Janet Begbie (1897 - 1953) - British poet and writer

Janet Muriel Begbie was born in London in 1897.  Her parents were poet, writer and journalist Edwin Harold Begbie (1871 – 1929) and his wife, Alice Gertrude, nee Seale.  Harold contributed to national newspapers and raised a great deal of money for East End of London charities such as the Salvation Army.  Janet had the following siblings: Joan, Gertrude, Eve and Eleanor.

Janet began writing poetry at an early age, encouraged and influenced by her father.  Harold did not approve of sending girls to school, so his daughters were educated at home.  Their music teacher, Edwin Farwell, was one of the few males allowed into the house to teach the girls.

Janet’s First World War poetry collection, “Morning Mist” was published by Mills and Boon in 1916.   Janet’s younger sister, Joan, also wrote poetry. 

Under the pen-name Elizabeth Croly, Janet wrote and published several books.  She fell in love with her music teacher and they were married in 1926.

Janet died in Poole, Dorset in 1953.

“I shouted for Blood”

I shouted for blood as I ran, brother,
Till my bayonet pierced your breast;
I lunged thro' the heart of a man, brother,
That the sons of men might rest.

I swung up my riffle apace, brother,
Gasping for breath awhile,
And I smote at your writhing face, brother,
That the face of peace might smile.

Your eyes are beginning to glaze, brother,
Your wounds are ceasing to bleed.
God's ways are wonderful ways, brother,
And hard for your wife to read.

With grateful thanks to Janet’s Great-nephew Roger Quin for his help with information about the Begbie family and for permission to use the Begbie family photograph.