Keep the Home Fires Burning

Good display at the National Portrait Gallery looking at the famous entertainers, comedians and singers from the years of First World War.

The display looked at the two aspects of these performers both their role in recruitment and their morale boosting. Many soldiers went to London theatres when on leave and some of the entertainers went out to the trenches to do shows.

It was hard not to have all the familiar tunes running through your head as your read the commentary. If only it had been in a separate room it would have been great to play a recording of the show “Oh What a Lovely War!” which used most of the songs mentioned!

All the artists were fascinating, Vesta Tilley, known as “England’s greatest recruiting officer”; Basil Hallam who was killed on the Somme and Gertie Millar, pictured with her dog, who went on to come become Countess of Dudley (Gertie that is not the dog!)

It pointed out that after the huge losses at the Dardanelles music became more sentimental and poignant. The death of Harry Lauders son led his to write “Keep the Home Fires Burning”.

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