I am aware that there have been some postings on this list concerning parodies of Kipling's works so this is why I am posting to see if I can obtain some help regarding an item that we have found in the collection of the Bendigo Historical Society (Victoria, Australia). We imagine that this four-verse poem/parody was brought back to this city by someone who participated in the Anglo-Boer War but this provenance is not a major concern of ours nor the reason for posting here.

We have been making enquiries on a number of fronts (including the Anglo Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein and currently listing on the angloboerwar.com/forum) to see if (a) the poem that we have in one that is known to others, and (b) whether the somewhat bizarre incident described - death of a boy - is one that might have actually occurred or, perhaps, just a propaganda 'invention' only for the particular purposes of the parody.

This poem, on discovery within our collection, was of particular interest due to the nature of the language, for it is written in 'mock-German' and I have made a 'translation' / 'interpretation' of the four verses. Not being a historian of that particular time nor a person skilled in poetry, this has been a new experience and is put forward only as a supplement for those who may be interested in the piece.

To  date after some considerable enquiry, we have had no reply from anyone who has either knowledge about the poem's existence, nor has anyone said that there is some historical foundation for the 'story' contained within the parody. Naturally, I have found reference to other parodies, not only of 'The Absent-Minded Beggar' but to 'If'.

To illustrate the language of the work, I have appended two verses - verse 1 which introduces the setting (and refers to Paul) and Verse 3 which describes the death of one of the boys involved in the flag removal. I also append my 'translation' and my notes relating to that exercise.

I would be happy to receive any comment on this topic as it is something that we have received no feedback on to date.