‘The eleventh day of the eleventh month – I’m afraid I didn’t stop work at the eleventh hour, though I wore my poppy. It’s strange how few people do now. Memories are short, alas.’

‘Did it remind you of the First World War… & the soldiers who were billeted on you…? And one was killed wasn’t he, poor chap. What memories you must have.’

Letters from Philip Larkin to his mother, Eva, 

Larkin’s personal connection with the First World War is explored in Philip Pullen’s article ‘Never Such Innocence Again’ in About Larkin 56, October 2023