Arthur Graeme West facts for kids

Arthur Graeme West (born September 1891 – died 3 April 1917) was a British writer and war poet. He was born in Eaton, Norfolk. West went to Highgate School, then Blundell's School, and later Balliol College, Oxford. He was killed by a sniper during World War I in 1917.

Military Service

Arthur Graeme West joined the army in January 1915. He became a Private with the Public Schools Battalion. He felt it was his duty to join and wanted to serve his country.

However, being in the war changed his mind a lot. He was a person who liked to think for himself. He did not like strict rules or daily routines. He started to dislike army life very much. He also began to question his beliefs about religion and why wars happen.

West wrote two powerful poems about his feelings: "God, How I Hate You" and "Night Patrol." These poems showed how unhappy he was with the war. He also read about pacifism, which is the belief that war is wrong. This idea made a big impact on him.

In August 1916, he became a second lieutenant. He joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Less than a year later, on 3 April 1917, he was shot and killed by a sniper. This happened near a place called Bapaume.

Writing

Arthur Graeme West is best known for his book, The Diary of a Dead Officer. It was published in 1919, after he had died. The book shares his strong feelings about army life. It also gives a clear picture of what daily life was like in the trenches during the war.

His friend, C. E. M. Joad, helped to prepare the book for publishing. Joad was also against war. The book was re-released in 1991 by the Imperial War Museum. It was published again in 2007 with a new introduction by Nigel Jones. The first version of the book included parts of West's diary from 1915 to 1917. It also had some of his essays and poems.