First World War Poetry Digital Archive

Photograph of a private soldier

This is Isaac Rosenberg (an artist and a poet), who served as a private in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (you can see the distinctive lion cap badge). Although roughly the same age as Lt. Wilfred Owen, you can immediately see the difference between an officer and a soldier. The private's Service Dress tunic is loose fitting - if it fits at all! It has a turned down collar, and patches at the shoulder to cope with the extra wear from the kick of the rifle.