Absent minded ???

[RobbieDubh]

Picked this little pin up years ago, as you can see it has the British flag and the old Ensign of Canada But!! what is an absent minded beggar

Cheers RobbieDubh

[Unknownsoldier]

An absent minded beggar is a term for a soldier during the boer war, based upon Kiplings poem of that period [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Absent-Minded_Beggar ]:

WHEN you've shouted " Rule Britannia," when you've sung " God save the Queen,"
When you've finished killing Kruger with your mouth,
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
For a gentleman in khaki ordered South?
He's an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses are great -
But we and Paul must take him as we find him -
He is out on active service, wiping something off a slate
And he's left a lot of little things behind him!
Duke's son - cook's son - son of a hundred kings
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay!)
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after their things?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay - pay - pay !
There are girls he married secret, asking no permission to,
For he knew he wouldn't get it if he did.
There is gas and coals and vittles, and the house-rent falling due,
And its more than rather likely there’s a kid.
There are girls he’s walked with casual. They’ll be sorry now he’s gone,
For an absent-minded beggar they will find him,
But it ain’t the time for sermons with the winter coming on
We must help the girl that Tommy’s left behind him!
Cook's son - Duke's son - son of a belted Earl
Son of a Lambeth publican - it's all the same to-day !
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after the girl?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, J1 and pay - pay - pay !

There are families by thousands, far too proud to beg or speak,
And they'll put their sticks and bedding up the spout,
And they'll live on half o' nothing, paid 'em punctual once a week,
'Cause the man that earns the wage is ordered out.
He's an absent-minded beggar, but he heard his country call,
And his reg'rnent didn't need to send to find him!
He chucked his job and joined it - so the job before us all
Is to help the home that Tommy's left behind him !
Duke's job - cook's job - gardener, baronet, groom.
Mews or palace or paper-shop, there's someone gone away!
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and who's to look after the room?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay - pay - pay !

Let us manage so as, later, we can look him in the face,
And tell him - what he'd very much prefer
That, while he saved the Empire, his employer saved his place,
And his mates (that's you and me) looked out for her.
He's an absent-minded beggar and he may forget it all,
But we do not want his kiddies to remind him
That we sent 'em to the workhouse while their daddy hammered Paul,
So we'll help the homes that Tommy left behind him !
Cook's home - Duke's home - home of a millionaire,
(Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay !)
Each of 'em doing his country's work
(and what have you got to spare?)
Pass the hat for your credit's sake, and pay - pay - pay !

Hope this helps,
Tom

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

This appears to be a reference to the Boer War poem by Rudyard Kipling which was set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and started with the words:

“When you’ve shouted Rule Britannia, when you’ve sung God Save the Queen,
When you’ve finished killing Kruger with your mouth,
Will you kindly drop a shilling in my little tambourine
For a gentleman in khaki headed south …”

[RobbieDubh]

S_C_J and Tom thanks for the reply and the information. "Sir Arthur Sullivan" is this he of Gilbert and Sullivan fame?? Sorry about the scan it dos'nt do the pin justice, it is a nice little item and the enamel is very bright with gilded metal.
Thanks Again RobbieDubh

[Unknownsoldier]

No worries mate, glad to help, I only had the poem to hand as it is still on my desk, from my last essay (I inckuded it as part of the appendix in a description of the boer war recruiting drives etc .etc.). Rather lucky really, but you'll find the term absent minded beggar, or Gentleman in Khaki appended to many images from the boer war.

Tom

[Stanley_C_Jenkins]

This is part of a linen tablecloth from the Boer War period which included the words and music of the Absent Minded Beggar. The small image hardly does it full justice.

[RobbieDubh]

Thanks All, now I know what an "absent minded beggar" is.

Cheers RobbieDubh.

[QSAMIKE]

The badge was made by the A. J. Allan company of Montreal in 1900..... There are two general types Gilt and Bronze..... There were 10 special ones made of 18K Gold..... They were sold by the Empire Woman's League to raise funds to sent the troops off with the usual gifts, tobacco, candy, writing kits, handkerchiefs and in some cases even pistols...... They were sold in a small manila envelope that had the poem printed upon it.....

On the side..... The figure that is often used as the Absent Minded Beggar is a member of the Scots Guards, 1st Battalion, after the battle of Belmont.....


Mike

[RobbieDubh]

Thanks for the information Mike.
I dont have the evelope for it, if memory serves I bought it at a car boot sale in Lanark, Lanarkshire years ago,(I was home on holiday) the lad that was selling the stuff said he had a Canadian broach, it was in a box with some bits and bob's so I bought it for One Pound Fifty and its just now I found out what it was.

Thanks All RobbieDubh.

[QSAMIKE]

Robbie...... The last time I saw one sold on ebay, about 4 years ago according to my records sold for 122.50 Pounds......

Mike

[RobbieDubh]

Holy Smokes Mike!!! never in my wildest would I have thought it was worth that!!

Thanks Mate. RobbieDubh