John Gawsworth
Sir: In 1939. John Gawsworth (Terence Ian Fytton Armstrong) was, together with Christopher Hassan, presented with the A. C. Benson silver medal of the Royal Society of Literature for his services to poetry. Laurence Binyon, G. M. Young, T. Sturge Moore, Sir Hugh Walpole, Humbert Wolfe and Marjorie Bowen were among those who witnessed the presentation to one described as the most promising of the neo- Georgian poets. All are now dead, although remembered with affection.
John Gawsworth, however, is still alive, though forgotten, it seems, by all but a few friends—and the Ministry of Social Security. He is now fifty-eight years old, and a very sick man who stands greatly in need of some concrete recognition of his work as an original poets for his enhancement of our understanding of Milton and Dowson, and for his brave struggle as editor of Poetry Review. He is. not to put too fine a point on it, homeless, wandering the streets, sleeping in Hyde Park—a latterday Francis Thomp- son. a figure as tragic as Ernest Dowson.
We are sure there are many appreciators of what he has done for literature who, particularly at this time of the year, could again speak to him in his own lines. 'Of charity and brotherhood, Of kindliness that may not cease. Of mans essential good.' Those who wish to. may do so by con- tacting: Dr Ian Fletcher, Department of English, Reading University, Reading, Berks. Richard Whittington-Egan Frederic Rolph 4a Castle Parade, Ewell, Surrey
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