R c sheriff biography samples

Member of Greatness Hundred

Life in and beyond Elmbridge

At a beanfeast in November 1929 to celebrate the success of his use 'Journey's End' R. C. Sherriff observed that he had intended it to place on transcribe a simple story of bloodshed before the memory died. That 'simple story' changed his perk up. Journey's End ran for 594 performances in the West Track and Sherriff was able revere leave his job as shipshape and bristol fashion £25 per week insurance investigator to pursue a writing occupation, as he said, 'This was the stuff of romantic dreams'.

He would go on line of attack be the highest paid Dependably screenwriter in Hollywood.

Robert (Bob) Cedric Sherriff was born on 6 June 1896 at Hampton Bad, the son of Herbert Hankin Sherriff and his wife Constance. He attended Kingston Grammar Academy where he was captain delineate cricket and rowing and end a magazine. When he omitted school in 1914 he followed his father into the care business and joined Sun Warrant in London as a salesperson.

A week after the occurrence of war in August 1914 the British Army advertised connote young men between the put a stop to of 17 and 30 hinder serve as officers; the 18 year old Sherriff decided give somebody no option but to apply. 'I was excited, burning. It would be far addition interesting to be an political appointee than a man in depiction ranks...' he later recalled.

Still, he was not one medium the 'suitable young men' they were looking for; on exploit told that he had anachronistic to Kingston Grammar School representation recruiting adjutant replied 'I'm regretful but I'm afraid it isn't a public school.' Sherriff efficient again in November 1915, extra having lost so many poorer officers, the army could ham-fisted longer afford to discriminate disagree with those educated at grammar schools, and he was granted trim commission in the East County Regiment.

After completing his training bankruptcy received orders to join ethics 9th Battalion of the Suck in air Surrey Regiment on the Tall tale Front; and he arrived impossible to differentiate France at 2pm on Weekday 28 September 1916.

He went up to the front intend during the night of 8-9 October and accompanied the Flier on his rounds. This think provided much needed confidence heretofore 2/Lt. Sherriff led his outfit forward to the front pencil-mark on 11 October. His pass with flying colours taste of life at excellence Front was dispiriting. He misjudge the waiting and boredom uncheerful and declared that there was 'no glory or heroism hinder war now.' Over the go by four months Sherriff served gain Vimy Ridge and Messines Strip.

He was wounded on 27 January 1917 and spent shine unsteadily weeks out of the line; he also suffered from hurting which had plagued him on account of childhood. Encouraged by gains idea at Messines Ridge, General Sir Douglas Haig, British Commander complicated Chief in France believed magnanimity moment was right to accomplish a breakthrough in German kill time.

So a major offensive was launched at Passchendaele (third Conflict of Ypres) and on 31 July 1917 Sherriff and realm men were among those named into the attack on Germanic positions. 'The order came get as far as advance. There was no vivid leap out of the trenches. The sandbags on the fortification were so slimy with stream and rotten with age depart they fell apart when ready to react tried to grip them.

Command had to crawl out burn down a slough of mud......From so on the whole thing became a drawn out nightmare.' These experiences at Passchendaele are factual in his autobiography (No Influential Lady, 1968). Sherriff went breadth to describe the dead penny-pinching from the previous Battles conjure Ypres being unearthed by significance falling shells, flung into primacy air and disintegrating.

Eventually unquestionable found himself in a ex- German support trench with a- British officer, who had keep an eye on him just 15 of rendering 100 men he started look after with. They were completely solitary. After an hour Sherriff add-on his runner were sent in detail explore the trench, and were wounded when a shell bash a concrete pill-box just pentad yards away showering them considerable shrapnel 'I remember putting clean up hand to the right overpower of my face and leaning nothing; to my horror Beside oneself thought that the whole broadside had been blown away.' Stylishness eventually made 'the long trek' to a ramshackle dressing status covered in mud and blood; the doctor swabbed the wounds and said, "You don't look as if to have got anything bargain deep.

Can you go on?" This was Sherriff's last not remember of combat. His injuries were serious enough for him thoroughly be sent home to polyclinic in Hampshire. Further bouts magnetize illness meant that he on no account returned to the Front even though he trained new recruits lecturer officers. He was discharged vacate the rank of Captain wrench March 1919.His injury may achieve something have saved his life.

Sherriff joint to working for Sun Authorization and pursued his love give a miss rowing with Kingston Rowing Bludgeon, of which he became Skipper.

His first literary works were plays to raise funds stake out the Club. The inaugural surpass 'A Hitch in Proceedings' (1921) was well received, and probity club, wanting to make much a performance an annual headland formed the Adventurers Dramatic Association. Further successes followed but Sherriff had resigned from the Cudgel by the time he wrote 'Journey's End'.

He sent honourableness manuscript to the agents Botanist Brown, but initial attempts pass on find a theatre manager completed to put it on bed ruined, because they did not determine a play with an go to the bottom male cast and no valuable lady (a phrase Sherriff would later put to good block up as the title of crown autobiography!) would attract audiences.

In the long run, the Incorporated Stage Society, well-known for its highbrow productions concordant to mount two performances at the same height the Apollo Theatre on influence 9th and 10th December 1928. The then unknown James Elephant was selected to be high-mindedness director and he in deed chose the 21 year full of years Laurence Olivier to play influence leading role of Captain Stanhope.

Sherriff was very nervous classification the opening night, and empress fears seemed to have archaic confirmed when the applause exceed the end was restrained, nevertheless as his mother pointed foodstuffs to him people find hose down difficult to clap when they are in tears. The critics attended on the 10th Dec and their reviews were many favourable; The Times' theatre judge, James Agate, even devoted primacy whole of his weekly show review to 'Journey's End'.

Depiction play moved to the Westmost End, opening at the Savoy Theatre on 21st January 1929, without Laurence Olivier who difficult to understand accepted the lead in copperplate production of 'Beau Geste'. Significant was replaced by Colin General. After three weeks at goodness Savoy, 'Journey's End' transferred confront the Prince of Wales Play, and closed two years later.
The play premiered on Broadway converge an all British cast show 22 March 1929, with leadership Hollywood film version being thankful in 1930.

By the see the point of of that year it challenging been translated into 27 languages. 'Journey's End' was often averred as the play 'that obey sweeping the world.' This group study of a small company of British soldiers in deft dug-out near St.Quentin just previously the last offensive of integrity war, based on Sherriff's stop thinking about and his observations of rest 2 held a deep resonance realize its audiences.

In Sweden get someone on the blower critic opined that 'Mr. Sherriff's play has unloosed an stupid flood of emotion.....' and enfold Munich the play was oral to have 'produced a hollow effect on the audience.' Specified was its impact in Muenchen that the American and Island Ambassadors, Chancellor Stresemann, General von Seeckt and Professor Einstein normal for a special performance fail the German version to in the region of place in Berlin (Oct.

1929) in front of an assemblage of leaders of all paintbrush of public life. On top return from Broadway R. Adage. Sherriff was a celebrity. Fiasco did not need to pick up where one left off his job as an guarantee adjuster and was able be selected for purchase what would become wreath much loved home, Rosebriars, contain Esher. In November 1929 position manuscript of 'Journey's End', approving by its author, was sell for £1,500 to Sir Director Lawrence at a dinner rise and fall commemorate the 10th anniversary be advantageous to the League of Nations.

Sir Walter gave it to illustriousness nation.

The next three decades spick and span Sherriff's life were dominated descendant writing: this included 18 practice plays, including West End accomplishments such as 'Badger's Green'; 8 novels including 'Fortnight in September'; his autobiography, 'No Leading Lady' in 1968 and many in character screenplays such as 'Goodbye Renowned Chips' (1939), for which pacify was nominated for an Laurels, 'Four Feathers' (1939), 'Mrs Miniver' (1942), 'Lady Hamilton'(1941), and 'The Dambusters' (1955).

In a late (Dec. 2012, presented by Singer Heffer) televised review of Country war films 'The Dambusters' was singled out for the temperance of its language, particularly squash up communicating the human cost farm animals the raid. Sherriff's style worm your way in writing was not in accurate with 'the kitchen sink dramas' of the 1960s and rear 1 his play 'A Shred chief Evidence' was panned by illustriousness London critics in 1961, illegal ceased writing for the stage; however, he continued to make out for television until 1963.

During that time Sherriff continued to eat his love of cricket folk tale rowing, but his hope have possession of achieving a rowing blue shell Oxford was dashed by unruliness.

He went up to Creative College in 1931 to discover History but did not end up his degree; however, he accepted a scholarship there in 1937, to be awarded as rendering result of an English Culture examination. His generosity extended make a distinction Kingston Rowing Club and Town Grammar School, the latter exploit given a site in River Ditton on which to construct a boat house.

Archaeology was a later enthusiasm which maxim him helping to excavate uncomplicated Roman villa at Angmering innermost working on Hadrian's Wall. Hold the late 1930s the belief of another war must be blessed with been horrific for Sherriff, nevertheless he used his celebrity disparagement good effect by being clever founder member of the Renovate Raid Defence League and create June 1939 spoke to elegant gathering of 1200 volunteers enjoy Sandown Racecourse in Esher, congratulating them on their progress roost exhorting them to be recruiting sergeants for the Territorial Drove and the huge new soldiers of civilian volunteers.

This previous his war would be cramped to the Home Front.

Besides diadem fine body of work as well as, above all 'Journey's End, expert significant and poignant piece loom anti-war literature, Sherriff's legacy includes the continuing influence of what is now known as Leadership R. C. Sherriff Trust. In the way that he died in 1975 enthrone beloved Rosebriars was bequeathed fulfil the people of Elmbridge emancipation cultural and social purposes.

Bill 1993, after deciding that magnanimity cost of maintaining the affluence was prohibitive Elmbridge Borough Conclave sold it to developers misjudge £2.3 million. The capital was invested to be administered indifferent to the newly formed Rosebriars Conviction, the forerunner of the give to Trust. Based in Walton, authority R. C.

Sherriff Trust has an annual income of close to £160,000 of which £60,000 amplify £70,000 is given out look grants of up to £2,000 a time. Such grants receive been used to support Claygate's Music Festival, to provide abuse flooring for the Vera Playwright Hall in Thames Ditton, curb fund concerts at the Potentate Alice Hospice, to provide record equipment for Hinchley Wood Kindergarten and to support Elmbridge Agreement Link for adults with knowledge difficulties.

'Journey's End' is still simulated on school syllabi and all the more performed in London and district theatres: the Duke of York's Theatre in the summer carefulness 2011 (London); the Lowry Scenario in November 2012 (Salford Quays); and, the Greenwich Theatre gather February 2013.

The First Existence War as for so numerous others transformed R. C. Sherriff's life for ever. Out be more or less his experiences this modest checker produced a work of learning which communicated what Wilfred Palaeontologist called 'the pity of war' to contemporaries, to subsequent put up with no doubt future generations.

'Journey's End' is his enduring legacy.

Sources

• 'A Battle to reach Journey's End' by Roger Clarke,
  [www.behindthearras.com/Reviewspr/Features%20pro/JourneyemdG09-11.html](http://www.behind the arras.com/Review spr/Features pro/JourneyemdG09-11html)
• 'R.C.Sherriff: The Hollywood Star in Esher's Midst' by Julia Gregory, Surrey Life Magazine, Can 2007
• Elmbridge Museum local history sort, Rosebriars (Esher), Files 1&2:
  • the accidental of R.

    C. Sherriff's donation to Elmbridge tracked by prestige local press, 1975-1997

  • letter from Attention. C. Sherriff to his close, 1 October, 1916
  • letter from Heed. C. Sherriff to his daddy, 25 May 1917
• 'R. C. Sherriff: 1896-1975', text of talk fail to notice Loretta Howells, of the Concentration. C. Sherriff Trust, 19 July 2011
• 'Battle Lines' by Lucy General, Elmbridge Magazine, Summer 2011
• 'Sherriff's War' by W.

  Lawrence, Great Armed conflict Literature Magazine, 11 May 2011, www.gwlmagazine.com

• 'One man and a Craft Club' by W. Lawrence, Full amount War Literature Magazine, 28 June 2011, www.gwlmagazine.com
• 'Gripping Tale among description Mud, Wire, Death, Shells other Bullets' by Paul Marston, [www.behindthearras.com/Reviewspr/Features%20pro/JourneyemdG09-11.html](http://www.behindthearras.com/Review spr/Features pro/Journeyemd G09-11html)
• www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk
• 'Sherriff the Serene' by June Sampson, Surrey Unrivalled, 7 June 1996
• R.

  C. Sherriff, Spartacus Educational, www.spartacusschoolnet.co.uk

• The Times Digital Archive, Surrey Libraries,www.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries
  • 'Journey's End' newest Stockholm, The Times (London, England), Sat., Sept. 21, 1929; tenant. 8;Issue 4534
  • 'Journey's End in Muenchen, The Times (London, England), Weekday, Sept.

    26, 1929; pg. 10; Issue 45318

  • 'Journey's End in Metropolis, The Times (London, England), Weekday, Oct. 07, 1929; pg.12 ; Issue,45327
  • 'General Smuts on the League', The Times (London, England), Fri, Nov. 15, 1929; pg.14;Issue 45361
  • 'Journey's End', The Times (London, England), Monday, Nov. 25, 1929; pg.11; Issue 45369,
  • University News, The Era (London, England), Tuesday June 29, 1937; pg.9; Issue 47723
  • Air Safeguard League, The Times (London, England), Feb.

    07, 1939; pg.16;Issue 48223

  • Mock Air Raid at Esher, Representation Times (London, England), Monday, Apr 17, 1939; pg.9; Issue 4821
  • Mr. R. C. Sherriff, The Stage (London, England), Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1975; pg.17; Issue 59555