divine comedy

[davyjo1]

Hi all,
i wonder if anyone can help,
In the song by DIVINE COMEDY ABSENT FRIENDS
he sings about several famous people, no longer with us, Steve Mcqueen Oscar Wilde ect, one person he
mentions is WOODBINE WILLY.
Does anyone know who he was. many thanks
Dave.

[turboped]

Something to do with woodbine ciggie adverts?

[davyjo1]

possibly,
i was thinking along those lines, but in a disscussion last night at the pub,
someone said he was a bloke from the 2nd
world war who gave cigs to troops before they went over the top.

[davyjo1]

hi again,
i found out who woodbine willy was.
he was chaplin studdart kennedy,
from the first world war

[Therema]

Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy he was an Anglican Priest and poet and he got the nickname Woodbine Willy during WW1 for giving woodbine cigs and spiritual aid to injured and dying soldiers