“WOODBINE WILLIE'

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1929, Page 3

“WOODBINE WILLIE'

UNEMPLOYED AT THE FUNERAL

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, March 13

A striking feature of the funeral at Worcester of the Rev. Studdart Kennedy, Army Chaplain, known as “ Woodbine Willie,” was a procession of unemployed. Hundreds of all sorts and conditions of men formed up at the Labour Exchange and marched in procession to the Cathedral and later to the cemetery. Tlie coffin was covered with red poppies with a simple motto. “In memory of a great heart.” The widow, among hundreds of condolences, specially prizes one signed “ Old C'ontemptibles.”

Rev. Mr Shields, at a crowded memorial service at Liverpool, told how, when they were working together, Rev. Kennedy, if over-strained, used to say, “I’m ninety-nine to-day.” At other times he would say, “ Pull up your socks and let us get on with the job.” He remembered Rev. Kennedy taking off his hoots in the street to give them to a down and out unemployed man, himself going home in his socks. He received large fees which were given to the needy. He was a saint in a surplice.