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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Jellyby on Monday 10 September 07 11:16 BST (UK)
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Hello all,
I am new to this Forum, though active on the Great War Forum.
I have a longstanding interest in Music and Entertainment in WW1, and particularly in concert parties. I can attempt to answer queries on this subject, and I am always seeking new leads with the eventual aim of extending my illustrated talk into a book whose working title is 'Treading the Duckboards'.
Thus, if your ancestor was a member of a military concert party during the war years, I would love to hear from you.
Kate
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Sorry Kate none of my rellies could hold a note or shuffle to a tune but I would just like to welcome you to Rootschat and the armed forces board.
old rowley
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Hi Kate !
And welcome to RootsChat !! :) :)
This isn't what you really asked for .... but just thought I'd mention it .......... ::)
My Great Aunt was one of the school children ... and was very proud to have "done her bit " for the war !! :)
Local schoolchildren visited the hospital to perform concerts to entertain the patients
http://www.vlib.us/medical/quexhosp/quex.htm
Annie :)
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Hallo Kate,
An article by Robin Vrynwy-Pierce, "A Song at the Front", in the October edition of "Ancestors" mentions Concert Parties during the First World War. The article contains a link to "Putting On a Show for the Troops" ... an excerpt from "Now It Can Be Told" by Philip Gibbs www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Theatrical/Theatrical_03.htm
The article also refers to the online catalogue of the Imperial War Museum which lists two hundred and twenty eight concert parties www.iwmcollections.org.uk
Christopher
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Hi Kate.
Andy
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Hi Kate,
Nothing to offer I'm afraid but thought I would say hello
Ali
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Hallo Kate,
An article by Robin Vrynwy-Pierce, "A Song at the Front", in the October edition of "Ancestors" mentions Concert Parties during the First World War. The article contains a link to "Putting On a Show for the Troops" ... an excerpt from "Now It Can Be Told" by Philip Gibbs www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Theatrical/Theatrical_03.htm
The article also refers to the online catalogue of the Imperial War Museum which lists two hundred and twenty eight concert parties www.iwmcollections.org.uk
Christopher
Thankyou for the info Christopher. I bought a copy thinking I would devour it in the blood donation clinic, then got whisked through in double-quick time. Do you happen to know if the author is a member of this Forum?
I am actually assiting the IWM with some concert party research. At the risk of blowing my own trumpet, I have identified over 750+ concert groups so far, and in a sense that is the easy bit, which is why I am constantly seeking diary entries, letters, ephemera, news cuttings etc etc to flesh-out the bones.
All info gratefully received.
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Hello Jellyby,
The BBC Your Place and Mine site mentions a St Patrick's night concert in the clubhouse
of the Russian Armoured Car Division, Royal Naval Air Service, Alexandrovsk, N.W.Russia during the First World War.
www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/rnacd_lite.shtml
The YP&M team might be able to assist you with information on people from the north of Ireland who were involved with Concert Parties.
Christopher
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Hi Kate
What took you so long to come aboard. :)
Nice to see you here.
Sandy
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What took me so long to come aboard?
1. I'm shy
2. Trying to keep order eleswhere!
Nice to see some familiar faces.
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Hallo Kate,
An article by Robin Vrynwy-Pierce, "A Song at the Front", in the October edition of "Ancestors" mentions Concert Parties during the First World War. The article contains a link to "Putting On a Show for the Troops" ... an excerpt from "Now It Can Be Told" by Philip Gibbs www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Theatrical/Theatrical_03.htm
The article also refers to the online catalogue of the Imperial War Museum which lists two hundred and twenty eight concert parties www.iwmcollections.org.uk
Christopher
The IWM online catalogue does not list 228 individual concert parties by name, but 228 hits, which may or may not give any details beyond the inclusion of references to concert parties within particular items.
Mr Vrynwy-Pierce's article was largely drawn from two threads on the Great War Forum:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3663&hl=concert+parties
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23845&hl=concert+parties
It is regrettable that he did not acknowledge the GWF, since its threads had contributed far more than the sources listed in the accompanying Taking It Further section.
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Hallo Kate,
An article by Robin Vrynwy-Pierce, "A Song at the Front", in the October edition of "Ancestors" mentions Concert Parties during the First World War. The article contains a link to "Putting On a Show for the Troops" ... an excerpt from "Now It Can Be Told" by Philip Gibbs www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Theatrical/Theatrical_03.htm
The article also refers to the online catalogue of the Imperial War Museum which lists two hundred and twenty eight concert parties www.iwmcollections.org.uk
Christopher
The IWM online catalogue does not list 228 individual concert parties by name, but 228 hits, which may or may not give any details beyond the inclusion of references to concert parties within particular items.
Mr Vrynwy-Pierce's article was largely drawn from two threads on the Great War Forum:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3663&hl=concert+parties
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23845&hl=concert+parties
It is regrettable that he did not acknowledge the GWF, since its threads had contributed far more than the sources listed in the accompanying Taking It Further section.
Hello Kate
It is quite amazing the amount of people who either
a) don't admit to gleaning information from various fora, or
b) totally rely on a single forum for complete authenticity!
One such chap the other week informed me that because there was a posting on a certain War time type forum, there was indeed no need at all for him to examine the original source material... :o
Then again, I have seen whole pages lifted from one forum and placed elsewhere...And claimed as thier own "research"...Ho hum...
I would like to place it on record now that all trees have sky blue pink leaves, and that they have elephants nesting in them.
There, a fact, because it is on a forum, and on the internet! Huzzah for me ;D ;D
Sorry rant over.... :-[
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Hi. Just joined now, and wondered how much info I'd need to trace whereabouts of my grandfather during WW1. All I know is his name - Mathias Williams - born 1892 - 'in France' as a Sapper between 14-18 and refused to talk about it. He was in the Royal Engineers, later Waterways and Railways. Was a bass-baritone in a concert party while there. Would have been a soloist. I have his regiment number - 262195 and later WR 29554. Any further information or leads welcome! Thanks.
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Dear Brenda,
His medal index card (via the national archives - google for medal index cards) should give you a little more about his unit, then you probably need to start in the war diaries at Kew.
A quick way to glean information is to join the Great War discussion forum and post the question there - it's an assembly of Great War experts and enthusiasts and you generally find help, advice and information freely offered on any and all aspects however obscure. Once we have a litle more on his unti we can start looking for anything about the concert party (and there were many...)
Regards,
Kate
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Dear Brenda,
His medal index card (via the national archives - google for medal index cards) should give you a little more about his unit, then you probably need to start in the war diaries at Kew.
A quick way to glean information is to join the Great War discussion forum and post the question there - it's an assembly of Great War experts and enthusiasts and you generally find help, advice and information freely offered on any and all aspects however obscure. Once we have a litle more on his unti we can start looking for anything about the concert party (and there were many...)
Regards,
Kate
And of course we can do ALL of that on here!!! ;D ;D ;D
There are some very enthusiastic experts here as well....
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Thanks to both of you for answering so quickly. I had thought that the topic was dead and buried since original message posted '07, but very glad to see that that's not true.
A friend has a mole somewhere who will make inquiries as suggested. He has already found the medal index card - took him all of one hour, so not bad!
We have 2 photos from this period : one in concert party dress - posed, against high stool, white trousers and shirt, dark tie and cumerbund ; other of soldier group with officer - sitting in rows with sign behind them saying ELLAN GOWAN. I tried cut and paste with the latter but no luck. Does the name mean anything to anybody? It's the sign on the front of a building, written out in white in the form of an arch.
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5 mins after mailing, I Googled Ellangowan and found a small hotel in Cumbria which looks similar. I've contacted them and am waiting.
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hi Kate
I found your old posting about concert parties and note with delight that you have identified over 750 around the time of WW1. My grandmother was with a troupe called Harry Hart/Harte's Concert Party, probably mostly working in Essex. She came from the east London/Essex borders. Her hey day was probably a bit later than your period 1924-1934. Her stage name we think was Alma May and she was a Pierrot. I am wondering if you have come across the name of the troupe in your research, or if you can point me in the direction of a good place to start looking for further information, or even a good book. Good luck with your research! :)
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My step-father Albert Edward Pearce b.1889 was a member of a concert party for Troops in the WW1. He took the part of girls as he sang and danced well, wearing the wigs and flowing gowns to complete the effect.
I have been unable to find any mention of him in any records, he worked in the pay office dealing with the army pay. He told me he was commissioned. (His left arm was deformed how did he enter the army with this problem? He said it didn't matter they needed men to do a job. )
There seems very little anywhere about the troop entertainment, apart from Talbot House Popperinge Belgium, which I visited a few months ago. Any Suggestions Rosie6
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Hello Kate,
Are you still out there?
If so, have you anything on concert party known as the Gamecocks?
There were possibly around in 1916 in Ypres.
Nigel.
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Hi
My great Grand uncle was in the First World War he joined the army went to France then came back with Flu. Whist in Hospital recovering the Army found out that he was under age and decided that he could join a Concert Party Sir Sedrick Harwick was recrutting. My great Uncle became great friends with him. The concert party was called the Wing Boys. He learnt to play the saxaphone. My great uncle stayed there until the War ended but still played his Saxaphone in the clubs in the evenings and worked during the day until his death in 1959 where he was found in his office. Sir Hardwick wanted my great uncle to go to LOndon and seek thier fortune my uncle declind and sir harwick went on to become famose and also Knighted.
I can not find any records of any concert parties. I do have photos of the Wing boys.
regards Angie.
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Dear Kate,
I have a grand uncle who was in the concert parties for some time both in France and Newcastle in the 1914-18 war. His name was Joseph Abrahamson but changed his name for Joe Rae. He was in the 9th Duke of Wellingtons and he was a principal Comedian.
Cheers,
gareth
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My step-father Albert Edward Pearce b.1889 was a member of a concert party for Troops in the WW1. He took the part of girls as he sang and danced well, wearing the wigs and flowing gowns to complete the effect.
I have been unable to find any mention of him in any records, he worked in the pay office dealing with the army pay. He told me he was commissioned. (His left arm was deformed how did he enter the army with this problem? He said it didn't matter they needed men to do a job. )
There seems very little anywhere about the troop entertainment, apart from Talbot House Popperinge Belgium, which I visited a few months ago. Any Suggestions Rosie6
Rosie
I know it is a very long time since you posted onto my Concert Parties thread on Rootschat. I am an administrator of the Great War Discussion Forum
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php
which takes up most of my time, so I got out of the habit of visiting Rootschat. In the meantime, several of the queries here have appeared on the GWF, and I have responded to them there.
However I was summoned to Rootschat today to help with an enquiry about a Northampton man who appeared in an Army Pay Corps concert party in Warwick. Now, soldiers belonging to corps (e.g artillery, pay, medical, engineers etc) are notoriously hard to research, and I couldn't help much. At present, I only have one Army Pay Corps concert party on my list, which operated in Cairo in 1916. Did Albert ever mention Egypt? Do you have any pictures of him in uniform?
I have added Albert's name to my list of performers. I would be very interested in learning more about him. Do you have a photo of him? I have quite a few photos of unidentified groups and individuals, so he may already be lurking in my collection somewhere without me knowing.
Best wishes for your reseach
Kate Wills