"They shall not grow old; as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn"

Many of us will have heard or even spoken these words at Remembrance Day services, but relatively little is now known about their author, the First World War poet Laurence Binyon (1869-1943). He was born in Lancashire, in the North-West of England, and was a clergyman's son. He read classics at Oxford, but was already recognised as a poet in his student days, winning the prestigious Newdigate prize.

After graduating, he worked at the British Museum, where he was seen as a specialist in Oriental art. He married the historian Cicely Powell.

Before the outbreak of war he was considered as a possible Poet Laureate, though the post eventually went to Robert Bridges. Very early on in the war, although he thought it morally justifiable, his work displayed a far more sober tone than much at the time. He wrote "For the Fallen" in response to the heavy casualties suffered by the British Expeditionary Force; its composition took place in Cornwall though the actual location is contentious.

The poem's most famous and poignant lines form the 4th stanza, although they were written first, and have not lost their resonance to this day, as we vow that:

"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

we will remember them."

More Info: en.wikipedia.org