News / Remembrance Day
Bristol businessman reflects on heroism of ‘war poet uncle’
A Bristol-based businessman reflects on the significance of Remembrance Sunday with reference to a family member who served in the WWI, on whom he has written a three-volume biography.
Richard Graves, the financial director of the web design firm, GWS Media, which celebrated its quarter century legacy this year, has reminisced about his “famous relation”, in a recent exchange with Bristol24/7.
Richard, who has extensively written about his late uncle, Robert Graves, the war poet and author, emphasised the importance of remembering the end of hostilities of the Great War.
The Armistice, which marked the cessation of fighting in World War I, began at 11am on November 11 1918.
The war poet and author Robert Graves served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF) during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 – photo: Graves Family
The historic moment, now commemorated annually as Remembrance Sunday in the UK and Veterans Day in the United States, symbolises the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany.
Richard Graves came to prominence in the 80s as a tech writer by compiling some of the first home computer guides in the UK with a little help from his sons David and Philip.
Apart from his expertise in home computers, Richard Graves has been a bona fide literary writer with acclaimed biographies of T.E Lawrence, A.E Houseman and Richard Hughes to his name.
Of all titles he has written, Richard reserves a special place to the three-volume biography of Robert Graves he completed some years back.
Robert Graves wrote I, Calaudius which was made into an award-winning miniseries starring Derek Jacobi in the title role – photo: Amazon UK
Richard sheds light on a relatively lesser-known chapter of Robert Graves’ life, who served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF) during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Robert Graves was severely wounded by a shell and was mistakenly reported dead the following day. However, he survived and later chronicled his harrowing wartime experiences in his autobiography, Goodbye to All That.
Despite his physical recovery, the psychological scars remained, manifesting as what was then known as ‘shell shock,’ now coined as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Richard Graves came to prominence in the 80s as a tech writer by compiling some of the first home computer guides in the UK with a little help from his sons David and Philip – photo: Graves Family
In the three-volume biography which consists of the titles The Assault Heroic 1895-1926, The Years with Laura 1926-1940 and Robert Graves And The White Goddess: 1940-1985, Richard highlights his uncle’s “remarkable resilience and literary achievements”.
“Robert was one of the lucky ones,” Richard notes. “He eventually recovered from his shell shock and went on to have a distinguished career as a poet and novelist, authoring enduring works such as I, Claudius and The White Goddess.”
Richard Graves also acknowledges the profound sacrifices made by countless others during the war. He said: “Many of the best and the bravest, not only from our country but from across the British Empire, died fighting for our freedom.”
“The scale of their sacrifice is immense, as evidenced by the memorials in every parish in the United Kingdom, and it deserves to be commemorated.”
The legacy of service continued in the Graves family during World War II, when Robert’s eldest son, David, also served in the RWF. Tragically, David was killed in action in Burma in 1943 at the age of 23.
Richard Graves (left) named his own son David (right) in honor of his cousin, the son of Robert Graves, who was killed in action in Burma in 1943 – photo: Graves Family
Richard, who named his own son David in honor of his cousin, reflects on this loss with deep sorrow. “It is one of the great sadnesses of my life that I never met my first cousin David Graves, who died heroically fighting against the Japanese,” he shares. “He was not only a brave warrior but also a talented poet and artist.”
In his latest book, Nicky Samuel: My Life and Loves, Richard Graves explores the cultural shifts of the “Swinging Sixties”. Yet, he reiterated the importance of “remembering the sacrifices of the past”.
Richard said: “Today, with increasing threats, it is crucial not to forget that the price of freedom may be death.
“By honoring all those who died for us, we are reminded of this and encouraged to defend ourselves from future aggression.”
Robert Graves who was born in 1895 went on to become a celebrated war poet, soldier, historical novelist and a literary critic – photo: Graves Family
Main photo: Graves Family
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