Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

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Gary Harding
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Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Gary Harding » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:01 am

For those ABPA members with an interest in Banjo Paterson, here is a book in the Collection that is at least interesting.
Rio Grande and Other Verses

It is inscribed by Banjo Paterson to Kermit Roosevelt, son of Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.

Signed and presented during Paterson's time in charge of the 2nd Remount Unit in Egypt.

This Paterson-Roosevelt book inscription reads :

"To Kermit Roosevelt with best wishes of the author A B Paterson "The Banjo" Major Australian Remounts Egypt 10/6/18". (see attached photo).

Kermit Roosevelt was the second son of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States who had joined the British Army before the United States had entered WWI.
A city in Texas is named after him. The town of... Yes!.. Kermit.

His biography is on Wiki and makes interesting reading.

Kermit actually wrote a book about his WW1 experiences entitled "War in The Garden of Eden" 1919 (Mesopotamia is modern day Iraq)
In it he details his encounter with the famous Banjo Paterson!!

This is also the historic meeting where he was gifted this very book, Rio Grande, by Major Paterson!!!!

Truly Amazing.... also remarkable that we have this enormously important book here in Australia in my possession. This sort of stuff is highly sought after by American collectors who love their presidents.

Kermit takes up the story in his 1919 book...

"When I left Mesopotamia I made up my mind that there was one man in Palestine whom I would use every effort to see if I were held over waiting for a sailing. This man was Major A.B. Paterson, known to every Australian as "Banjo" Paterson. His two most widely read books are The Man from Snowy River and Rio Grande's Last Race; both had been for years companions of the entire family at home and sources for daily quotations, so I had always hoped to some day meet their author. I knew that he had fought in the South African War, and I heard that he was with the Australian forces in Palestine. As soon as I landed I asked every Australian officer that I met where Major Paterson was, for locating an individual member of an expeditionary force, no matter how well known he may be, is not always easy. Every one knew him. I remember well when I inquired at the Australian headquarters in Cairo how the man I asked turned to a comrade and said: "Say, where's 'Banjo' now? He's at Moascar, isn't he?" Whether they had ever met him personally or not he was "Banjo" to one and all.

On my return to Alexandria I stopped at Moascar, which was the main depot of the Australian Remount Service, and there I found him. He is a man of about sixty, with long mustaches and strong aquiline features—very like the type of American plainsman that Frederic Remington so well portrayed. He has lived everything that he has written. At different periods of his life he has dived for pearls in the islands, herded sheep, broken broncos, and known every chance and change of Australian station life. The Australians told me that when he was at his prime he was regarded as the best rider in Australia. A recent feat about which I heard much mention was when he drove three hundred mules straight through Cairo without losing a single animal, conclusively proving his argument against those who had contested that such a thing could not be done. Although he has often been in England, Major Paterson has never come to the United States. He told me that among American writers he cared most for the works of Joel Chandler Harris and O. Henry—an odd combination!"

He may not have all his facts right but his enthusiasm is impressive. I have a first edition of this book of Kermit Roosevelt's.. "War in the Garden Of Eden" (Iraq) 1919. It was previously owned (bookplated) by Frances Parkinson Keyes, a very famous American lady author.

Anyway... score one to Australia for having this fantastic book... and not our US cousins.

It has a pretty big WOW-factor. One person I showed it to was actually moved to tears so I thought that it might be worth mentioning it to Bush Poetry Association members who I know share my passion for such things..
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Neville Briggs
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Neville Briggs » Sun Sep 23, 2018 1:06 pm

Is Teddy Roosevelt's son the bloke who did that song " Its not easy being Green "
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

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Gary Harding
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Gary Harding » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:53 pm

The Banjo reference was cut/pasted from the Project Gutenberg book listing (Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works).. seems it did not word-wrap so here it is again for anyone who is interested in Banjo Paterson... hopefully more readable..

Kermit takes up the story in his 1919 book...

"When I left Mesopotamia I made up my mind that there was one man in Palestine whom I would use every effort to see if I were held over waiting for a sailing. This man was Major A.B. Paterson, known to every Australian as "Banjo" Paterson. His two most widely read books are The Man from Snowy River and Rio Grande's Last Race; both had been for years companions of the entire family at home and sources for daily quotations, so I had always hoped to some day meet their author. I knew that he had fought in the South African War, and I heard that he was with the Australian forces in Palestine. As soon as I landed I asked every Australian officer that I met where Major Paterson was, for locating an individual member of an expeditionary force, no matter how well known he may be, is not always easy. Every one knew him. I remember well when I inquired at the Australian headquarters in Cairo how the man I asked turned to a comrade and said: "Say, where's 'Banjo' now? He's at Moascar, isn't he?" Whether they had ever met him personally or not he was "Banjo" to one and all.

On my return to Alexandria I stopped at Moascar, which was the main depot of the Australian Remount Service, and there I found him. He is a man of about sixty, with long mustaches and strong aquiline features—very like the type of American plainsman that Frederic Remington so well portrayed. He has lived everything that he has written. At different periods of his life he has dived for pearls in the islands, herded sheep, broken broncos, and known every chance and change of Australian station life. The Australians told me that when he was at his prime he was regarded as the best rider in Australia. A recent feat about which I heard much mention was when he drove three hundred mules straight through Cairo without losing a single animal, conclusively proving his argument against those who had contested that such a thing could not be done. Although he has often been in England, Major Paterson has never come to the United States. He told me that among American writers he cared most for the works of Joel Chandler Harris and O. Henry—an odd combination!"

It is worth reading Kermit's bio. A very brave and patriotic man, even if his ending was sad. Like Paterson he commands great respect and I refer to him accordingly.

This was a momentous meeting during WW1.... and this inscribed book marks the actual event. Pretty remarkable I reckon.

Feel privileged to have the book.

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Shelley Hansen
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Shelley Hansen » Sun Sep 30, 2018 5:35 pm

Blimey! So much history to learn!

Like Neville, my only previous connection with someone named "Kermit" was a "rainbow connection" ;)

Thanks for the illumination, Gary!

Cheers
Shelley
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fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
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Gary Harding
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Gary Harding » Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:21 pm

Yes Shelley it is an interesting connection to think that this book Rio Grande was inscribed by Paterson and handed by him to Kermit Roosevelt when Banjo was in charge of the Second Remount Unit in Egypt in WW1 ..and that the Roosevelts were big fans of Banjo.

Kermit is a not uncommon name in America... or at least it used to be.

I am trying to build up a Story around this inscribed book. There is limited connected material for it. The Australian part is the important bit. A brief bio note and a picture of Kermit.

Hence the book "War in the Garden on Eden" 1919... plus this book I just bought (pictured).... Letters to Kermit (pub 1946) by Theodore Roosevelt. (collected and published by others obviously)

You will note the green colour of the dustjacket! Maybe they had a premonition of what was to come?

I am definitely no historian or academic. Finding items and subsequently digging for related info is simply FUN.

I just like old ballad poetry books and finding useful old Bush Poets. Scrounging. Cheap garage sale mentality mostly.
...only this book was Infinitely more expensive than what one might find at a garge sale. Believe me!
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Gary Harding » Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:17 pm

..... "Is Teddy Roosevelt's son the bloke who did that song 'Its not easy being Green? ' ..."

Neville Briggs.. (and Shelley too)... sorry for the delay in responding to your comment...

Here is something I hope you might like?

Sort of a marriage of the past and present?

Kermit Roosevelt clutching his copy of Rio Grande... personally inscribed by Major A. B. Paterson at Moascar camp in Egypt.

By the look on Kermit's face I think he intends to re-sell the book for a big profit! I hope not!
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Re: Banjo Paterson and Kermit Roosevelt Egypt 1918

Post by Gary Harding » Mon Sep 12, 2022 5:55 am

I have been able to update this post by deleting the blank (lost) pictures and restoring the originals.

Included below is also the (useful) painting by war artist George Lambert of the view from Banjo Paterson's tent.
Somewhere in the vicinity, this fabulous, historic book exchanged hands... gifted by Banjo to Kermit Roosevelt.

Note also the well-known cotton-canvas Bell (or Sibley) WW1 military tents in the background.

It is our intention to make a model of this famous meeting using our normal 1 : 10 scaling. The exact details of this tent construction are researched and available on the internet (2.97m high, 22 guy ropes etc)

This meeting may have taken place in Banjo's tent out of the sun, but we might take some poetic licence and show them more dramatically outside with a horse and tents forming a suitable setting..
I really look forward especially to modelling these tents.... getting material, making patterns... good fun!

In terms of monetary value it is difficult to assess this book, being a definite one-off of enormous historical importance to Paterson and Australia. Knowing the strength of the Paterson market today though and what I paid, I would not value this book at anything less than $6,000.. and probably closer to $8,000.
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