Garforth First World War Poetry Competition

Calling all budding poets! You could be in with a chance to win book tokens by writing your own poem using the characters in the Brent Remembers: Five Lives exhibition as inspiration. The exhibition remembers the contribution of Charles Garforth, Edith Knight, Charles Bowen, Mabel Comben and Charles Pinkham to the First World War.

The exhibition can be found in the exhibition space at Brent Civic Centre or viewed online (.pdf, 6.80MB).

Poems will be judged in three age categories:

• Under 11s
• 12 to16
• 17 to 19

Each poem should be submitted with your name, address, telephone number a parents email address if you have one and the title of your poem.

For more inspiration, why not have a look at some of the work of famous poets who have written about the First World War? Examples can be found here, or visit your local library and borrow a book of poetry – have a look at what is available by searching  for ‘First World War poetry’ in the online catalogue here. Alternatively you can use some of the images of the people that appear in the exhibition (above), or images from the Imperial War Museum that feature depictions of what the war was like for soldiers from countries from around the British Empire (below). Use the reference numbers in the titles to search the database of the images to find out more about them, and explore the Imperial War Museum collections.

An Indian Army Lancer on sentry duty in the desert, lying on the ground on his front with his rifle in firing position. He wears uniform and a sand-coloured turban. copyright of the Imperial War Museum

a double portrait depicting two Punjabi men of the Indian Army standing close to a camp fire for warmth. Both men are shown half length, with the man on the left clutching a robe over his head and body. Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

A head and shoulders portrait of a Sepoy of the 2/9th Gurkha Rifles in uniform. He wears a wide brimmed hat with chin strap and a leather ammunition belt across his chest. Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

An interior view of the Brighton Pavillion. The walls of the dome are decorated with exotic designs, and a large chandelier hangs down into the centre of the room. The floor is filled with rows of metal framed hospital beds covered with white sheets. Many of the beds are occupied with soldiers resting; other soldiers sit by their beds dressed in blue uniform. Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

General Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend KCB DSO (1861-1924) with Khalil Pasha and staff shortly after the surrender of Kut. Front row: Colonel Parr, General Townshend, and Khalil Pasha. Back row: Naum Bay, Captain W E T Morland, Naum Hava, and Faud Bey. Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

Wounded Indian troops at a hospital in Brighton. 1915. Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

Indian Army contingent (Indian Army contingent (Sikhs) passing along the Mall.Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

Copyright of the Imperial War Museum

Two prizes will be awarded in each age category and winners will be notified within two weeks of the competition closing date. Winners will get the chance to attend a small prize giving event and meet Doug Garforth, the grandson of Charles Garforth who was awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery in 1914.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 20 March 2015.

Entries should be emailed to archives@brent.gov.uk or posted to:

Garforth First World War Poetry Competition
Brent Archives
C/o Willesden Green Library
George Furness House
2-12 Grange Road
London
NW10 2QY

Alternatively you can hand them in person to a member of library staff at Willesden Green Library.