concert parties

[Jellyby]

What took me so long to come aboard?

1. I'm shy
2. Trying to keep order eleswhere!

Nice to see some familiar faces.

[Jellyby]

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.

[scrimnet]

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...

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

Sorry rant over....

[Brenda Elen]

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.

[Jellyby]

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

[scrimnet]

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!!!

There are some very enthusiastic experts here as well....

[Brenda Elen]

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.

[Brenda Elen]

5 mins after mailing, I Googled Ellangowan and found a small hotel in Cumbria which looks similar. I've contacted them and am waiting.

[bodengirl]

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!