Note systemd does dump its own log to the kernel ring buffer until journald starts (the last message I see on the kernel ring buffer is Started Journal Service)

Note systemd does dump its own log to the kernel ring buffer until journald starts (the last message I see on the kernel ring buffer is Started Journal Service). It's no help though when (as in my case) journald starts but then has /var unmounted below its feet. I can write a script that keeps /var busy though, preventing it from being unmounted.