Eric Thirkell Cooper facts for kids
Eric Thirkell Cooper (1886 – 1960) was a British soldier and a special kind of writer called a war poet. He wrote poems during World War I, sharing his experiences and feelings from the battlefield.
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Who Was Eric Thirkell Cooper?
Eric Thirkell Cooper was born in 1886 in Beckenham, Kent, a town in England. He lived during a time of great change and conflict, especially the First World War. He is remembered for his brave service as a soldier and for the powerful poems he wrote.
Early Life and Military Service
When he grew up, Eric Thirkell Cooper joined the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). This was a well-known army group in Britain. He was a dedicated soldier and rose through the ranks. He eventually became a Major, which is a high-ranking officer in the army. His time in the military, especially during World War I, deeply influenced his writing.
A Poet of War
During the war, Eric Thirkell Cooper wrote many poems. These poems helped people understand what it was like to be a soldier. He published two collections of his poetry:
- Soliloquies of a Subaltern Somewhere in France (1915)
- Tommies of the Line, and Other Poems (1918)
His poems gave a voice to the soldiers, often called "Tommies," who were fighting on the front lines. They shared their thoughts, fears, and hopes.
His Poems Become Songs
Eric Thirkell Cooper's poems were so moving that they inspired famous musicians. In 1916, an English composer named John Ireland (1879–1962) turned some of Cooper's poems into songs. These songs were for a singer and a piano.
- Two poems, "Blind" and "The Cost," became part of a set called Two Songs.
- Another poem, "Lines to a Garrison Churchyard," was set to music separately and called "A Garrison Churchyard."
Also in 1916, another English composer, Cyril Scott (1879–1970), also created a song from "Lines to a Garrison Churchyard." He also called his version "Garrison Churchyard." This shows how much Cooper's words touched people, even inspiring different artists to create music from them.
