War service Siegfried Sassoon

portrait of sassoon glyn warren philpot, 1917 (fitzwilliam museum)

motivated patriotism, sassoon joined british army threat of new european war recognized, , in service sussex yeomanry on 4 august 1914, day united kingdom of great britain , ireland declared war on germany. broke arm badly in riding accident , put out of action before leaving england, spending spring of 1915 convalescing. (rupert brooke, whom sassoon had briefly met, died in april on way gallipoli.) commissioned 3rd battalion (special reserve), royal welch fusiliers, second lieutenant on 29 may 1915. on 1 november younger brother hamo killed in gallipoli campaign, , in same month siegfried sent 1st battalion in france. there met robert graves, , became close friends. united poetic vocation, read , discussed each other s work. though did not have perceptible influence on graves s poetry, views on may called gritty realism profoundly affected sassoon s concept of constituted poetry. became horrified realities of war, , tone of writing changed completely: poems exhibit romantic, dilettantish sweetness, war poetry moves increasingly discordant music, intended convey ugly truths of trenches audience hitherto lulled patriotic propaganda. details such rotting corpses, mangled limbs, filth, cowardice , suicide trademarks of work @ time, , philosophy of no truth unfitting had significant effect on movement towards modernist poetry.

sassoon s periods of duty on western front marked exceptionally brave actions, including single-handed capture of german trench in hindenburg line. armed grenades, scattered sixty german soldiers:

he went on bombs in daylight, under covering fire couple of rifles, , scared away occupants. pointless feat, since instead of signalling reinforcements, sat down in german trench , began reading book of poems had brought him. when went did not report. colonel stockwell, in command, raged @ him. attack on mametz wood had been delayed 2 hours because british patrols still reported out. british patrols siegfried , book of poems. d have got d.s.o., if d shown more sense, stormed stockwell.

sassoon s bravery inspiring extent soldiers of company said felt confident when accompanied him. went out on night-raids , bombing patrols , demonstrated ruthless efficiency company commander. deepening depression @ horror , misery soldiers forced endure produced in sassoon paradoxically manic courage, , nicknamed mad jack men near-suicidal exploits. on 27 july 1916 awarded military cross; citation read:

2nd lt. siegfried lorraine [sic] sassoon, 3rd (attd. 1st) bn., r. w. fus.

for conspicuous gallantry during raid on enemy s trenches. remained 1½ hours under rifle , bomb fire collecting , bringing in our wounded. owing courage , determination killed , wounded brought in.

robert graves described sassoon engaging in suicidal feats of bravery. sassoon later recommended victoria cross.

war opposition , craiglockhart

despite decorations , reputation, in 1917 sassoon decided make stand against conduct of war. 1 of reasons violent anti-war feeling death of friend david cuthbert thomas, appears dick tiltwood in sherston trilogy. sassoon spend years trying overcome grief.

at end of spell of convalescent leave, sassoon declined return duty; instead, encouraged pacifist friends such bertrand russell , lady ottoline morrell, sent letter commanding officer entitled finished war: soldier’s declaration. forwarded press , read out in house of commons sympathetic member of parliament, letter seen treasonous ( making statement act of wilful defiance of military authority ) or @ best condemning war government s motives ( believe war upon entered war of defence , liberation has become war of aggression , conquest ). rather court-martial sassoon, under-secretary of state war, ian macpherson, decided unfit service , had him sent craiglockhart war hospital near edinburgh, officially treated neurasthenia ( shell shock ).

before declining return active service, sassoon had thrown military cross river mersey @ formby beach. according description of incident in memoirs of infantry officer did not symbolic rejection of militaristic values, out of need perform destructive act in catharsis of black mood afflicting him; account states 1 of pre-war sporting trophies, had had 1 hand, have served purpose equally well.

at craiglockhart, sassoon met wilfred owen, fellow poet exceed him in fame. sassoon owen persevered in ambition write better poetry. manuscript copy of owen s anthem doomed youth containing sassoon s handwritten amendments survives testimony extent of influence , on display @ london s imperial war museum. sassoon became owen keats , christ , elijah ; surviving documents demonstrate depth of owen s love , admiration him. both men returned active service in france, owen killed in 1918, week before armistice. sassoon, despite this, promoted lieutenant, , having spent time out of danger in palestine, returned front. on 13 july 1918, sassoon wounded again—by friendly fire when shot in head fellow british soldier had mistaken him german near arras, france. result, spent remainder of war in britain. time had been promoted acting captain. relinquished commission on health grounds on 12 march 1919, allowed retain rank of captain.

after war, sassoon instrumental in bringing owen s work attention of wider audience. friendship subject of stephen macdonald s play, not heroes.