Part the First:

I did know that Kipling never put his own poems to music but I know some of his poems are sung to others melodies. In college, we sang a version of Gentleman Rankers. The melody was wirtten around 1910 and is still in use. I was wondering if Screw Gun Mules had a similar history, perhaps being sung in the artillery.

The guy who wrote the music that Gentrleman Rankers was mildly modified and then attached to was at Amherst College. I went to a junior high school not far from Amherst. On the grounds of the school, on a hillside, there was a small cabin called the Kipling cabin. Very plain it was. My understanding was that Kipling actually stayed there at some point. I have no idea for how long but it was before the school was built but it occurs to me now for the first time that there may be firsthand connection between Kipling and the melody writer. I will write to the school and see if they know anything about this.

Part the Two:

I had no idea what a screw gun is so I looked it up. For those who share my curiousity, here is what I found on New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades Association website:

"The gun made 'famous' by Kipling's poem The Screw Gun was the RML (rifled muzzle-loading) 2.5-in (63.5 mm) jointed mountain gun which fired a 7-lb (3.17 kg) shell. For easy portability the piece was made in two parts which screwed together, hence the name. It was adopted by the Royal Artillery in 1879, and continued in service throughout the South African War. It was not adopted by the New Zealand Forces. The gun performed satisfactorily according to 19th century standards, but there was nothing remarkable about it.

"Kipling may have made the gun 'famous' to readers of his poem, but it was far from popular with the unfortunate Gunners who manned it in South Africa. Although cordite had been introduced in 1891 cartridges for the screw gun were still filled with gunpowder which produced clouds of white smoke making concealment from views impossible. Since open sights were the only means of laying provided, the layer had to be able to see his target, so cover from fire was also virtually impossible to achieve. Thus Boer riflemen made excellent practice on gun positions."

So - from Aunt Rhody to Rousseau to Kipling and the Boer War. I like this thread!

Sourdough