Rules
Please read these rules carefully and email armyarts@yahoo.com if you have any queries.
1. The Open competition is open to anyone aged over 18, the Youth category is open to anyone 18 and under on the date of the deadline (15 Jan 2018).
2. The Serving Soldier category is open to anyone in either age group who indicates on their entry form that they are in the British Army or the Army Reserve at the time of the deadline. By entering this category, you acknowledge that you are content for us to confirm your serving status.
3. The deadline of the competition is midnight on Monday 15 January 2018 (UK time).
4. There is no limit to the number of entries an entrant can make. Each poem should be sent as a separate document. Poems are judged anonymously and the document should not contain your name or address.
5. Entries will only be accepted with an entry form. One entry form may cover multiple entries.
6. Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy.
7. Poems cannot be altered once they have been entered.
8. If you would like confirmation of postal entry, please include a stamped addressed entry with your entry. Online entries will receive confirmation once the entry has been logged by our administration team.
9. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
10. The competition organisers reserve the right to change the judging panel with no notice and not to award prizes if, in the judge’s opinion, such an action is justified.
11. All poems must have a title and must not exceed 60 lines in length (excluding title).
12. Poems should be inspired by / explore / address the theme of Armistice in some way.
13. Poems which touch upon military medicine or its contribution to human and animal healthcare are eligible for the Museum of Military Medicine Commendation Prize. Entrants should indicate if they wish to be considered for this although the judge may also decide to include a poem in this category at his discretion.
14. Poems in either age category are eligible for the Museum of Military Medicine Commendation.
15. Poems must be the original work of the entrant.
16. Poems must not have been published in print or online or have been prize-winners in any other competition before the 1 April 2018.
17. Entries should be typed, preferably in a simple font (such as Arial) in a minimum of type size 12pt.
18. Entries must be written in English.
19. There are no entry fees.
20. Prize-winners will be notified in February 2018 and invited to a prize-giving in March 2018. The proposed location of the prize-giving is the National Army Museum, London. Prize-winners will be offered travel expenses and U18s will be offered travel expenses for a parent/carer/teacher to accompany them.
21. The copyright of each poem entered remains with the author. Prizewinning poets, by entering the competition, grant the Arts Engagement office of the British Army the right to publish (online and in print) and to broadcast the poem.