“TRAMP” POET DEAD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 7

“TRAMP” POET DEAD.

THE LATE WILL 11. DAVIES

LONDON, Sept 27

The death of Will H. Davies, the “tramp” poet and author, and one of. the most popular and widely-iead pttts of the day is announced.

Born in 1871 in Newport, Monmouthshire, of Welsh parents, Will Davies picked up knowledge among tramps in America, on cattle-boats and m lodging-houses in England. Apprenticed to picture frame making, he left England when his apprenticeship ended and became a tramp in America. During bis tramp days, which lasted six years,, ho, picked fruit occasionally, and made eight or nine trips with cattle to England. On his return permanently to live in England he frequented common lodging-houses in London and made several walking tours as a pedlar of laces, pins and needles. He sometimes varied this life by singing hymns in the street. He. then published his first book of poems, at 34 years of age, and had published a wide ’variety, of poems since.. He was a doctor of literature of the University of Wales.