The Auteurs des Hauts‑de‑France (ADAN) association is honoured to
address the Wilfred Owen Association, whose longstanding commitment to
preserving the legacy of Wilfred Owen continues to inspire readers,
scholars, and peace advocates across the world.
As a regional literary organisation bringing together more than 300
writers, poets, and artists, ADAN works to promote literature as a
living force — one that shapes memory, strengthens civic awareness, and
builds bridges between generations.
In the Hauts‑de‑France region, the presence of Wilfred Owen’s final
footsteps is not only a historical trace but a moral horizon. His words,
written in the darkest hours of the First World War, remain a beacon for
those who believe that poetry can illuminate conflict, warn against
violence, and defend human dignity. It is in this spirit that ADAN has
created the Poets’ March for Peace, an annual initiative held in Ors,
where Owen spent his last night before falling in combat on 4 November
1918.
Through this message, ADAN expresses its deep respect for the Wilfred Owen Association and its desire to strengthen cultural ties, share literary initiatives, and continue honouring Owen’s legacy with the seriousness, humility, and creative energy it deserves.
On 11 November 2025, ADAN launched the first Poets’ March for Peace in the village of Ors, following the forest path that traces the final steps of Wilfred Owen. Writers, poets, artists, and citizens walked together to affirm a simple conviction: that literature can still stand as a form of vigilance, that words can still resist violence, that peace must be carried forward collectively. This march is not a commemoration in the traditional sense. It is a call for awareness, a civic gesture born from the belief that silence is no longer acceptable in a world where conflict and division are rising once again. Participants responded with texts, poems, and reflections — fragile yet luminous — forming a collective voice against indifference.
1 e Marche pour la Paix 11/11/2025
A call for submissions accompanied the march, gathering writings marked by tension, hope, and human dignity. These contributions now shape a commemorative publication that embodies the spirit of the initiative: a chorus of warnings, whispers, and steadfast commitments to peace.
The movement continues.
On 11 November 2026, ADAN will hold the second edition of the march, once again walking in the footsteps of Wilfred Owen, reaffirming that poetry is not an escape but a stance — a way of holding the line when the world grows uncertain.
“All a poet can do today is warn.” — Wilfred Owen
Note from the web editor:
If any of our members choose to attend this event in Ors then the Association would welcome any accounts, photographs or recollections to consider for publication in the journal, the Anthem and on the website. With thanks, Tom Thewlis
