Gerald had the following siblings - Walter Horace Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted; Nellie Samuel (married name Ionides) and Ida Marie Samuel (married name Sebag-Montefiore). Educated at Eton College, Gerald travelled to Japan, Canada and the United States in 1912.
During
the First World War, Gerald was turned down twice when he applied to join the Army, due to defective eyesight. However, he was commissioned into the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and posted to the Western Front, where he was wounded twice.
Gerald was killed leading his men during the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. At the time of his death, he held the rank of Lieutenant. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, panel 45 and 47, at Willesden Cemetery in London and at Eton College.
Gerald devoted his life to the welfare of working lads in the East End of London, and had a Home for Orphans built - The Samuel and Myer Home. On his death Gerald bequeathed the house and £10,000 for its maintenance to the Jewish Board of Guardians.
Gerald was killed leading his men during the Battle of Messines on 7th June 1917. At the time of his death, he held the rank of Lieutenant. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, panel 45 and 47, at Willesden Cemetery in London and at Eton College.
Gerald devoted his life to the welfare of working lads in the East End of London, and had a Home for Orphans built - The Samuel and Myer Home. On his death Gerald bequeathed the house and £10,000 for its maintenance to the Jewish Board of Guardians.
Gerald
George Samuel’s WW1 poetry collection “Poems” was published by Arthur L. Humphreys,
London in 1917. Source: Catherine W. Reilly "English Poetry of the First World War: A Bibliography" (St. Martin's Press, New York, 1978)
I don’t usually comment on the writing of the poets I feature but I am very impressed
indeed by Gerald George Samuel’s writing, enjoyed reading his poems and made a
few notes to share with you.
The
Introduction, written by Gerald’s father, has a copy of the last letter of
encouragement Gerald wrote from the Front to the boys he worked with in Stepney.
I found it particularly moving. And in
the poem “My Aim” Gerald wrote that he would like “To make the world a happier,
better place” (page 24).
Gerald described the weapons of the conflict, which was the first using the tools of the Industrial Revolution, as “the brutal inventions of crime” and the conditions in the trenches as “the pitiless welter of shell” (From “Consolation”, page 32).
In “Lost
Years” I found a sentiment reflected in one of my Mother’s favourite poems – “The
Moving Finger writes…”: from Edward FitzGerlad’s translation into English of
Omar Khayam’s poem in Farsi:
“For I
cannot call back the ebbing tide
And
live again the seasons that are gone.” (page 34)
On
page 40 is a poem dedicated “To Music” – echoing my own feelings about music:
And on
page 41 are a few lines about music, poetry and art.
I
leave you with two of Gerald’s poems:
“War
and After”
I hope
that when at last these days are o’er,
I may
return my labours to renew,And try to wipe away the marks of war
That stain the nations with their bloody hue.
To bring some ray of solace to a few,
To make their lives less difficult to live,
Is all I ask. My work I shall not rue
If I can help to comfort some who grieve,
And added happiness to some poor toilers give.
Untitled
(page 22)
I care
too little for this earth
To
love it, though it gave me birth;But I would leave to those like me
In future days some legacy.
Joy is
not mine, but if my pain
Bring
forth for someone else a gain:I only wish that when in Heaven
I may observe the joy I’ve given.
“May”
(page 27)
But I
would not forgotten be,
When
only dust is left of me:And so I try, with painful strife,
To justify my having life.
From "Poems" by Gerald George Samuel (Arthur L. Humphreys, London, 1917)
