[Editor’s note: The autograph book has been divided into five parts. Below is Part 1: pages 1-9, including jpg of front cover.]
Page 1:
B.A. Ross.
16 Canadian General Hospital,
Orpington, Kent.
From
A.O. Wharrey,
Christmas 2017.
Page 2:
[portrait drawing of hospital patient in bed]
For ladies only.
A.M. Brown,
[STAR?] Patient.
50th Can. Inf.
Page 3:
Girls arms are for recompense
Ours, for Self defence –
Fall In.
H.L. Cleveland.
Ward 36,
O.M.H.,
Orpington, Kent.
4-11-18
Page 4:
No 26777 Pte. E. Bolting
2nd Wiltshire Regiment
No 8 Gravelye Cottages
America Lane
Hayward’s Heath
Sussex
Private
G.M. Farrow,
“Rockcourt,”
Collingwood,
Ontario.
“Canada”
If by chance this page you see,
Why not! try to think of me!”
Page 5:
‘Tis love that makes the world go round
Upon this thought I linger
‘Tis love that makes a ring go round
A girls engagement finger.
#157051. Pte. Boyd E.
Toronto, Canada.
19th Jan. 18.
Page 6:
New Years Day, 1918,
Concert,
Held in Ward 29;
1st Who threw the brick in Mrs Murphy chowder.
Sung by Geo. McDonald
2nd Fathers boots are full of feet, [or?] I now take a splinter from Sweet Hearts wooden leg for a tooth pick,
By Little [?]
3rd Who stole the swill from the orphan pig.
Sung by Sgt. Richard
4th Don’t hit him Charlie, Spit in his bleeding beer.
Sung by the quartette The Night Hawks;
Traffic Controller, N.E. Davies
Page 7:
Question not by live and labor
Till your goal be won,
Helping every feeble neighbour,
Seeing help from none,
Life is mostly froth & bubble
Two things stand like stone
Kindness in anothers trouble
Courage in your own.
A.L. Gordon
(Australia’s National Poet.)
“35” orpington
H.G. Robertson.
30/1/18
Page 8:
My tune is Short.
So I can only [Plot?]
My name in your Book.
Harold C. Davies
Warwick’s
16 Jan 18.
Page 9:
Here’s a toast to be
Drunk in silence,
To the roll of the
Honoured dead.
To the memory of
England’s heroes
Each laid in his
Narrow bed;
The price of our
Country’s glory;
The blood that her
Sons have shed.
Sgt. J. Green,
75th Canadians
Toronto
9/1/18”