5929109 Trench map, Meaulte, belonging to Captain Siegfried Sassoon (map, trench) by English School, (19th century); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: Trench map, Meaulte, 62D NE2, edition 2B, belonging to Captain Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon is best remembered now as a soldier-poet who protested against war. To his men he was known as ?Mad Jack? for his recklessly brave exploits on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for bringing back a wounded Lance-Corporal under heavy fire, and was recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC) for capturing a German trench single-handed. In some ways, at the beginning of the War, Sassoon was a typical officer - a young gentleman, keen on sports and dabbling with poetry, he volunteered for service before war was even declared. But his experiences and the death of a close friend changed his mind. His brave exploits became suicidal. While recovering from a wound, he threw his MC into the Mersey, and wrote a very public letter to ?The Times? condemning the fact that the War was ?being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it?. He was sent to a hospital for shell-shock sufferers, but guilty about leaving his men, Sassoon eventually returned to the front. He was wounded again in 1918, but survived the War. From a collection of papers belonging to Captain Siegfried Sassoon.); by National Army Museum ; English, out of copyright.