Private P. Tudor’s
Veterans Rally Invitation Letter
Item number: C123-M128
Year: AD 1964
Material: Paper
Provenance: Spink 2022
These two documents are invitations to an event hosted by the 11th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own) in AD 1964, to which World War I veteran P. Tudor was invited. The first document is a letter of condolences sent by his comrades to P. Tudor’s residence, while the second green document is an official invitation letter issued by the Old Comrades Association.
The upcoming gathering scheduled for October 10, AD 1964, commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the First World War and is organized as the 37th Annual Reunion Dinner by the veterans. The event will take place at the “Ye Olde Cock Tavern” in London, a historical establishment situated on Fleet Street that once hosted renowned author Charles Dickens. The gathering is set to commence at half-past six in the evening, with a moment of silence planned for precisely eight o’clock to honour those comrades who lost their lives during the war.
The invitation letter specifically reminded the veterans not to forget to bring their “Noble Order of Jemima,” and included the lyrics created by everyone for the regiment’s mascot, a cat named Jemima, the lyrics are as follows:
Many songs have been written of Mary, of Liza and Daphne and Maud, of the Irish colleen, of my joy and my queen, of my true love, my dream, my adored.
But I’m going to sing of Jemima; I hope you’ll approve of my choice. For I’ve written a chorus especially for us. To sing at the top of our voice.
(Chorus)
Jemima, Jemima. Jemima’s the name of my cat. Jemima, Jemima. She sleeps all day long on the mat.
She bids me goodbye in the evening. And you’ll soon hear her feet pitter-pat. As she walks out for miles. With the toms on the tiles. For Jemima’s a sociable cat.
It’s quite on the cards you have noticed. My song’s full of classical charm. For it might have been woven by Bertie Beethoven, Will Wagner, Charles Chopin, Ben Brahms…(same name)
Ah, here comes the chorus especially for us. To sing at the top of our voice.
(Chorus)
Jemima came out to the trenches. To clear out my dug-out from rats;
But I’m sorry to say that she wandered away. And made friends with some horried Hun cats.
She drank rum and behaved as she shouldn’t. And came back to my trench very late.
But the thing that’s the worst, is Jemima’s now cursed with a horried Hun family of eight.
Jemima, Jemima…
二等兵P. Tudor
老兵集會邀請函
物件編號: C123-M128
年代: 公元 1964 年
材質: 紙
來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2022
這兩份文件是公元1964年，一次世界大戰老兵P. Tudor受邀出席的阿爾伯特親王步槍旅第11營邀請函。第一份信件是戰友寄往P. Tudor府上的慰問信，第二份綠色文件則是老戰友協會發出的邀請函。
這一場將於公元1964年10月10日舉辦的集會，是紀念第一次世界大戰五十週年和老兵們主辦的第37屆團圓晚宴。集會地點辦在倫敦的「老公雞酒館」，這間坐落於弗利特街曾招待過文豪狄更斯。集會將於晚上六點半開幕，並且在八點整會進入「寧靜時刻」，以紀念那些在戰爭中逝世的戰友。
邀請函特別叮囑老兵別忘記帶上「潔米瑪尊貴勳章」，並附上大家替部隊吉祥物，叫作潔米瑪的貓咪所創作的歌詞，內容如下：
有許多首關於瑪麗、麗茲、黛芬和莫德，關於愛爾蘭女孩、愛人、女皇、真愛、夢想和愛慕的歌。
但我將要替潔米瑪高歌一曲，我希望你會同意我的決定；因為我專門替我們寫了一首副歌，我們將高聲歌唱…
(副歌)
潔米瑪，潔米瑪，潔米瑪是我養的貓；潔米瑪，潔米瑪，她終日倒頭睡在羊毛墊上；
她晚上對我說聲再見，沒多久你就會聽到她撲通撲通的腳步聲。她走到幾英里之外，與湯姆(俚語:公貓)們坐在瓷磚上；
因為潔米瑪是隻熱愛社交的貓。
我想你已經察覺了，我的歌充斥著經典魅力；因為它可能是由貝多芬、華格納、蕭邦、巴哈等等(同名的平民)譜寫。
喔，來到專屬於我們的副歌，我們將高聲歌唱…
(副歌)
潔米瑪奔出戰壕，替我清理佔據掩體的老鼠們。
我替她的走失感到抱歉，她可能跟一些嚇壞的德佬貓交上朋友。
她裝的好像沒有偷喝蘭姆酒，到了很晚才回來我的壕溝。
但最糟糕的是，潔米瑪她被可怕的德佬一家八口詛咒了。
潔米瑪，潔米瑪…
