Professional Documents
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The main talk was by Nick Cowley on Songs of WWI. Word sheets of the songs were distributed
and these can shortly be found on our website under Lectures. Nick was accompanied by two vocalists, a
violinist and a guitarist. He pointed out that the songs were a way of keeping up spirits in the appalling
conditions and that most had originated in the music halls. Tipperary, sung by the Connaught Rangers as they
embarked in 1914, was an example. The attitude that was prevalent was that the higher your rank the better
war you would have - except for one-pip lieutenants who had the highest mortality rate. Then we heard the
truth behind Mademoiselle from Armentires! This was followed by Goodbye-ee full of the slang of the
cocktail-party set of the time. Oh! How I Hate to Get up in the Morning mirrored the dislike of army routine
and the bugler in particular.
The Old Barbed Wire sang again of the benefits of rank plus the bitterness of the lot of the ordinary
soldier - the army tried unsuccessfully to stop this song. Pack up Your Troubles showed us the inseparable
companion - the kit-bag. Whilst Rolling Home offered the whisky alternative to dealing with your troubles.
How the soldiers kept thinking of home was the theme of Long, Long Trail, Keep the Home Fires Burning
and She Wears a Yellow Ribbon. Then Nick moved on to songs on the theme of the end of the war with
When At Last This War Is Over, Bless Em All and Take Me Back to Dear Old Blighty. He concluded
with South African versions of songs plus Sarie Marais which the South African troops would have sung at
Delville Wood. Everyone sang along with gusto with some giggling over the bawdier versions of the songs.
The Chairman then closed the evening.
Pat Henning
Scribe
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BOOKS
The committee is generally reluctant to publicise books in this newsletter, however, the shortness of the
above report, combined with several offerings from members and with the festive season looming large, lead
to listing (not endorsements) of the following:
World War I in Africa by Dr Anne Samson
Overseas-based Society member Anne will be visiting SA at the end of the year and is scheduled to speak
at the Johannesburg lecture meeting in January. She has offered to bring copies out to members who prepay saving considerably on postage even IF the postal strike is over. Publisher cost is GBP62 excl postage; her
price is GBP45 or R800 if paid into an SA account by 22 December when she is due to leave. Banking details
from her at thesamsonsed@gmail.com
The Machine Guns of Mushroom Valley by Nigel Fox
Another member, Nigel is due to speak on the same topic next week and will bring along a few copies of
his book to the meeting.
FORTHCOMING LECTURES
Johannesburg:
Thursday 13th November:
CR: Nigel Fox
The Machine Guns of Mushroom Valley
ML: Gerhard Buchner General Ignatius Stephanus Ferreira my Father
Thursday 11th December:
CR: Hamish Paterson Gibeon, 1915 Sir Duncan Mckenzies Last Triumph
ML: Robin Binckes
The Battle of Blood River
KZN in Durban:
Thursday 13th November:
DDH: Maj Dr John Buchan Operation Torch; General Patton in North Africa
Main Talk: Bill Brady
Cape Town:
Thursday 13th November:
Ian Cameron
The Battle of Plataea 479 B.C. and the Persian Invasion of Greece
warbooks@mweb.co.za
ken.gillings@mweb.co.za
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