Lost Milne Poem Makes It Out of Hundred Acre Woods

The Tank Museum in Bovington, U.K. discovered Milne's poem, written during WWI when he served in a "secret propaganda unit," in its archives. The poem, about Britain's new and innovative weapons, is believed to have been written for a 1918 fundraiser. More:

A poem written by Winnie the Pooh author AA Milne in the First World War has been uncovered in the archives at The Tank Museum in Bovington.

It was written for and performed at a fundraising performance in November 1918 in support of the Tanks Corps Prisoners of War Fund – but then filed away and forgotten.

Even ardent AA Milne enthusiasts were unaware of its existence and its emergence has caused a great deal of excitement.

Alan Alexander Milne served as an officer in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in WWI and after being invalided out in 1916 was recruited by M17b – a secret propaganda unit.

There he joined other writers who churned out articles, pamphlets and updates to boost morale for the nation and her troops.

This poem – about the innovative new British weapons, the 'wonderful tanks', was discovered in the museum archive by research assistant Sheldon Rogers in a box of papers that once belonged Hugh Elles – the pioneering first commander of the Tank Corps.

Sheldon said: "We believe this poem was written specifically for a fundraising matinee which took place on November 7th 1918. The show was organised by Harry Tate, the popular music hall comedian.

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