Joseph Lee (poet)

Joseph Johnston Lee (1876–1949) was a Scottish poet, who chronicled life in the trenches and as a prisoner of war during World War I. Born in Dundee, Lee worked as a journalist and sketch artist, publishing his first book of poems, "Tales o’ Our Town", in 1910.

During World War I, he served in the Black Watch regiment as a Sergeant, and sent sketches and poems back home to Scotland. These were eventually collected in two books of poetry, "Ballads of Battle" and "Work-a-Day Warriors". His time spent as a prisoner of war was later depicted in his book "Captive in Carlsruhe".

Lee spent his later life in London, where he moved in literary circles. Most notable, he is remembered for his fight with then poet laureate Robert Bridges over the literary value of Robert Burns's work. He returned to Dundee only after World War II, and died there in 1949.

External links

* Bob Burrows, [http://www.breedonbooks.co.uk/fighterwriter/ Fighter Writer] .