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Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy
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I lived from 1883-1929.
Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy [AKA Woodbine Willie] was born in Leeds, Yorkshire on 27th June 1883. He was one of nine children. His parents were Jean Anketell and William Studdert Kennedy and his father was a vicar. Geoffrey began his education at Leeds grammar school and he went on to University gaining a Classsics and Divinity degree from Trinity College, Dublin in 1904.
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He was initially a curate in Rugby and then in 1914 was appointed Vicar of St Paul’s Church Worcester. However at the outbreak of War in 1914 he volunteered for military service as an Army Chaplain among the front line troops on the Western Front. He gained the nickname “Woodbine Willie” for his habbit of distributing an apparently endless supply of cigarettes on his visits to the troops. On one of his round of visits in 1917 he was at Messines Ridge during an attack on the German positions there and during the fighting he went out into “No-Man’s Land” to help wounded troops. He was awarded the Military Cross for this. The MC being one of the highest awards for gallantry available at that time. He wrote a number of poems about his experiences which were published in 1918 and 1919.
After the war, Kennedy was given the living of St. Edmund King and Martyr’s church in Lombard Street, London. He also undertook work for the Industrial Christian Fellowship, and went on speaking tours on their behalf. It was on one such tour that he was taken ill, and died in Liverpool on 8th March 1929.
A tablet to his memory is in the Military Chapel inside Worcester Cathedral.
It reads
Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy M. C.
A poet: A prophet a passionate seeker after
truth: An ardent advocate of Christian
fellowship. Chaplain to H. M. King George V.
Chaplain to the forces. Rector of S. Edmund
King and Martyr in the city of London
Sometime vicar of S. Pauls in this city
Born 27 June 1883. Died 8 March 1929.
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He Wrote
Rough Rhymes of a Padre (1918),
More Rough Rhymes (1919).
Lies (1919),
Democracy and the Dog-Collar (1921),
Food for the Fed Up (1921),
The Wicket Gate (1923),
The Word and the Work (1925)
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Our Padre were a solemn bloke,
We called 'im dismal Jim.
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There's a soul in the Eternal,
Standing stiff before the King.
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You were askin' 'ow we sticks it,
Sticks this blarsted rain and mud,
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When there ain't no gal to kiss you,
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Yes, I've sat in the summer twilight,
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There was rapture of spring in the morning
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Parson says I'm to make 'im a cross
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Still I see them coming, coming,
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I wouldn't mind if I only knowed
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Easy does it — bit o' trench 'ere,
Mind that blinkin' bit o' wire,
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