November 4 this year marks the centenary of the day that Shropshire poet and soldier Wilfred Owen fell in battle in 1918 – just a few days before WWI ended. The tragic anniversary is being marked in Owen’s home county by a series of events over 100 days, culminating in the centenary of the Armistice on Sunday 11 November.
Wilfred Owen was born near Oswestry in 1893 and later moved to Shrewsbury, where his mother was living when she received news of his death as the bells were ringing out on Armistice Day. He served as a lieutenant, winning the Military Cross for bravery in action and writing some of the most moving poetry of the Great War. Today, two volumes of his verse can be found in the vaults of the British Library alongside works by the greatest writers in the English language.
Shropshire’s Wilfred Owen 100 will remember the poet with readings, film screenings, music, talks, themed guided walks and much more. An interactive talk, The Beat of the Butterflies’ Wings, will take place at Attingham Hall on Saturday 8 September; find the full programme at Wilfred Owen 100 on Facebook or shropshireremembers.org.uk.
