Siegfried Loraine Sassoon, CBE, MC

An Anglo-Jewish volunteer - did his patriotic duty

Joined up on 4th August 1914

He was one of the First World War’s greatest poets; 

A fearless soldier who won the Military Cross for bravery,

The citation read:

For conspicuous gallantry during a raid on the enemy's trenches.

He remained for 1½ hours under rifle and bomb fire

Collecting and bringing in our wounded.

Owing to his courage and determination all the killed and wounded were brought in

Only to be later sent to a mental hospital

For speaking out bluntly against the war:

This was Craiglockhart War Hospital, near Edinburgh

Where he met fellow soldier-poet Wilfred Owen

Sassoon was officially treated for neurasthenia (shell-shock).

He sent a letter to his commanding officer entitled

Finished with the War: A Soldier's Declaration

Sasson's letter was forwarded to the press

And read out in the House of Commons

By a sympathetic member of Parliament.

This is his letter:

"I am making this statement

As an act of wilful defiance of military authority,

Because I believe the war is being deliberately prolonged

By those who have the power to end it.

I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers.

I believe that this war,

Upon which I entered as a war of defence and liberation

Has now become a war of aggression and conquest.

I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow soldiers

Entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated

As to have made it impossible to change them,

And that, had this been done,

The objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the suffering of the troops,

And I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings

For ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.

I am not protesting against the conduct of the war,

But against the political errors and insincerities

For which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now

I make this protest against the deception which is being practised on them;

Also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacence

With which the majority of those at home regard the continuance of agonies

Which they do not share, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realise."

Siegfried Sassoon