Muerrisch Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 Big subject. The War the Infantry Knew [Dunn] lists five Divisional [or lower formation] Concert or Variety troupes, mostly all male. As far as I am aware, the subject has not been researched. Not that I am into drag. But I bet one of our members knows a lot more of the parties than I do. Particularly sought are photos or anecdotes about those that are listed within the pages of TWTIK: Follies, Pedlars, Ruffles, Shrapnels and Welsh Wails. Help, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 David Not certain about the others, but a number of divisional ocncert parties were known as the Follies - 2nd, 4th, 47th for a start. A good source is J G Fuller `Troop Morale and Popular Culture in the British and Dominion Armies 1914-1918' Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1990. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 21 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 21 July , 2003 Charles, thank you, I shall pursue the source recommended. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenwoodman Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 23rd Division's concert party were known as the "Dumps"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 On Divisional concert parties: ' The Tykes ' the divisional concert party of 49th (W Riding) Division ' The Balmorals ' " concert party of 51st Highland Division ' The Bow Belles ' " concert party of 56th (London) Division There is also a photo of 15th (Scottish) Division concert party in ' Scottish Units in the World Wars' Osprey Elite Series. Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 A list was published in "Stand To!" a good few years ago. I'l see if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 The concert party of the 1st Bn Devonshire Regiment was known as the 'Devon Dumplings'. The 9th Bn East Surrey had 'The Crafty Cockneys'. Outside the Army, the Independent Air Force had the 'Independents'. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 Just a few more, 9th - The Thistles 15th - The Jocks 20th - The Very Lights ANZAC - The Shrapnels 49th - The Tykes 50th - The Jesmond Jesters 52nd - The Thistletops. 3rd Canadian - The Dumbells Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 CEF: 1st Canadian Division - The Volatiles 2nd Canadian Division - The Maple Leaves Bob mentioned The Dumbells. They were the most popular of all the CEF concert party groups and continued to preform in The United States, Canada and England into the 1930's. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 The 'Owls", 15th West Yorks, 'Leeds Pals'. Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff. Hobson Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 46th Division-- The Whizz-Bangs 59th Division ( I think) The Sparklets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 The Bluebirds - 30th Div (with thanks to another thread and Chris Basey) The Clickety-Clicks - 22nd Division There was also a field ambulance unit in Salonika with a Concert Party called "The Splints" - in addition to the famous 85th Field Ambulance who played under their unit name Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 21 July , 2003 Share Posted 21 July , 2003 David, Ad hoc concert parties were formed by many units, certainly at battalion level, such as The Cobblers of the 7th Northants (whose Lt Durrant-Swann, unlike yourself, was into drag). As the war progressed the need for entertainment produced a more organised approach, and professional and 'wanabees' were mustered into structured groups. Below is a list presented in Stand To! article mentioned by Chris, and contributions from members of this Forum (to whom I extend my thanks). It must be remembered though, that many names belonged to more than one party, as some seem to have formed for one or to performances only. Also, some divisions had more than one; the 60th for instance had, in addition to the Roosters, the Barnstormers 4th Div Follies / Roosters 5th Whizz Bangs 6th Fancies 9th Thistles 12th Spades 15th Jocks 17th Duds 19th Follies 20th Very Lights 21st Soarers 22nd Clickety Clicks 23rd Dumps 29th Diamond Troupe 30th Bluebirds 31st Pedlars 34th Chequers 36th Merry Mauves 37th Barn Owls 38th Welsh Wails 40th Gamecocks 42nd Th' Lads 46th Whizzbangs 47th Follies 49th Tykes 50th Jesmond Jesters 51st Balmorals 52nd Thistletops 56th Bow Bells 58th The Goods 59th Crumps 60th Roosters 62nd Pelicans 1st Canadian Volatiles 2nd Canadian Maple Leaves 3rd Canadian Dumbells 4th Aus The Smart Set ANZAC The Shrapnels / Anzac Coves Of Dunn's book, all I can add is that The Welsh Wails of the 38th Division were led by the film actor Eric Blore from 1917 to 1919. Blore earned a reputation for playing butler roles later in his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Topham Posted 22 July , 2003 Share Posted 22 July , 2003 A popular concert party with the NZ Rifle Brigade Units was the " Kiwi's " Cheers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted 22 July , 2003 Share Posted 22 July , 2003 Some time ago I recall seeing photo's of concert parties in the photo database of the Australian War Memorial website. Might be worth checking out if you are interested in photos of these units. http://www.awm.gov.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted 22 July , 2003 Share Posted 22 July , 2003 58th (London) Division were known as The Goods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Carter Posted 22 July , 2003 Share Posted 22 July , 2003 Hi There The concert party of the 16th Royal Warwicks (3rd Birmingham Bn.) who served in the 5th Division were known as the 'Brum Boys.' The photograph was taken at the end of the war when the party made a special trip back to Birmingham and appeared at a local theatre for a week. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 22 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 22 July , 2003 My thanks so far to all the contributors .... between us we are a huge resource ...... I really am impressed and grateful. Keep 'em coming please, especially photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 23 July , 2003 Share Posted 23 July , 2003 Here's a collage of some famous Dumbells pictures. There's also another Dumbells picture in a thread located here. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 24 July , 2003 Share Posted 24 July , 2003 ... The War the Infantry Knew [Dunn] lists five Divisional [or lower formation] Concert or Variety troupes..... Particularly sought are photos or anecdotes about those that are listed within the pages of TWTIK: Follies, Pedlars, Ruffles, Shrapnels and Welsh Wails. Looking through the posts I don't think anyone has confirmed which Unit/Division was home to "The Ruffles". Does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 24 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 24 July , 2003 Ruffles were a battalion party, that of 20RF who themselves were known insultingly as 'The Chocolate Soldiers' by 2RWF. Mentioned twice in TWTIK, said to be 'not a bad show'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 31 July , 2003 Author Share Posted 31 July , 2003 More information on concert parties. This from a mutilated copy of "Troop Morale.....by Fuller" at Cambridge University Library. About 80% of British and Dominion divisions, at least, had concert parties. They comprise: 2 to 8, 9,12,15 to 17, 19 to 21, 23 to 26, 30 to 42, 46 to 53, 55 to 63, 66, 74. Australian 3 to 5, NZ 1, Can. 2 to 4. From the index, the following idents: Bow Bells 56 Jinks, Balloonatics, Tangerines and Light Railway in Palestine, Cheerios 2/6 King's Liverpool Diamand Troupe 29 Goods 58 Crumps 41 Curios 48 Tonics 92 Bde Dumps 23 Whizz Bangs 5 Fanicies 6 Follies 4 Very Lights Div in which 12 RB served. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 31 July , 2003 Share Posted 31 July , 2003 About 80% of British and Dominion divisions, at least, had concert parties. They comprise: 2 to 8, 9,12,15 to 17, 19 to 21, 23 to 26, 30 to 42, 46 to 53, 55 to 63, 66, 74. Australian 3 to 5, NZ 1, Can. 2 to 4. Hi langley: Does the book mention the name of the 4th Canadian Division concert party? Thanks. Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 1 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2003 Sorry, no name for concert party of 4 Canadian Div. I downloaded all my info ...... Fuller lists by number all Divs who had a party [as far as he knew] but gives no names. The names that I found were from the Index, then referred back to the body of the book. Book is a rare beast .... I nearly had one the other day, sold under my nose. Small book, big nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 8 August , 2003 Share Posted 8 August , 2003 Just come across this picture in my collection of the 'Pedlars', divisional concert party of 32nd Division taken in Germany March 1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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