In an Associated Press article of 1917, was the story of ‘rhyming’ wills – written by soldiers (often battling in the trenches) during the World War.
One in particular caught my eye – a will written in rhyme by a soldier – battling in “No Man’s Land”
“I haven’t a sweetheart, I haven’t a mother
I’ve only one sister, not even a brother
My sister Susan is all I’ve got
So of ought that’s mine, she can have the lot”
The War Office at the time upheld the hand- written will. I imagine that even 'though the "rhyming will" was a bit eccentric, it made clear the final wishes of that particular soldier.
According to the 1917 AP article: “War Office authorities make every effort to carry out the soldier’s wishes, however crudely they are expressed or however fantastic they may be”
Such so -called “Trench- made will” of the time were often written in a soldier’s paybook and carried with him throughout the war.
We have come a long way since those 'trench wills' were upheld. But one consideration is that even such a simple will was (and still is) better than no will at all.
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