Madeline Ida Bedford

Gender: Female

Date and Place of Birth: 10th September 1884 at Woolwich, London

Date and Place of Death:  Name: Madeline Ida Bolton Morris Death Date: 4 Feb 1956 Death Place: London, England Probate Date: 2 May 1956 Probate Registry: London, England

Nationality: British

Madeline Ida Bedford. Image taken from public Ancestry Tree

Biography

Childhood: Madeline grew up with her brother and sisters in London Ellen b 1878 in India Alice Mildred b 1882 Woolwich Grace Doris b 1891 Woolwich but died before her first birthday Edward Terence Berlyn b 1896 Dartford died in WW1

Parents:

Parent’s occupations: Edward was a Civil Engineer

Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: Not known

Occupation: Not Known

Place of residence at Gretna: Not Known

Job title at Gretna: Not known

Marital status: Madeline married Ernest Bolton Morris in London 24 June 1919

Children: Ernest and Madeline had one daughter – Madeline Bolton Morris born 1922 in Greenwich, London.

Travels:  Nil known

Awards/recognitions: Nil known

Trivia / any other information:  Madeline became known as a Wartime poet during WW1

Bibliography The Young Captain. Fragments of war and love. In verse               by Madeline Ida Bedford | 1 Jan 1917 pub      Madeline’s Poems in ‘Scars Upon my Heart’ are below:

Munition Wages

Earning high wages?
Yus, Five quid a week.
A woman, too, mind you,
I calls it dim sweet.

Ye’are asking some questions –
But bless yer, here goes:
I spends the whole racket
On good times and clothes.

Me saving? Elijah!
Yer do think I’m mad.
I’m acting the lady,
But – I ain’t living bad.

I’m having life’s good times.
See ‘ere, it’s like this:
The ‘oof come o’ danger,
A touch-and-go bizz.

We’re all here today, mate,
Tomorrow – perhaps dead,
If Fate tumbles on us
And blows up our shed.

Afraid! Are yer kidding?
With money to spend!
Years back I wore tatters,
Now – silk stockings, mi friend!

I’ve bracelets and jewellery,
Rings envied by friends;
A sergeant to swank with,
And something to lend.

I drive out in taxis,
Do theatres in style.
And this is mi verdict –
It is jolly worth while.

Worth while, for tomorrow
If I’m blown to the sky,
I’ll have repaid mi wages
In death – and pass by.

https://allpoetry.com/Munition-Wages

The Parson’s Job

What do you want
Coming to this ‘ere ‘ell?
Ain’t it enough to know he’s dead.
Killed by a bit o’ German lead?
What! – the Lord means well?

I guess ye are daft!
He’s one o’ the good ‘uns, Jim:
Natures gentleman, rough but true
He didn’t know ‘ow to sin
But – what is that to you?

You make me sick
Why should he die.
When forger Wright wins a V.C.
And criminal Kelly catches a spy?
That don’t spell Justice to me.

Get out, or I’ll strike you down.
I’m carrying his kid.
Do you call that fair?
Gawd – no wonder I want to gib;
Our first-born, and his father – where?

You hold your tongue.
What he said of our child
Ain’t for you to be teaching me.
He called ‘Our little blossom wild’,
Why – can’t yer let me be!

I hate your religion;
I don’t want gold;
I only want my man
What? It’s in me to enfold
Jim in my babyland?

Gawd bless yer, Parson,
I’ll try to think right
Upon my widowed way.
So Jim ain’t quite out o’ sight?
Teach me – ‘ow to pray.

https://allpoetry.com/The-Parsons-Job