A Tireless Campaigner

The collation of casualties was not the end of the story. She wanted to reinforce the bonds of friendship that the allies had formed during the war to ensure that the 'war to end all wars' had been fought, and that peace would be enduring. She got pontiffs, presidents, politicians, princes, monarchs, doctors, lawyers, generals and admirals across two continents to autograph the Album as a way of cementing the peace. She even attended the Washington Arms Limitation Conference of 1921.

Susannah met Prince Edward on 8th July 1921. She met him in the context of her continuing commitment to the families of the those who had been killed and those who were bereaved and those who continued to struggle in the years following the war. She gained the signatures of most of the

British government figures by the middle of the month as well as key military commanders.

By 18th July she gained Foch's signature. Foch is only in Rennes for 2 days on a passing visit. Susannah is just visible in the picture of 17th July (right) in which she is wearing a white hat, third figure. A newspaper report describes Foch signing an Album of famous personages on that very day.

Susannah returned to Britain and in October holds an event for 800 women, children and ex-servicemen in the Town Hall and the books get their only public viewing in the town until 1948. She tells the local paper she has already booked to go to USA in November/December 1921 and to return to Italy in April 1922 - she acquires the signature of Pius XI, having had to pencil "Dead" into Benedict's pre-printed page. The local paper confirms that the signatures referred to above had already been acquired.Susannah was in Reims by the 22nd and Beziers on the 26th. I believe she met the French President between 18th and 22nd in Paris as she does secure his signature but he is in the Lower Seine on an official visit from 22nd to 25th and I think she would not have had the opportunity to meet him there. She was in Rome by the 1st August and intended to leave 8th/9th August, She got the Album blessed by Pope Benedict XV and an Apostolic Blessing while she is in Rome as well as the signature of King Victor Emmanuel. She missed the beginning of term through exhaustion but managed to get the King and Queen of the Belgians to sign the books on her return journey.

In November 1921 she did visit the USA and was in Washington for the Limitation of Armaments Conference. She acquired the signatures of key delegates, military personnel, army surgeons, army chaplains, the majority of Senators, a large number of Congressmen, the US cabinet, Vice-President Coolidge and President Warren Harding. Her activities were premeditated and the autographs have been placed sequentially in a deliberated structure. She returned home for Christmas 1921.