An almost opposite hymn, written about the same time, is "I Vow to Thee, My Country," which is so beautiful in tune and lyric yet so infuriating at the same time, with its theme of unquestioning sacrifice and the strong religious aspect.

In so many ways Owen strikes me as a meek, obedient type, sensitive to approval and disapproval. He wasn't an iconoclast like Sassoon. He didn't go around making far-fetched claims about the war being deliberately arranged by old men to kill young men. I think perhaps he would have preferred to be remembered as one who did not shrink to risk his life in war. It would have made his message more poignant, more pure, invulnerable to accusations of cowardice.

I say this not because I think him particularly wise to have chosen as he did, merely because I understand. I can't say for sure I would have had the courage to do the same, but I can understand the impulse.

Sassoon, who had been shot in the head in a so-called friendly fire incident, was put on sick-leave for the remaining duration of the war. Owen saw it as his patriotic duty to take Sassoon's place at the front, that the horrific realities of the war might continue to be told. Sassoon was violently opposed to the idea of Owen returning to the trenches, threatening to "stab [him] in the leg" if he tried it. Aware of his attitude, Owen did not inform him of his action until he was once again in France.

I absolutely agree on the stupid and wasteful. It was a war fought with 19th century tactics and 20th century weapons.

He could have stayed out of the army indefinitely, but decided to reenlist in July 1918.

Mind-boggling. Possibly the stupidest, most wasteful war in the last 300 years and the same guy who wrote D&D REENLISTS?!?! WTF?!
Nationalism was huge in those days in Europe. The only other -ism more blinding than religion because it feeds on our ancient, possibly instincitve tribalism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/poetryseason/