Fundraising for Disabled Soldiers

[susan1962]

I have in my possession a sheet of poetry priced a 2d and composed by a G.E. Davis,Late 297 Seige Battery,R.G.A.

At the top it says,

"Will You Patronise a Disabled Soldier ,Please?"

Underneath this it is entitled,"My Own Story".

It tells the story of a George Henry Ragsdale(My Grandfather) from his enlistment to his injury at Fricourt on July 3rd 1916 and his discharge from the army in Jan 1917.

I'm interested to know if anyone else knows of poetry sheets like this used for fundraising and when they were issued.

Also who was G.E.Davis?

Best wishes,

Susan 1962

[Ed Matthews]

Hello Susan

Can you post a picture of the poetry sheet? I have a series of twopence postcards sold by discharged servicemen; the following sounds similar to the one you describe and is attributed to Charles Booth, ex-West Riding Regt. I would imagine that they probably date from the early 1920's.

Kind rgds

Ed

[Vincent Petty]

I have a similar card, however, this one is for an American soldier, Private Thomas E. Bresnahan, Co. A, 327th Infantry, 82nd Division AEF. Bresnahan was wounded in August 1918, losing his right arm and left leg. He was also awarded the DSC. On the front of the card is his photograph with the missing limbs visible and on the back is a poem that he wrote --

On the road out of Chateau Thierry,

By the hill we halted the Hun,

Near Suicide Lane and Death Valley

Where the Hun retreat was begun,

There's an acre of crude little crosses

Where we buried young Sergeant Monroe,

And a host of his comrade Crusaders

Whose names we will never know.

Some day this road will be streaming

With pilgrims while venture to go

To humanity's Holy of Holies

On the road by Bois de Belleau.

Some will be looking for a brother,

Others for a father or son

And many for sweetheart of husband,

and comrade, who stayed by his gun.

God Grant they may come in the sunshine,

When the flowers bloom on their graves;

And may they be proud of their comrades

And the supreme sacrifice they made.

[susan1962]

Hi Ed and Vincent,

Thanks for the emails .I love your poems.Perhaps we should start collecting them.I think they're wonderful.

Anyway,as requested,here's mine.Hope you enjoy it.

[Ed Matthews]

Hello Susan

Thank you for sharing that. I would imagine that your grandfather was awarded a Silver War Badge - have you been able to locate his medal card index on the National Archives website? This should (but not always!) provide you with a reference to the relevant page of the Silver War Badge roll.

Kind rgds

Ed

[Canadawwi]

This one isn't as unique as those posted above, but it seems to have been designed for fund raising purposes. It is marked as Eastbourne B.B. Syndicate Ltd., Eastbourne.

[Canadawwi]

Another poem on a card, this one by Pte. R. Hayward, 3rd Hants Regt.