michaeldr Posted 8 August , 2003 Share Posted 8 August , 2003 Explaining the full extent of the duties of the entertainers to his wife, Gen. Monash wrote home thus on 19 July 1917 "You recently asked whether our pierrots have to take their turn of duty 'in the trenches.' Of course they have to. It would be very disagreeable to themselves if the idea were to get about among their mates that they had a soft job. We usually choose the performers for the time being from units which are resting or out of the line in reserves. It is quite true that occasionally we loose one of the troupe. Only the other day our leading lady went through 'her' performance with a bit of shrapnel in 'her' neck." He concludes "They have all sorts of fancy names, such as 'The Coo-ees,' 'The Merry Moles,' 'The Very Lights' and so on." Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard_Lewis Posted 10 August , 2003 Share Posted 10 August , 2003 Concert Party of the Swansea Battalion (14th Welsh; 38th Welsh Div) was known, with great originality, as 'The Swans'. It actually played several venues in Swansea after the war ended but before the Battalion had come home. These were fundraisers to assist the wounded etc. with getting their lives back on some sort of even keel Bernard Lewis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 16 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 16 August , 2003 a few more gleanings, from Australian official website .... 37 Div Barnowls [one word] The RAFs The Greys Pakeka The Detonators R Ordnance Corps [it says] Sons of Guns RA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mordac Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 "The Singing Sappers" - 6th Battalion Canadian Engineers Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 I've seen quite a few photographs in the IWM archives; middle aisle, left hand side, near the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Here is a programme for a concert by the NZ Divisional Theatre. Anyone know where the performances took place? Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Middle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Middle right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Raster, Kate and I can follow this up for you - but it may be a week or two before we can dig out the background. Give us a nudge if we haven't responded in a couple of weeks. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 30 August , 2003 Share Posted 30 August , 2003 Pretty sure NZ Division was in the Salient in March 1917; in the sector between Ploesgteert and Messines. The concert party could therefore have been in Bailleul at this time, which was their rear echelon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raster Scanning Posted 31 August , 2003 Share Posted 31 August , 2003 Martin/Paul Many thanks for the assistance, this was yet another item passed on to me by the RE Gt Uncle who's diary is on the main site. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 31 August , 2003 Share Posted 31 August , 2003 Great War lists of names always fascinate me and raise the question of the ultimate fate of the men concerned. A quick scan through of our lists of entertainers show W G Carr and L S Poore becoming casualties in 1917 and 1918 respectively . They were both in the N.Z Medical Corps . I wonder if this reflects their status as musicians turning to medical duties in war or their choosing honourable non-combattant employment being of a more sensitive and artistic disposition ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 31 August , 2003 Share Posted 31 August , 2003 I think this is something of an over-simplification, Ian. My own researches into musicians in uniform (amateur and professional, died and survived), show far more in combattant units. Regimental musicians have always had a frontline duty as stretcher bearers, and the RAMC could more readily open its doors to those who had fewer physical attributes or were older in years, thereby allowing enlistment from much broader spectrum of manpower, which doubtless included some sensitive artistic souls. A case in point is the composer Vaughan Williams, who was 42 when he volunteered for service in 1914. He also had flat feet, and was told that the RAMC was the best bet for his enthusiasm. He went through the Somme offensive, but was then accepted for a commission in the much-expanded RGA in the latter part of the war (I think a previous thread centred on RAMC transfers to the RGA). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.S.Regt. Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Hi I have been going through this thread and noticed that the 2nd Canadian Divisional Concert Party was names as The Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs were the 4th Canadian Divisional Concert Party The 2nd Canadian Divisional concert Party were known as the See Toos. Below is a scan of a Maple Leaf period programme the soldiers depicted show the patch of the 54th Battalion 4th division. Best regards N.S.Regt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.S.Regt. Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 programme inside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie Posted 21 July , 2004 Share Posted 21 July , 2004 This week end my 89 year old mother in law was visiting, she mentioned that her grandfather James Reynolds (not sure of spelling) was shamed into joining up after a particularly acrimonous argument with his wife along the lines " better men than you are fighting at the front" he must have been getting on for 50 years old at the time but apparently joined a branch of the flying corps but as an accomplished clog dancer and all round entertainer soon became a member of a concert party. I don't know anything more, he was from Ancoats, Manchester. Has anyone come across any Mancunian concert parties? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 22 July , 2004 Share Posted 22 July , 2004 The RFC had plenty of concert parties, but because their personnel were not drawn from one particular area, the Manchester connection is no help in identifying which one. It would be interesting to know a bit more about this chap Susie. Have you considered researching his career? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 22 July , 2004 Share Posted 22 July , 2004 The Maple leaves concert party certainly had some heavy hitters involved with them. Nat D Ayer wrote " If You Were the Only Girl in the World" and the "Byng Boys" show, amongst other things. Birmingham born Clifford Grey was a prolific lyricist, responsible for some 25 shows in the twenties and thirties. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dinkidi Posted 22 July , 2004 Share Posted 22 July , 2004 Langley Talbot House in Poperinge has undertaken a detailed study of these groups. Armed with the info provided by the forum, you may be well placed for a mutually rewarding discussion with their [most congenial] Archivist. ooRoo Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve fuller Posted 22 July , 2004 Share Posted 22 July , 2004 Hi all Been following this thread with much interest! I had no idea they were so organised and widespread, but in hindsight, makes sense! Could anyone tell me what 'Party' was drawn from / linked to the following units please? 54th Division in Balkans (162 Brigade, 1/5th Bedfords) 18th division in France (54th Brigade, 7th Bedfords) Long shot, but arent most of them? I know the man Im learning about was known for his Gilbert and Sullivan singing, performed local shows before the war, so (funnily enough) this looks rather interesting! Thanks, in anticipation! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 To return to this fascinating topic and perhaps to refresh interest, I have recently picked-up a post card of the "Whiz-Bangs", 46th Div. Even more fun was a card of an "Australian RE's Entertainment Aug 16th 1917 Circus Party". Apart from anything else - and I hate to shock you - it shows Aussies soldiers in frocks! Does anyone know anything about circus parties? Regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 Never heard of a circus party before. Perhaps the title was a reflection of the type of acts within their ranks. Where were they performing David? Could it have been out East with some exotic animals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 Almost certainly they were on the Western Front from their clothing - which included a Charley Chaplin outfit - a bit hard to come by elese where I would hae thought. Regards david Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Chap Posted 20 September , 2004 Share Posted 20 September , 2004 19th Kings Liverpool Regiment (3rd Pals) concert party was ' The Duds.' A photo appears of them on p139 ' Liverpool Pals ' by the late Graham Maddocks. Regards, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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