Rhymes of a Red Cross Man

Robert William Service (1874-1958) was a poet and writer often called the Bard of the Yukon is best known for his humorous tales in verse The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee from his first book Songs of a Sourdough. When World War I broke out Service tried and failed to enlist covered the war briefly for the Toronto Star then worked as a stretcher bearer and ambulance driver with the American Red Cross. While convalescing in Paris he wrote a new book of mainly war poetry Rhymes of a Red Cross Man dedicated to the memory of Service's brother Lieutenant Albert Service Canadian Infantry Killed in Action France August 1916.