Julian Grenfell
Julian Henry Francis Grenfell DSO (30 March 1888 – 26 May 1915) was a British soldier and a war poet of World War I.
Julian Grenfell
30 March 1888
Westminster, London, England
26 May 1915 (aged 27)
Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais, France
1910–1915
Captain Francis Octavius Grenfell VC (cousin)
Early life[edit]
Julian Grenfell was born at 4 St James's Square, London, the eldest son of William Grenfell, later Baron Desborough, and Ethel Priscilla Fane, daughter of Julian Fane.
He was educated at Eton where he was good friends with Denys Finch Hatton, Edward Horner, and latterly with Patrick Shaw-Stewart. From Eton he went up to Balliol College, Oxford, where he soon developed a reputation for bullying and rowdy behaviour, such as cracking a stock whip within inches of Philip Sassoon's head.[1] In his final year at Oxford Grenfell began to struggle with his studies, his moods became unstable, and he was anxious, agitated and miserable. His friends and family found it hard to understand what was wrong, but to modern eyes he was clearly suffering from a recurrent major depressive illness. After consulting with his college and his parents Grenfell opted to take a pass degree, as he was not well enough to continue with his honours course[2] After University Julian spent much of his time involved in outdoor activities; hunting and fishing, and as a somewhat reluctant participant in his mother's high society parties, and country house weekends. It was at one such gathering that Julian met Marjory Manners, daughter of the Duke of Rutland, to whom he became devoted. They corresponded for a lengthy period, and Marjory was one of the first to write to Julian's mother Ettie, after his death to tell of her anguish.
Commemoration[edit]
On 11 November 1985, Grenfell was among 16 Great War poets commemorated on a slate stone unveiled in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner.[9] The inscription on the stone was written by a fellow Great War poet, Wilfred Owen and reads: "My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity."[10]
Today Grenfell is most remembered for his poem "Into Battle" written in May 1915, the closing lines read;
"The thundering line of battle stands,
And in the air Death moans and sings;
But Day shall clasp him with strong hands,
And Night shall fold him in soft wings."
Notes
Bibliography
