Hemyock

Dennis Silk gave a moving talk last night on the life and poetry of Siegfried Sassoon. His talk was a perfect example of a clear informative, interesting and entertaining account of one of the 20th century's great literary yet controversial figures.

After living his early years through that charmed Edwardian period up to 1914 his literary talents were forged during the war years.  His love for his fellow man led him to spend most of his time at the front in no mans land searching for wounded soldiers and bringing them back to the field hospitals. This action won him the MC before he became convinced of the futility of the slaughter and spent time at Craiglockhart where he met Wilfred Owen whom he considered a genius. After both returned to the front Wilfred Owen was killed the week before the armistice.  Dennis Silk has recorded Sassoon reading his poems available as a CD together with a book of his talk, the proceeds going to the Hop Skip and Jump charity.

Denis Silk visited Sassoon at Heytesbury House while teaching at Marlborough. Mr Silk who played cricket for Somerset and the MCC and finished his working life as Warden of Radley was born in America as the son of a Christian Missionary and is one of Somerset's literary figures.