Source: File: Robert Grave.jpg, 2014. WW1
poet Robert Graves' son: How war shaped my father's life.30 July 2014. [online] (updated July 30 2014) Available at:
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28427874>Accessed: 22 November 2014].
As July 1914 drew to a close,
Robert Graves turned 19.
In his desire to be a writer,
He did not relish the idea
Of three years study at Oxford.
With wounds already gained,
From Charterhouse -
Graves had grown into youth,
With apparent non-acceptance,
By some -
The experiences of his years,
Had prompted Robert to turn
To stay close with closer friends.
Conflicts had weighed in him;
He had lost religion,
And questioned the family ideal,
Yet he saw Christ as a perfect man,
While he remained,
A good brother and faithful son.
While founded in creativity,
Robert had both a temper,
And tendency to depression.
As war broke out in August,
Grave travelled to meet
His mother in North Wales.
Where, at this family gathering,
Many among of them were ill.
News came in fits and starts,
Along with many stories,
Of Belgium atrocities,
At which Robert felt angry.
Bullying from an enemy,
Reflected what he had suffered
At early school -
And ideas of warfare horrified him.
Yet might he - should he, join up?
If he did then –
It would at least delay Oxford,
Just for a few months –
A short army career,
Could offer some desirable relief.
So by one Friday came a decision,
Robert Graves would join up.
Yet further advice was given,
That he might take up
A commission.
A friend, by name of More,
Made a telephone call
To a keen adjutant, of the
Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Eagerly he told of Robert’s
Family connections -
By marriage into the family
Was Admiral Poore and of course,
Robert’s own time in officer
Training corps, at Charterhouse.
So came an immediate invite,
For Graves to come ‘right along.’
12 August – on a Wednesday,
Robert Graves stepped out,
Onto a carriage – a focus of pride
For his family, who watched
And waved as he departed,
For Wrexham and Welch Fusiliers.
In taking up his service,
At the start of war,
Robert did not consider
Gratitude for self-sacrifice,
Or thoughts like Brookes’
Idea of ‘Awoken Youth.’
Yet pride was an infection,
That took strong hold of him -
He caught regimental tradition,
Reflected, as he opened up
A leather bound ledger -
Whose account of the fusiliers
Described their attack orders
At Redan Fort in Sebastopol –
Yet he gained some awkwardness,
In having to give his orders,
To veterans of other wars.
With three week training,
Saw Graves sent
On detachment, to interment
Camp for aliens at Lancaster.
With his mood turning bleaker,
He was in charge of some
Special Reservists, whose
Boredom led them to seduce
The local girls – which rallied
Against this officer’s
Puritanical beliefs.
September drew into October,
And his desire grew, to join
Some kind of fight in France -
Still any move evaded him.
Expectations of hard drill,
Back in Wrexham,
Was not in sight - he remained
In Lancaster, guarding
Civilian prisoners of war.
The Lancaster barracks,
Graves described
As Musty, fusty and dusty.
Being based at a disused
Wagon works, with him
In charge of restless reservists,
Who daily made escapes,
In darkness, over a bare wall.
Then 20 October gave his return
To Wrexham, for frantic training -
On that day at Red Branch House
His family found him taller,
Growing from his experiences.
Then his visit to Charterhouse
In uniform – swept away
Old, ill emotions, replaced by
Gentlemanly respect.
Then news came in of casualty lists.
Robert wondered
Why he had joined -
Still he held anti-war principles.
There had been no patriotism
Nor sentiment.
In signing to the king’s forces.
Conflict stirred in Robert’s
Conscience,
Between gentleman’s duty
And anti – war emotions.
In Grave’s further delay,
To be sent to the French Front,
Came reasons,
About his appearance,
And continual neglect for his kit.
Being called to the orderly room,
By army regular, adjutant
‘Tibs’ Crawshay
Found them at odds -
Graves being given orders,
To look more like a soldier -
A report from commander,
Of the company, had said
He was ‘unsoldierlike.’
Writing of himself,
As ‘Despondent at the depot,’
Graves remained, as he watched,
Battalions leave for France.
Yet still praised by his parents
Robert was still their only family,
Member in uniform –
Other distant relatives,
Were in the forces -
With members on both sides.
The balance being,
Ten fighting for England,
For Germany another ten.
One cousin of Graves had seen
Active service;
Kanard Von Fabur du faur,
Fighting in a Bavarian regiment.
While Captain Cecil Graves
Had been wounded at Mons,
During a rear-guard retreat.
Yet any merit faded, with news
As a member was lost at sea,
And another killed at Ypres.
As slow November drew to an end
Robert Graves wrote he might
At any time have two hours
Notice prior to leaving for France.
by Jamie Mann.
Graves, R.P., 1987. Robert Graves
- The Assault Heroic - 1895-1926. Elizabeth Sifton Books, Viking Penguin
Inc. Book 4 chapter 1
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