‘Woodbine Willie’ was a hero to British soldiers
SIR – “Woodbine Willie” was the nickname given to the Rev Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy by all ranks of the British Army during the First World War. He volunteered as a stretcherbearer in the trenches where, with a Bible and words of comfort, he distributed Woodbine cigarettes – paid for out of his own pocket – to wounded and dying men (Letters, June 20).
In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry and was sent around training camps throughout France to boost morale.
Woodbine Willie became a prolific author of poems and sermons, despite suffering from poor health. He died in 1929 of pneumonia, aged just 46, after giving his overcoat to a poor man who was freezing in the gutter. Thousands lined the streets of Worcester for his funeral and ex-servicemen threw Woodbines into his grave.
Miriam Harvey