INSPIRING CAREER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 56, 9 March 1929, Page 7

INSPIRING CAREER

WOODBINE WILLIE DEAD

FAMOUS CHAPLAIN IN FRANCE

British Official Wireless. , (Received 9th March, 11 a.m.)

BUGBY, Bth March.

The death took place to-day at Liverpool of the Eev. Geoffrey Studdart Kennedy, pdpularly known as Woodbine Willie. During,the war he acted as Temporary' Chaplain to the forces in" Franco, and he was given his famous nickname by the tommies to whom he endeared himself by his genuine sympathy and understanding, and his unfailing , supply of cigarettes of the well-known Woodbine brand. Ho gained tho Military Cross in 1917, and after the war ihe King made him one of his honorary chaplains. As padre he,'spoke to soldiers in Prance in a direct, manly way which made an instant and enduring appeal, and the helpful advice he gave to all who asked him. made him popular with all ranks of the Army. His post-war sermons, dolivered without the slightest fear or favour, were often slashing 1 attacks on modern social life. They were x studded with tho forceful pungent slang of the streets and the trenches.' Hl3 war experiences filled him with a bitter hatred of militarism, and his sermons often had as their theme the need for peace. ' Woodbine Willie was only 46 yeai-3 of age. His death was due to influenza.