Youngsters’ poignant works were rewarded with prizes in the Telegraph & Argus’ First World War children’s poetry competition.

Budding writers were asked in the summer to write a poem to mark the 100th anniversary since the start of the Great War.

Kieran Harrison, ten, was crowned overall winner of the competition with his poem written by a soldier to his mother which tells how he killed another soldier in battle.

He won an iPad mini as part of his prizes. He was also the winner in the seven-to ten category.

Kieran, a pupil at Thornton Primary School, said: “I’m happy to win.”

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Sophie Russell, 15, from Beckfoot School, Bingley, was crowned the winner in the 15-to-16 category,.

Alfredo Baggiano, five, from St Mary’s and St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Bradford, won the four-to-six category.

Bethia Barber, 14, of Fairweather Green, claimed the 11-to-14 section prize.

Each of the winners also received £50 to spend on books, sponsored by Bradford College, with the four-to-six year and seven-to-ten categories receiving Where The Poppies Now Grow, by Hilary Robinson.

The winners in the 11-to-14 and 15-to-16 sections received Private Peaceful, by Michael Morpurgo.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke, said: “Well done to everybody. They were all fantastic poems.”

KIERAN'S WINNING POEM

Dear mum.
Today I shot someone.
It was them or me mum.
I pulled the trigger.
He fell to the ground mum.

Today I shot someone.
Are you proud of me mum?
I was defending my country.
I was defending you, mum.

Today I shot someone.
But I got angry mum.
My best pal Tyler got killed.
He was my best friend mum.

Today I shot someone.
Devastated because he’s gone mum.
Devastated because he’s not here.
I will cry tonight mum.

Today I shot someone.
Did he have a family mum?
A family mum.
Guilty because he might have a mum.

Today I shot someone.
I feel lonely mum.
My room is now empty.
I feel lonely mum. 

 

READ MORE OF THE HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES IN THE CHILDREN'S POETRY COMPETITION