Sassoon originally wrote the poem in 1917, but he later amended it in 1918, specifically changing the line:
> "I knew a simple soldier, a man of my own age,
> Whose face was white and drawn with fear."
to
> "I knew a simple soldier, a man of my own age,
> Whose face was white with dust and sweat."
This change is significant because it reflects Sassoon's evolving views on the war and its impact on soldiers. The original line portrayed the soldier as overcome with fear, which was a common theme in war poetry at the time. However, Sassoon's revision emphasizes the physical and emotional exhaustion of war, suggesting that the soldier's whiteness comes from the harsh conditions of the trenches, rather than solely from fear.
This change reveals Sassoon's growing disillusionment with the war and his desire to present a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of the experience of soldiers.