First edition. Original green cloth, 1915

Component identifier:

Item 13(e)

Content Summary:

Inscribed: 'To Mr Lawrence Campbell, with the author's compliments, C.J. Dennis, Camberwell, July 2nd 1916'. Together with typewritten letter (signed) from the late Sir John Monash to C.J. Dennis: '...It was on the sands of Egypt that I first received a copy of your Sentimental bloke and during our training there in the early part of 1916, my copy passed from hand to hand, and finally into those of the various chaplains of my Brigade, who preached a series of sermons on texts culled from your verses. This particular copy of your book has, therefore, a considerable historical and sentimental value to me, which would be greatly enhanced if I could persuade you to send me a few lines over your signature, so that I may paste it on the fly leaf of the book as a souvenir of the author...'*

With this book also is long autograph note by Hal Gye in which he writes that the drawings for the book were made by him in the bedroom of his home at Flemington, Victoria. Lawrence Campbell was an entertainer and monologist. Readings from Dennis were featured during his performances. Dora Wilcox-Moore while nursing in a London hospital during the 1914-18 War, writes in her unpublished diary (in Harry F. Chaplin Collection). Dec. 13. 1916: '...most of the men in the ward have been reading a book of verses The sentimental bloke, they like it...'

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

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