Wilfred OwenOwen, Wil·fred /ˈwɪlfrɪd/ (1893–1918) a British poet who was a soldier in World War I and whose poems are mainly about the terrible events and experiences of the war. Some of his best-known poems, such as ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, are a protest against the idea that it is honourable to die for your country. He was killed just before the end of the war, and his poems were published after his death.