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"My Boy Jack" is a 1916 poem by Rudyard Kipling.^[1] Kipling wrote it for Jack Cornwell, the 16-year-old youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross, who stayed by his post on board the light cruiser HMS Chester at the Battle of Jutland until he died. Kipling's son John was never referred to as "Jack"^{[citation needed]}. The poem echoes the grief of all parents who lost sons in the First World War. John Kipling was a 2nd Lt in the Irish Guards and disappeared in September 1915 during the Battle of Loos in the First World War. The poem was published as a prelude to a story in his book Sea Warfare written about the Battle of Jutland in 1916.^[2] The imagery and theme is maritime in nature and as such it is about a generic nautical Jack (or Jack Tar), though emotionally affected by the death of Kipling's son.

Text of the poem

"Have you news of my boy Jack?”
    Not this tide.
"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
    Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Has any one else had word of him?"
    Not this tide.
For what is sunk will hardly swim,
    Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"
    None this tide,
    Nor any tide,
Except he did not shame his kind—
    Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.

Then hold your head up all the more,
    This tide,
    And every tide;
Because he was the son you bore,
    And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!^[3]

Dramatisation

My Boy Jack is the name of a 1997 play written by English actor David Haig. It examines how grief affected Rudyard Kipling and his family following the death of his son, John (known as Jack^{[citation needed]}; although see the main Wikipedia entry on Rudyard Kipling), at the Battle of Loos in 1915. It includes a recitation of the poem, My Boy Jack.^[4] Ben Silverstone first played Jack Kipling on stage, while Daniel Radcliffe took over the role for the ITV screen adaptation of the same name. Haig played Rudyard Kipling on both stage and screen.

Concurrent with the play, 'My Boy Jack?', the first biography of John Kipling, written by Tonie and Valmai Holt, was published in 1998 by Pen and Sword Books. The book was inspired by the dispute over the supposed identification of John Kipling's body. Hence the question mark in the book's title.

Musical settings

"Have You News of my Boy Jack?" set to music by Ina Boyle in 1916.
"Have You News of My Boy Jack?" set to music by Edward German in 1917.
"My Boy Jack", song for medium voice and piano by Betty Roe.^[5]
Neofolk singer Andrew King recorded a song showcasing the lyrics to this poem.
Setting for voice and concertina by Peter Bellamy.^[6] Bellamy's version was also set to a three part harmony by the English folk group "Lady Maisery" on their 2011 début album Weave and Spin, and was recorded by a cappella group "Hex" on their 2014 CD Husk and Bark.^[7]
"My Boy Jack" song for a variety of arrangements for Baritone solo by Stephen DeCesare

References

^ Southam, Brian. "My Boy Jack - notes". Readers' Guide. Kipling Society. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
^ Wilson, Alastair. "Sea Warfare: Destroyers at Jutland - notes". Readers' Guide. Kipling Society. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
^ Kipling, Rudyard (1940). Rudyard Kipling's Verse (Definitive ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. pp. 216-217. OCLC 225762741.
^ "My Boy Jack Review by Al Selby". bensilverstone.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
^ Betty Roe: Seven Songs. Thames Publishing. 1993. Retrieved 25 February 2018 – via Musicroom.com.
^ Bellamy, Peter (1982). Keep on Kipling (Album). Fellside Records (FE 032). (Side 2, track 6)
^ Hex (2014). Husk and Bark (CD).

External links

My Boy Jack

[1] Southam, Brian. "My Boy Jack - notes". Readers' Guide. Kipling Society. Retrieved 11 January 2018.

[2] Wilson, Alastair. "Sea Warfare: Destroyers at Jutland - notes". Readers' Guide. Kipling Society. Retrieved 25 February 2018.

[3] Kipling, Rudyard (1940). Rudyard Kipling's Verse (Definitive ed.). Garden City, NY: Doubleday. pp. 216-217. OCLC 225762741.

[4] "My Boy Jack Review by Al Selby". bensilverstone.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.

[5] Betty Roe: Seven Songs. Thames Publishing. 1993. Retrieved 25 February 2018 – via Musicroom.com.

[6] Bellamy, Peter (1982). Keep on Kipling (Album). Fellside Records (FE 032). (Side 2, track 6)

[7] Hex (2014). Husk and Bark (CD).

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+{{Short description|Poem by Rudyard Kipling}}
-'''''My Boy Jack''''' is a 1915 poem by [[Rudyard Kipling]].  Kipling wrote it after his beloved son, John (called Jack) went missing in the [[Battle of Loos]], during [[World War I]].  It was years before Kipling and his family had Jack's death confirmed.
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
+"'''My Boy Jack'''" is a 1916 poem by [[Rudyard Kipling]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/rg_jack1.htm |title=My Boy Jack - notes |last=Southam |first=Brian |work=Readers' Guide |publisher=[[Kipling Society]] |access-date=11 January 2018}}</ref> Kipling wrote it for [[Jack Cornwell]], the 16-year-old youngest recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], who stayed by his post on board the light cruiser [[HMS Chester (1915)|HMS ''Chester'']] at the [[Battle of Jutland]] until he died. Kipling's son John was never referred to as "Jack"{{citation needed|reason="Other Wikipedia entries say John was referred to as Jack|date=August 2019}}. The poem echoes the grief of all parents who lost sons in the First World War. John Kipling was a 2nd Lt in the Irish Guards and disappeared in September 1915 during the [[Battle of Loos]] in the [[First World War]]. The poem was published as a prelude to a story in his book ''Sea Warfare'' written about the Battle of Jutland in 1916.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_seawarfare_destroyers_notes.htm |title=Sea Warfare: Destroyers at Jutland - notes |last=Wilson |first=Alastair |work=Readers' Guide |publisher=[[Kipling Society]] |access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref> The imagery and theme is maritime in nature and as such it is about a generic nautical Jack (or [[Jack Tar]]), though emotionally affected by the death of Kipling's son.
-In 1992, the site believed to hold Jack Kipling's body was found and a gravestone erected.<ref>Holt, Major Tonie, and Valmai Holt, (2001). - [http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/?product_id=96 ''My Boy Jack?: The Search for Kipling's Only Son'']. - London: Leo Cooper. - Pen and Sword Books. - ISBN 9780850528596</ref>  Five years later, war historians Tonie and Valmai Holt declared that the stone stood over the grave of the wrong man and asked for the case to be reopened.<ref>Smith, David. - [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/04/books.military "'Wrong man' in Kipling son's grave"]. - ''[[The Observer]]''. - (c/o guardian.uk.com). - 4 November 2007.</ref>
-The poem was published to accompany articles written about the [[Battle of Jutland]].
-the film is very sad and it captures the emotion well...doesnt it weasley
 ==Text of the poem==
-{{cquote|
+{{poemquote|
-“Have you news of my boy Jack?”<br />
+"Have you news of my boy Jack?”
-''Not this tide.''<br />
+    ''Not this tide.''
-“When d’you think that he’ll come back?”<br />
+"When d'you think that he'll come back?"
-''Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.''<br /><br />
+    ''Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.''
-“Has any one else had word of him?”<br />
-''Not this tide.''<br />
-''For what is sunk will hardly swim,''<br />
-''Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.''<br /><br />
-“Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?”<br />
-''None this tide,''<br />
-''Nor any tide,''<br />
-''Except he did not shame his kind —''<br />
-''Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.''<br /><br />
-''Then hold your head up all the more,''<br />
-''This tide,''<br />
-''And every tide;''<br />
-''Because he was the son you bore,''<br />
-''And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!''}}
+"Has any one else had word of him?"
-==Dramatisation==
+    ''Not this tide.
-''My Boy Jack'' is the name of a 1997 play ([[My Boy Jack (play)|My Boy Jack]]) written by English actor [[David Haig]]. It examines how grief affected [[Rudyard Kipling]] and his family following the death of his son, John (known as Jack), at the [[Battle of Loos]] in 1915. It includes a recitation of the poem, ''My Boy Jack''.<ref>Selby, Al. - News: [http://www.bensilverstone.net/myboyjack.asp Review ''My Boy Jack'']. - bensilverstone.net.</ref>  [[Ben Silverstone]] first played Jack Kipling on stage, while [[Daniel Radcliffe]] took over the role for the [[ITV]] screen adaptation of the same name ([[My Boy Jack (film)|My Boy Jack]]).  Haig played Rudyard Kipling in both stage and screen shows.
+''For what is sunk will hardly swim,''
+    ''Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.''
+"Oh, dear, what comfort can I find?"
-==Musical Settings==
+    ''None this tide,
+    ''Nor any tide,''
+''Except he did not shame his kind—
+    ''Not even with that wind blowing, and that tide.''
+''Then hold your head up all the more,''
-"My Boy Jack", song for medium voice and piano by [[Betty Roe]]. <ref>Seven Songs by Betty Roe - Thames Publishing 1993.</ref>
+    ''This tide,''
+    ''And every tide;''
+''Because he was the son you bore,''
+    ''And gave to that wind blowing and that tide!''<ref>{{cite book |last=Kipling |first=Rudyard |author-link=Rudyard Kipling |title=Rudyard Kipling's Verse |date=1940 |publisher=Doubleday |location=Garden City, NY |edition=Definitive |oclc=225762741 |url=https://archive.org/details/rudyardkiplingsv0000kipl |url-access=registration |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rudyardkiplingsv0000kipl/page/216 216]-217}}</ref>}}
+==Dramatisation==
-[[Neofolk]] singer [[Andrew King]] recorded a song showcasing the lyrics to this poem.
+[[My Boy Jack (play)|''My Boy Jack'']] is the name of a 1997 play written by English actor [[David Haig]]. It examines how grief affected [[Rudyard Kipling]] and his family following the death of his son, John (known as Jack{{citation needed|reason=Other articles in Wikipedia say John Kipling was never known as Jack|date=August 2019}}; although see the main Wikipedia entry on [[Rudyard Kipling]]), at the [[Battle of Loos]] in 1915. It includes a recitation of the poem, ''My Boy Jack''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bensilverstone.net/myboyjack.asp |title=My Boy Jack Review by Al Selby |website=bensilverstone.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180058/http://www.bensilverstone.net/myboyjack.asp |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> [[Ben Silverstone]] first played Jack Kipling on stage, while [[Daniel Radcliffe]] took over the role for the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] screen adaptation [[My Boy Jack (film)|of the same name]]. Haig played Rudyard Kipling on both stage and screen.
+Concurrent with the play, 'My Boy Jack?', the first biography of John Kipling, written by Tonie and Valmai Holt, was published in 1998 by Pen and Sword Books. The book was inspired by the dispute over the supposed identification of John Kipling's body. Hence the question mark in the book's title.
-Setting for voice and concertina by [[Peter Bellamy]]. <ref> Recorded on the LP "Keep on Kipling" (FE 032) Side 2, track 6.</ref>
+==Musical settings==
+* "Have You News of my Boy Jack?" set to music by [[Ina Boyle]] in 1916.
+* "Have You News of My Boy Jack?" set to music by [[Edward German]] in 1917.
+* "My Boy Jack", song for medium voice and piano by [[Betty Roe]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.musicroom.com/product-detail/product385253/variant385253/betty-roe-seven-songs-soprano/ |title=Betty Roe: Seven Songs |date=1993 |publisher=Thames Publishing |via=Musicroom.com |access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref>
+* [[Neofolk]] singer Andrew King recorded a song showcasing the lyrics to this poem.
+* Setting for voice and concertina by [[Peter Bellamy]].<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Bellamy, Peter |title=Keep on Kipling |medium=Album |year=1982 |publisher=[[Fellside Records]] (FE 032)}} (Side 2, track 6)</ref> Bellamy's version was also set to a three part harmony by the English folk group "Lady Maisery" on their 2011 début album ''Weave and Spin'', and was recorded by a cappella group "Hex" on their 2014 CD ''Husk and Bark''.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://soundcloud.com/witchmen-1/my-boy-jack |people=Hex |title=Husk and Bark |medium=CD |year=2014}}</ref>
+* "My Boy Jack" song for a variety of arrangements for Baritone solo by [[Stephen DeCesare]]
 ==See also==
+{{Portal|Poetry}}
 * [[1915 in poetry]]
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
 *[http://www.greatwar.nl/kipling/boyjack.html My Boy Jack]
+{{Rudyard Kipling}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Poetry by Rudyard Kipling]]

v t e Rudyard Kipling
Novels	The Light That Failed (1891) The Naulahka: A Story of West and East (co-author, Wolcott Balestier, 1892) Captains Courageous (1896) Kim (1901)
Collections	Plain Tales from the Hills (1888) Soldiers Three (1888) The Story of the Gadsbys (1888) In Black and White (1888) The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Tales (1888) Under the Deodars (1888) Wee Willie Winkie and Other Child Stories (1888) From Sea to Sea and Other Sketches, Letters of Travel (1889) Barrack-Room Ballads (1892, poetry) Many Inventions (1893) The Jungle Book (1894) "Mowgli's Brothers" "Kaa's Hunting" "Tiger! Tiger!" "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" The Second Jungle Book (1895) "Letting in the Jungle" "Red Dog" All the Mowgli Stories (c. 1895) The Seven Seas (1896, poetry) The Day's Work (1898) Stalky & Co. (1899) Just So Stories (1902) The Five Nations (1903, poetry) Puck of Pook's Hill (1906) Rewards and Fairies (1910) The Fringes of the Fleet (1915, non-fiction) Debits and Credits (1926) Limits and Renewals (1932) Rudyard Kipling's Verse: Definitive Edition (1940) A Choice of Kipling's Verse (by T. S. Eliot, 1941)
Poems	"The Absent-Minded Beggar" "The Ballad of the 'Clampherdown'" "The Ballad of East and West" "The Beginnings" "The Bell Buoy" "The Betrothed" "Big Steamers" "Boots" "Cold Iron" "Dane-geld" "Danny Deever" "A Death-Bed" "The Female of the Species" "Fuzzy-Wuzzy" "Gentleman ranker" "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" "Gunga Din" "Hymn Before Action" "If—" "In the Neolithic Age" "The King's Pilgrimage" "The Last of the Light Brigade" "The Lowestoft Boat" "Mandalay" "The Mary Gloster" "McAndrew's Hymn" "My Boy Jack" "Recessional" "A Song in Storm" "The Sons of Martha" "Submarines" "The Sweepers" "Tommy" "Ubique" "The White Man's Burden"
Short stories	".007" "The Arrest of Lieutenant Golightly" "Baa Baa, Black Sheep" "Bread upon the Waters" "The Broken-Link Handicap" "The Butterfly that Stamped" "Consequences" "The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin" "Cupid's Arrows" "The Devil and the Deep Sea" "The Drums of the Fore and Aft" "Fairy-Kist" "False Dawn" "A Germ-Destroyer" "His Chance in Life" "His Wedded Wife" "In the House of Suddhoo" "Kidnapped" "Learoyd, Mulvaney and Ortheris" "Lispeth" "The Man Who Would Be King" "A Matter of Fact" "Miss Youghal's Sais" "The Mother Hive" "The Other Man" "The Rescue of Pluffles" "The Ship that Found Herself" "The Sing-Song of Old Man Kangaroo" "The Taking of Lungtungpen" "Three and – an Extra" "The Three Musketeers" "Thrown Away" "Toomai of the Elephants" "Watches of the Night" "Wireless" "Yoked with an Unbeliever"
Related	Bibliography Bateman's (house) Indian Railway Library Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer Iron Ring Law of the jungle Aerial Board of Control My Boy Jack (1997 play) Rudyard Kipling: A Remembrance Tale (2006 documentary) My Boy Jack (2007 film)
Family	Caroline Starr Balestier Kipling (wife) Elsie Bambridge (daughter) John Kipling (son) John Lockwood Kipling (father) MacDonald sisters (mother's family) Stanley Baldwin (cousin) Georgiana Burne-Jones (aunt) Edward Burne-Jones (uncle) Philip Burne-Jones (cousin) Edward Poynter (uncle) Alfred Baldwin (uncle)