The Oxford University described in 1917 was significantly diminished compared to its usual self. The student population had plummeted to only a tenth of what it was in 1914, reflecting the dire impact of World War I on education and society. The numbers were even lower than those seen in the aftermath of historical plagues like the Black Death, indicating a profound transformation in the university's vibrancy and spirit.

This stark decline illustrates not only the loss of lives due to the war but also how such events can drastically alter the landscape of academic institutions. The sense of normalcy and self-assurance that once characterized Oxford was replaced by a shadow of its former self, highlighting the broader societal changes brought on by wartime struggles.