 25 June 1915, service number 2662, 2nd Battalion. He also served in in Gallipoli and France, and was similarly promoted to corporal. He died in France on 18 September 1918 and is buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Their mother died only a few years later in 1926, aged 73.

Their niece was Mrs M. J. Hitchens, the donor. Margaret Joan Hitchens (1916-?) was the daughter of Albert and John's sister Alice and her husband John Henry Dinwoodie.

Description of Content

Large round building with cupola, set in garden.

Physical Description

Colour reproduction of a painting, printed onto paper.

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