United Kingdom: A photo from World War I

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland, two from Germany, one from Singapore and two from Japan.

One of the cards from the United Kingdom shows one of this year's stamps about the World War I Centenary. It shows a British soldier at a comrade’s grave at Cape Helles. Cape Helles is located on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was hard-fought in 1915. The photo was taken by Ernest Brooks and shows just the silhouette of an unknown soldier.

With a related stamp:
Queen's Head
World War I Centenary (from set of six) (issued 14-05-2015)
The stamp shows an excerpt from the poem "All the Hills and Vales Along" by Charles Hamilton Sorley. The poem illustrates the singing soldiers marching to the front line. Charles Hamilton Sorley served as a captain and was killed on 13th October 1915. This poem was published posthumously. He is considered to be one of the leading World War I poets.

Thank You very much Federica!

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All the Hills and Vales Along

All the hills and vales along

Earth is bursting into song,

And the singers are the chaps

Who are going to die perhaps.

O sing, marching men,

Till the valleys ring again,

Give your gladness to earth’s keeping,

So be glad, when you are sleeping.

Cast away regret and rue,

Think what you are marching to.

Little live, great pass.

Jesus Christ and Barabbas

Were found the same day.

This died, that went his way.

So sing with joyful breath,

For why, you are going to death.

Teeming earth will surely store

All the gladness that you pour.

Earth that never doubts nor fears,

Earth that knows of death, not tears,

Earth that bore with joyful ease

Hemlock for Socrates,

Earth that blossomed and was glad

‘Neath the cross that Christ had,

Shall rejoice and blossom too

When the bullet reaches you.

Wherefore, men marching,

On the road to death, sing!

Pour your gladness on earth’s head,

So be merry, so be dead.

From the hills and valleys earth

Shouts back the sound of mirth,

Tramp of feet and lilt of song

Ringing all the road along.

All the music of their going,

Ringing swinging glad song-throwing,

Earth will echo still, when foot

Lies numb and voice mute.

On, marching men, on

To the gates of death with song.

Sow your gladness for earth’s reaping,

So you may be glad, though sleeping.

Strew your gladness on earth’s bed,

So be merry, so be dead.