Poems of the Great War Published on the Behalf of the Prince of Wales's National Relief Fund

A stirring anthology that gathers the earliest verses written as Europe slipped into conflict, this collection captures the raw patriotism and urgent resolve of those first months of war. The poems were first published in newspapers and periodicals, then gathered to raise funds for a national relief effort, giving listeners a sense of how the home front turned word into action.

Featuring contributions from many of the era’s most respected voices—poet laureates, seasoned war correspondents, and witty satirists—the pieces range from rousing calls to arms and solemn vigils to reflective sonnets and brief hymns. Together they paint a vivid portrait of a nation grappling with duty, sacrifice, and the hope of swift victory, while offering listeners a glimpse of the literary response that helped shape public sentiment at the outset of the Great War.