Tolkien and World War I

[Inziladun]

As a general observation, I see echoes of the trenches in the Battle of the Pelennor, and, just maybe, of dogfighting Sopwith Camels and Albatroses in the aerial conflict between the foes in the War of Wrath.

But Eärendil came, shining with white flame, and about Vingilot were gathered all the birds of heaven and Thorondor was their captain, and there was battle in the air all the day and through a dark night of doubt.

The Silmarillion Of the Voyage of Eärendil

I can see Tolkien gazing into the sky at spitting machine gun rounds and smoking aircraft, thinking of the ruin of Morgoth. Probably only a fanciful imagining of my part, though.

[Tuor in Gondolin]

And JRRT lost two of his three close schoolboy chums (of the T.C.B.S.) in the war.