Siegfried Sassoon - Soldiers, Timeline and Life
Siegfried Sassoon's Personal Details
Siegfried Sassoon was a British poet, writer and soldier who served during World War I
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 8, 1886 |
| Died on | September 1, 1967 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Bisexual, Poets, Miscellaneous, Soldiers |
| Spouses | Hester Gatty |
| Siblings | Hamo Thornycroft |
| Childrens | George |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Matfield, Kent, England |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Alfred Ezra Sassoon |
| Mother | Theresa |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Matfield, Kent, England |
| Died at Age | 80 |
// Famous Soldiers
Roza Shanina
Roza Shanina was a Russian sniper who came to be known as “the unseen terror of East Prussia” during World War II. Find more about her childhood, family, personal life, etc.
Reinhard Heydrich
Reinhard Heydrich was a high-ranking German Nazi official during the World War II. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts about his life.
Simo Häyhä
Simo "Simuna" Häyhä was a Finnish sniper, considered the most deadly sniper in war history. Find more about his family, childhood, personal life, career, achievements, etc.
Siegfried Sassoon's photo
Who is Siegfried Sassoon?
One the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Siegfried Sassoon was a famous historian, poet, writer and soldier. He was among the first poets during World War I, whose poetry portrayed the graphic descriptions of the brutal realities of the war. In an era where people were lured by patriotic propaganda and romantic, heroic ideas of war, his poetry conveyed the merciless, inhumane and cold-blooded actualities on the war front. The trademark of all his writings is the details of foul-smelling rotting corpses, distorted limbs, filth, suicide and blood, which served as an effective anti-war stance. This type of writing had a significant impact on the genre of modernist poetry. Some of his well-known poems include, ‘The Old Huntsman’, The Hero’, ‘Aftermath’, ‘I Stood with the Dead’, ‘Trench Duty’ and ‘Repression of War’. Disillusioned with war, he refused to return to duty and strongly condemned it. As the witness to great bloodshed, he wrote a series of semi-autobiographical books viz., ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, ‘Memoirs of an Infantry Officer’ and ‘Sherston's Progress’. This series of books came to be known as the ‘Sherston trilogy’. To learn more interesting facts about his personal life, childhood and wartime experiences, scroll down and continue to read this biography.
// Famous Bisexual
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne is an American actress and singer. Let’s have a look at her personal and family life including age, net worth, relationships and fun facts.
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag is an American critical essayist, cultural analyst, novelist, political activist, filmmaker and playwright of international repute. Read on to find out more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline.
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin is a Kiwi film, theatre and television actress known for her roles in movies like ‘The Piano’, ‘Fly Away Home’, and ‘X-Men. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Childhood & Early Life
Siegfried Sassoon was born to a Jewish father, Alfred Ezra Sassoon, who was a descendant of a wealthy merchant family from Baghdad and Theresa, an Anglo-Catholic.
He was educated at The New Beacon Preparatory School, Sevenoaks, Kent and majored in history at Clare College, Cambridge from 1905-1907.
He dropped out of college and spent the next few years hunting, playing cricket, reading and writing poetry. Some of his poetry works were privately published at the time under a pen name.
Career
Siegfried Sassoon expressed his opinions on the pre-World War I political scenario in his 1913 work, ‘The Daffodil Murderer’. It was a parody of John Masefield's, ‘The Everlasting Mercy’.
He joined the British Army just before the onset of World War I and joined the ‘Sussex Yeomanry’, a regiment of the British Army, on August 4, 1914. It also happened to be the day the United Kingdom declared war.
He injured his right arm in a riding accident, after which he spent the spring of 1915 recovering from his injury. During this time, his younger brother, Hamo was killed at war, which affected Sassoon mentally.
In May 1915, he was appointed as the second lieutenant in the ‘Royal Welsh Fusiliers’, an infantry regiment of the British Army. He was posted to the Western Front in France.
While he was on duty in the Western Front he discovered a German trench with 60 odd German soldiers in it; armed with only grenades he captured the trench. He was highly appreciated for his bravery.
Stuck by the grief of the sudden death of a close friend at war, he wanted to campaign against the war and in 1917, he finally decided to take a stand against the conduct of the war.
In 1918, he was wounded while on duty, when a fellow soldier accidentally mistook him to be a German and shot him in the head.
After being discharged from the military services he assumed the position of literary editor at the Daily Herald, a British daily newspaper, in 1919.
In 1928, he authored the first semi-autobiographical novel ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, which is regarded a classic in English literature. In 1930, his second semi-autobiographical novel titled, ‘Memoirs of an Infantry Officer’ was published which narrates a semi-fictional account of his life during and post-World War.
In 1936, the final book of his semi-autobiographical trilogy, ‘Sherston's Progress’ was published.
Major Works
‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, published in 1928, is regarded as a classic in English literature and has been included in the academic syllabus. The novel won the prestigious Hawthornden Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
His series of semi-autobiographical books – ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, ‘Memoirs of an Infantry Officer’ and ‘Sherston's Progress’ came to be known as the ‘Sherston trilogy’ and established Sassoon as a one of the most prolific writers of that era writer.
Awards & Achievements
On July 27, 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross, an award granted in recognition of active operations against the enemy on land.
In 1951, he was appointed as the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, an official honour awarded as part of the New Year Honours in Commonwealth Realms.
Personal Life & Legacy
He enjoyed playing cricket and played for the Matfield and Downside Abbey team until the late seventies.
He was romantically involved with men including, William Park, ‘Gabriel’ Atkin, actor Ivor Novello; Novello's former lover, Glen Byam Shaw; German aristocrat, Prince Philipp of Hesse; the writer Beverley Nichols; an effete aristocrat, the Hon. Stephen Tennant.
In 1933, he married Hester Gatty, with whom he had a child named George. He later died of stomach cancer and is interred at St Andrew's Church, Mells, Somerset. He is one among the sixteen ‘Great War poets’ honoured on a slate stone which was unveiled at the Westminster Abbey's Poet's Corner.
// Famous Poets
Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline
Seamus Heaney
Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. Know about his profile, childhood, life and timeline in the biography below.
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was an American poet, journalist and humanist. Read this brief biography to find more on his life & timeline.
Siegfried Sassoon's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | 1916 - Military Cross | |
Siegfried Sassoon biography timelines
- // 8th Sep 1886Siegfried Sassoon was born to a Jewish father, Alfred Ezra Sassoon, who was a descendant of a wealthy merchant family from Baghdad and Theresa, an Anglo-Catholic.
- // 1905 To 1907He was educated at The New Beacon Preparatory School, Sevenoaks, Kent and majored in history at Clare College, Cambridge from 1905-1907.
- // 1913Siegfried Sassoon expressed his opinions on the pre-World War I political scenario in his 1913 work, ‘The Daffodil Murderer’. It was a parody of John Masefield's, ‘The Everlasting Mercy’.
- // 4th Aug 1914He joined the British Army just before the onset of World War I and joined the ‘Sussex Yeomanry’, a regiment of the British Army, on August 4, 1914. It also happened to be the day the United Kingdom declared war.
- // 1915He injured his right arm in a riding accident, after which he spent the spring of 1915 recovering from his injury. During this time, his younger brother, Hamo was killed at war, which affected Sassoon mentally.
- // 1915In May 1915, he was appointed as the second lieutenant in the ‘Royal Welsh Fusiliers’, an infantry regiment of the British Army. He was posted to the Western Front in France.
- // 27th Jul 1916On July 27, 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross, an award granted in recognition of active operations against the enemy on land.
- // 1917Stuck by the grief of the sudden death of a close friend at war, he wanted to campaign against the war and in 1917, he finally decided to take a stand against the conduct of the war.
- // 1918In 1918, he was wounded while on duty, when a fellow soldier accidentally mistook him to be a German and shot him in the head.
- // 1919After being discharged from the military services he assumed the position of literary editor at the Daily Herald, a British daily newspaper, in 1919.
- // 1928 To 1930In 1928, he authored the first semi-autobiographical novel ‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, which is regarded a classic in English literature. In 1930, his second semi-autobiographical novel titled, ‘Memoirs of an Infantry Officer’ was published which narrates a semi-fictional account of his life during and post-World War.
- // 1928‘Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man’, published in 1928, is regarded as a classic in English literature and has been included in the academic syllabus. The novel won the prestigious Hawthornden Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
- // 1933 To 1st Sep 1967In 1933, he married Hester Gatty, with whom he had a child named George. He later died of stomach cancer and is interred at St Andrew's Church, Mells, Somerset. He is one among the sixteen ‘Great War poets’ honoured on a slate stone which was unveiled at the Westminster Abbey's Poet's Corner.
- // 1936In 1936, the final book of his semi-autobiographical trilogy, ‘Sherston's Progress’ was published.
- // 1951In 1951, he was appointed as the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, an official honour awarded as part of the New Year Honours in Commonwealth Realms.
// Famous Miscellaneous
Jason Simpson
Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.
Melissa Brim
Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Joyce Meyer
Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Galina Becker
Galina Becker is a former athlete and fitness model from America. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Jacelyn Reeves
Jacelyn Reeves is a former flight attendant who once had a fling with Clint Eastwood. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.
Vasily Zaytsev
Vasily Zatysev was a Russian sniper who served during the World War II. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Siegfried Sassoon's FAQ
What is Siegfried Sassoon birthday?
Siegfried Sassoon was born at 1886-09-08
When was Siegfried Sassoon died?
Siegfried Sassoon was died at 1967-09-01
Where was Siegfried Sassoon died?
Siegfried Sassoon was died in Heytesbury, Wiltshire
Which age was Siegfried Sassoon died?
Siegfried Sassoon was died at age 80
Where is Siegfried Sassoon's birth place?
Siegfried Sassoon was born in Matfield, Kent, England
What is Siegfried Sassoon nationalities?
Siegfried Sassoon's nationalities is British
Who is Siegfried Sassoon spouses?
Siegfried Sassoon's spouses is Hester Gatty
Who is Siegfried Sassoon siblings?
Siegfried Sassoon's siblings is Hamo Thornycroft
Who is Siegfried Sassoon childrens?
Siegfried Sassoon's childrens is George
What was Siegfried Sassoon universities?
Siegfried Sassoon studied at Clare College, Cambridge, Marlborough College, University of Cambridge, New Beacon School
What is Siegfried Sassoon's religion?
Siegfried Sassoon's religion is Roman Catholic
Who is Siegfried Sassoon's father?
Siegfried Sassoon's father is Alfred Ezra Sassoon
Who is Siegfried Sassoon's mother?
Siegfried Sassoon's mother is Theresa
What is Siegfried Sassoon's sun sign?
Siegfried Sassoon is Virgo