You're right - thanks. Tolkien lost most of his close friends in the war(s) and I think there are many tributes to them in his works.
Yep. There are. When I was stationed in the UK (RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire) I read quite a lot on tolkien in my weekend jaunts to Oxford ( I lived 10 miles from Oxford proper).
The examples for the imagery tolkein used in the Hobbit and LOTR is evident when strolling through Oxfordshire. Really, Really nice country side.