The Soldier Poets Of El Alamein

The Soldier Poets of El Alamein revisits a remarkable anthology of poems that grew out of the experiences of British soldiers who fought in the western desert during the Second World War. Edited by a group of soldier-poets in Cairo in 1943, this anthology captures the missing voices of war, representing the men and women from all branches of the citizen army.

The poetry evokes the boredom and terrifying activity of war, the minutiae of daily life, and reflections on lost comrades and dead enemies. It offers a poignant account of the collective war experience, combining original poems with those submitted in the late 1970s by surviving editors.

Mike Greenwood returns to the western desert as veterans gather in El Alamein to mark the 70th anniversary of the campaign. He engages with military historian Julian Thompson and poet Owen Sheers, discussing the Oasis anthology and hearing the poems in readings and archive.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.