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A World War One Folk Poem...
- And a lucky charm that seemed to work!
Australian War Museum Relic No.33983: An
Identification Bracelet with three 'good luck' charms:
1. Lucky Black Cat. 2. Silver FUMSUP charm (a
play on 'thumbs up') 3. Boomerang engraved 'I
GO TO RETURN'.
Associated with Aircraft Mechanic
Second Class ("2AM") /Instrument Fitter No.1478, Henry James
MARSTON, 3rd Squadron, Australian Flying Corps.
Henry Marston left for overseas service
aboard HMAT Shropshire on 11 May 1917.
On 22 November he proceeded to Bailleul, France where he was taken
on strength by 3 Squadron.
The FUMSUP dolls came with a poem:
"Behold in me the birth of
luck, two charms combined:
TOUCHWOOD - FUMSUP.
My head is made of wood most rare, my thumbs turn up to touch me
there.
To speed my feet they've Cupid's wings; they'll help true love
'mongst other things.
...I'll bring good luck to all away- just send me to a friend
to-day."
Henry narrowly escaped a serious
accident on the Western Front in 1918.
He was standing near the landing strip at his 3 Squadron (AFC)
aerodrome when a British FK8 bomber tried to land.
Unfortunately the aircraft crashed, igniting the bombs on board in
a bright red flash, followed by a huge explosion.
Finding himself unscathed, Henry immediately went to the aid of
the FK8's Observer, who had been blown out of the cockpit by the
blast.
Henry remained in Europe with 3 Squadron until March 3rd, 1919.
He boarded the transport ship Kaisar-i-Hind [Translation:
"Emperor of India"]
on 6 May and disembarked in Melbourne on 16 June 1919, from where
he was discharged.
For
The Fallen
From which "The Ode of Remembrance" was extracted.
By Laurence BINYON, UK, 1914.
In Flanders Fields
A Poignant World War One poem.
By Colonel John McCRAE, Canadian Doctor.
The Dying
Aviator
A drinking song from World War One.
By WW1 Airman Cecil MARKS.
A classic WW1 poem:
"An Irish Airman
Foresees his Death"
By W. B. YEATS.
Epitaphs of
War
The poignant connection between the famous Empire Poet Rudyard
KIPLING and the "Missing" soldiers of WW1.
"Why Do You Cry?"
Describing the deep emotions of a relative visiting a war-grave.
By Ray JACKSON.
"Poppies." Written 2004 by LtCol John
Francis WILLCOCKS OBE MBE MiD.
A retired soldier.
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