Geoffrey Wall and Leonard Wall - were they related?

I am trying to find out if there is a family connection between two young men who wrote poetry during WW1 and who were born within months of each other on the Wirral Peninsula in the north west of England. They have the same surname - Wall. 

Geoffrey Wall (see photo) was born in Liscard on the Wirral Peninsula in 1897 and was killed in a flying accident on 6th August 1917. He counts as Australian as his parents went to live in Australia when he was ten years old. Leonard Comer Wall was born in West Kirby on the Wirral Peninsula in 1896 and was killed in action in France on 9th June 1917. I'd love to know if the two Wall boys were related and also to find a photograph of Leonard. If anyone can help please get in touch.

Photo:  Geoffrey Wall.

Arthur Lewis Jenkins (1892 - 1917) update

Exciting news!  Sharon Casey, a distant cousin of Arthur Lewis Jenkins, has been in touch with me and sent me quite a lot of information and some examples of Arthur's poetry since reading the post I wrote for my Facebook Page Forgotten Poets of The First World War.

I will go through these and up-date the post but in the meantime, here is the photograph of Arthur Lewis Jenkins that Sharon kindly sent me from the Marlborough College Roll of Honour.

Thank you Sharon - I will now be able to complete the exhibition panel on Arthur Lewis Jenkins.   My dream is to have a permanent exhibition venue where the panels can be on display and where I can hold poetry readings, etc.


  https://www.facebook.com/forgottenpoetsofww1/posts/825101580904948?comment_id=861674010581038&offset=0&total_comments=17&notif_t=share_comment

Arthur Waugh (1866 - 1943) - father of Evelyn and Alec

One of my favourite authors - Evely Waugh - was a schoolboy during The First World War. I have been trying to find out whether or not he wrote any poetry at that time. His o lder brother, Alec Waugh, was a Lieutenant in the Dorset Regiment who was taken prisoner in 1918, and he certainly did.  His collection 'Resentment: poems' was published by Grant Richard in 1918.*

I am currently reading 'Evelyn Waugh A Biography' by Selina Hastings, published by Minerva Paperbacks, London in 1995.  I was delighted to discover that the Waugh family were related to the Gosse family.  Sir Edmund Gosse is one of the Forgotten Poets of the First World War and his son Philip Gosse MD features in Fascinating Facts of the Great War, as he was for a time the British 2nd Army's Rat Catcher Officer on the Western Front - rats being among the problems encountered there at that time.

Arthur Waugh's cousin Sir Edmund Gosse was apparently a great influence on him and the Waughs regularly attended literary salons held at the Gosse household.  Siegfried Sassoon's family were also great friends of the Gosse family - in one of his letters to his mother from the Western Front, SS mentioned the arrival in his Regiment of a young officer who wrote poetry - Robert Graves.

Arthur Waugh was also a poet and I am now curious as to whether or not he wrote poetry during The First World War.

The photograph of Arthur Waugh is from Ian MacFarlaine's excellent website www.findagrave.com

* see Catherine Reilly's 'English Poetry of the First World War A Bibliography' (published by St Martin's Press, New York, 1978) page 331.

Arthur Lewis Jenkins (1892 - 1917)

I was really pleased to discover brother and sister WW1 poets - Arthur and Elinor Jenkins (see Female Poets of the First World War) with many thanks to Jacky Rodger who has kindly been helping me with my research.

Arthur Lewis Jenkins was the eldest son of Sir John Lewis Jenkins, KCSI. He was born in Gloucestershire on 9th March 1892.   His mother was Florence Mildred Jenkins, nee Trevor, who was born in India. Florence's father was Sir Arthur  Charles Trevor KCSI.   Arthur's siblings were Elinor Jenkins (WW1 poet) born in India in around 1893, Evan Meredith Jenkins, born in 1896 - who became a Governor of the Punjab - Joyce Angharad Jenkins, born in 1897, David Llewellyn Jenkins, born in 1899 - who became Baron Jenkins a high court judge - John Vaughn Jenkins, born in 1903, and Owain Trevor Jenkins, born in 1907 - who was later knighted.

Although their Father lived in India and their mother spent some time there, the Jenkins children were educated in England, where they lived at the family home in Littleham, Exmouth, Devon.

Arthur studied at Marlborough College after winning a scholarship to attend the school, where he eventually became Head Boy.  He went on to study classics at Balliol College, Oxford and after a career in the army, planned to follow his father into the Indian Civil Service.

Commissioned into the British Army in 1911, Arthur was sent with his Regiment to India, then to Aden and later to Egypt.  Arthur joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War and was killed while on a training flight on 31st December 1917 at the age of 25.  He is buried in Richmond Cemetery in Surrey.

Some of his poems were published in "Punch" magazine during his lifetime and a collection of his work was published by Sidgwick &  Jackson under the title "Forlorn Adventures (and other poems)"  in 1918.   Some of Arthur's poems were also included in WW1 poetry anthologies.

With many thanks to Jacky Rodgers who found the information about Arthur while researching his sister the poet Elinor Jenkins.

Sources: 

Roll of Honour;

"Western Mail" Thursday, 3 January 1918

Catherine W. Reilly "English Poetry of the First World War A Bibliography" (St. Martin's Press, New York, 1978) 

I have not yet been able to find a photograph of Arthur but will keep searching.  

Book Review: "Images of the Great War" by Lawrence Dunn, published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd., London, 2015

Lawrence Dunn, an artist from Sunderland, guides us through a brief history of the First World War featuring a selection of images by some of the British and Empire artists, cartoonists, poets, photographers and sculptors of the time -  paintings, drawings, illustrations and photographs, many of which are from the author's own collection.  With the skill that only an artist has, Lawrence encourages us to have a closer look at some of those works and in so doing brings the conflict to life as never before. In many instances, Lawrence also invites the reader to compare the styles of artists who have painted the same view or person.  

Lawrence includes poetry in between each artist featured, skilfully creating a bridge to the next artist. I was very pleased to see among the poets he chose are quite a few on my List of Forgotten Poets of the First World War.  I have already written panels for some of the poets from Lawrence's book where you will find poems by Laurence Binyon, Rupert Brooke, John McCrae, Charles Hamilton Sorley, Alan Seeger, Thomas Kettle, Isaac Rosenberg, Francis Ledwidge,  Edmund Blunden and Edward Thomas.  Also featured are poems by Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen but they don't need to be on the Forgotten Poets list…

I already knew the names of quite a few of the WW1 artists that Lawrence has included but there were many that were new to me.  I was interested to see that Lawrence has dedicated the book to his second cousin, Corporal Michael Davison of the Northumberland Fusiliers (1st Tyneside Irish).  Michael was an underground putter at Ryhope Colliery when he enlisted in 1914 and was killed on the first day of the Battle of Arras - Easter Monday, 9th April 1917.  My great-uncle James Yule was a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers, 23rd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion and he too was killed on 9th April 1917, as were the poets R.E. Vernède and Edward Thomas,  

Beginning with Lady Elizabeth Butler, both male and female WW1 artists of all disciplines are represented in the book painters, cartoonists, photographers, sculptors and so on.  But this book is not just about the artists, poets and pictures of WW1, Lawrence goes into detail about some of the battles and includes personal stories about the artists and the areas and subjects depicted.   On page 137 you will find paintings by the artist William Patrick Roberts, who was at the Battle of Arras on 9th April 1917 and is therefore of special interest to me.

If I had to choose one picture, it would be "Merry-Go-Round" by Mark Gertler.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.

"Images of the Great War" by Lawrence Dunn, published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd., London, 2015 

Hartley Munro Thomas (1896 - 1970) - Canadian

Hartley Munro Thomas was born in Vancouver, Canada on 4th March 1896. His Father, of Scottish origin, was the Rev. Ernest Thomas, who lived at 1235 Haro Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

When war broke out, Hartley was commissioned as a Lieutenant, joined the Canadian Infantry Battalion the 131st Westminsters and was posted to the Western Front.

In the Introduction to Thomas's WW1 collection of poems, S.W. Dyde, who was at the time the Principal of Queen's Theological College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, gives us a little information about Hartley:

"When the war broke out young Hartley was just eighteen, and was taking an honors course in History andPolitical Science in Queen's University at Kingston. He enlisted immediately, only to find himself unfit. Thereupon he settled down to take his officer's training, and was at once given the position of war editor of the Regina Province. 

After this experience in journalism, he taught school in a settlement of Germans and Swedes in southern Saskatchewan until he became fit for service. Then going home to Vancouver, he was given a commission in the 131st Westminsters, and, at the outbreak of the Somme offensive, was one of a special draft of officerssent forward. Thus he served with the Western Scots, and in one of his last poems, 'The Pipes o' War', can be seen the pride he took in his Highland regiment. He was proud of Highland blood, and the tartans meantmuch to him. 

After the taking of Vimy Ridge he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, enthusiasm for which had long filled his letters. He was soon flying with Sir Julian Byng's army and shared in the adventures of the Cambrai offensive. Of course the usual share of  mishaps and excitement came to him, and on one occasion during the Cambrai affair he and his comrade, as they crashed, had no hope of ever enjoying another meal save in a German camp. But they found their way back, and  a reminiscence of this and similar common experiences, is found in the Moriturus Ego. Mainly engaged in the work of artillery observation, he gives a glimpse of the less known task of the air service in The Song of the 'Contact Patrol'".

After the war, Hartley became a Professor of History at the University of Western Ontario.  Hartley died in 1970 and was buried in Woodland Cemetery, London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada – Grave ID 213997980. 

THE SONG OF THE CONTACT PATROL by Hartley Munro Thomas

THERE is war in the air! We go 

Where bullets are swift and low, 

(But we have bullets and bombs as well) 

Into the path of the storm and shell. 

Bullet for bullet, and bomb for bomb, 

From Nieuport Bains to beyond the Somme, 

We hurl from our dizzy machines 

That is what warfare means 

For them who make war in the air. 

There is war in the air! We fly, 

And sooner or later, die; 

For we are trustful of flimsy wings, 

Trustful of engine and "prop" that sings 

Bullet for bullet, and bomb for bomb, 

From Nieuport Bains to beyond the Somme. 

And, Oh! that the people be true, 

Who make us our planes anew, 

Yea, they must be true to the air. 

There is war in the air! We go 

Though clouds and the rain are low. 

For we have duty beyond the guns, 

Bringing the curse of the air on the Huns 

Bullet for bullet, and bomb for bomb, 

From Nieuport Bains to beyond the Somme. 

And, Oh ! that the people be wise 

Who plan for the war in the skies, 

For we must wage war in the air. 

There is war in the air! We fly: 

Both storm and the foe are nigh. 

But we have many a shot to fire, 

Diving from cloud to the edge of the mire 

Bullet for bullet, and bomb for bomb, 

From Nieuport Bains to beyond the Somme, 

For each we have given two ; 

And better, for all we do, 

Is still to wage war in the air. 

Painting: "Somme Contact Patrol" by modern artist Graham Turner.

Accurate aerial reconnaissance warned armies of impending attacks, kept officers informed of the position of friendly troops, etc. To ensure this both aircraft and kite balloons performed “contact patrols,” and were adapted to control the range of artillery guns. 

 

Sources:

"Songs of an Airman and other poems" was published in 1918 by McClelland, Goodchild and Stewart, Toronto and can be read on-line here

https://archive.org/stream/songsofairmanoth00thomuoft#page/6/mode/2up

See also "We wasn't pals: Canadian Poetry and Prose of the First World War" edited by Barry Callaghan and Bruce Meyer and published by Exile Editions, Ontario, Canada, 2001 

"Canadian Singers and Their Songs  (1919)"  edited by Edward S. Caswell Edward Samuel Caswell

(1861–1938) and

http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?Id=150694

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213997980/hartley-munro-thomas

Photo: Hartley Munro Thomas from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQRPDrXT8dDwnIjm6S2sAletkDkwSejdfQGpMFkyCklG3p_R12tzd4y3unMuYDQof51luqejMGtY8OvuXMLZ4AecGKVMhs9RMkft7_FsFrvBM2ipYBhHy4tPRuacKrmFya_ajGQCoa3g/s1600/Hartley+Munro+Thomas.png

Painting by Graham Turner from: https://www.studio88.co.uk/acatalog/Somme_Contact_Patrol_painting.html

I have been unable to find out more about Hartley Munro Thomas. If can anyone help please get in touch.

A message from our Honorary President, Lady Jennifer MacLellan about Rupert Brooke

Rupert Brooke's health had never been good, even at home, and after camping on dirty sand by the docks, in Egypt where he was probably bitten, the sore on his lip became swollen and throbbed. By the time he and Patrick Shaw-Stewart were laid up in the Casino Palace Hotel with dysentery he should have stayed there but refused and was in bed for three days on board the "Grantully Castle".   

They sailed up to Gallipoli but the first attack was aborted and that was when the fleet was sent to Lemnos and Skyros.   Rupert thought he had heat stroke at first due to the extreme heat they were in under canvas.   It was probably a combination of everything but the bite went septic and that gradually spread so without antibiotics, nothing could be done.

All this is well recorded by Christopher Hassall's  biography and other reports and I give them more credence than the perhaps a bit whimsical French Log, who were only involved on the last two days because they were brilliantly equipped to cope with the expected casualties and he was nursed in excellent conditions and medics.   He had a much better death than those who died later which must have been a comfort to his mother and friends.

My father hardly mentions the two crosses, made on the ship, and there has been much conjecture as to how they got back to England.   I have been asked several times.   I can only assume he must have brought them back to Athens at any rate, after that , not much is known.

Peter Miller, with whom I corresponded many years ago, of Rugby, produced a very nice little book "the Cross of Skyros" in which he says SC reported to the British Ambassaor inAthens that he had brought back the large cross and left the small one on the grave, it was still there in 1924.   He also says SC compared building the grave to the Pyramids whereas he himself says Stonehenge!   We lived near the latter!

J. MacLellan, 16th April 2015

I am indebted to Lady MacLellan for her very kind help with my posts regarding Rupert Brooke.