Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Monday, 13 November 2023

“O Valiant Hearts”.



The “Tommy” statue,
officially named “1101”.
On Terrace Green,
Seaham, County Durham.
Picture Credit: OWEN HUMPHREYS/PA WIRE.
Illustration: BBC NEWS


“O Valiant Hearts”.
Sung at every Remembrance Day Service, yesterday.
Sung by: The Chapel Choir of The Royal Hospital Chelsea.

“O Valiant Hearts” is a Hymn remembering 
The Fallen of the First World War.

It often features prominently in annual Remembrance Day Services in The United Kingdom and 
The British Commonwealth.

Words were taken from a poem by Sir John Stanhope Arkwright (1872–1954), published in “The Supreme Sacrifice”, and other Poems in “Time of War” (1919). 

It was set to music by the Rev. Dr. Charles Harris (1865-1936), who was Vicar of Colwall, Herefordshire, 1909-1929. 

It is to his tune, referred to as “Harris”, or, sometimes, “The Supreme Sacrifice”, that the Hymn is now almost always sung.
Available on YouTube


“O Valiant Hearts”.
Sung by: The Chapel Choir of The Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Available on YouTube


“O Valiant Hearts”.
Poem by: Sir John Stanhope Arkwright.
Composer: Rev. Dr. Charles Harris.
Mezzo-Soprano: Emma Brown.
Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Air Force. 
Conductor: Captain Matty Cilissen.

The ninetieth anniversary of The Menin Gate, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Menin Gate commemorates over 54,000 missing soldiers from The Ypres Salient. 

During this Hymn, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission let 20,000 Poppy Petals flutter down.

O Valiant Hearts, who to your glory came,
Through dust of conflict and through battle flame, 
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved, 
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to War,
As who had heard God’s message from afar,
All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
To save mankind — yourselves you scorned to save.

Splendid you passed, the great surrender made,
Into the light that nevermore shall fade,
Deep your contentment in that Blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God.

These were His servants, in His steps they trod, 
Following through death the martyred Son of God, 
Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise,
They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice.

O Risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,
Whose Cross has bought them and Whose Staff has led,
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land, 
Commits her children to Thy gracious hand.


NYCOS Belgium perform “O Valiant Hearts” 
as part of the Passcendaele Centenary Commeroration. 
Ypres, Belgium, July 2017.
Available on YouTube


Holy Cross Choral Society_
“O Valiant Hearts”.
Sung by: Holy Cross Choral Society, Uckfield.
Available on YouTube

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