I was one of 9 illustrators that had a piece on display as part of the 'Anthem Of The Doomed Youth' Exhibition, at the Baltic Bakehouse in Liverpool. The exhibition was part of the Liverpool Light Night event as well as the First World War Centenary.
The theme of the exhibition was WW1 poems. I chose to base my piece on the poem, 'Suicide in The Trenches' by Siegfried Sassoon. A sad tale of a young, nameless soldier who couldn't take it anymore and surrendered his life to the horror and bleakness he was faced with in the trenches.
I chose to depict the soldier sat in darkness, looking aged and forlorn. He's clinging to a revolver and staring blankly at nothing. Poppies behind him wither, as did his youth in the trenches. Above him I have drawn a vision of the troops looking fresh-caced, naive and hopeful as they leave their homes to fight the war - A war that they were told 'would be over by Christmas'.
SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES
A WW1 poem by Siegfried Sassoon
A WW1 poem by Siegfried Sassoon
I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
