Impression sketch
of George Robey, Comedian - by Jamie. See original at:
http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/issue-13/p-39.php
At a central site
in central London,
Trafalgar square
was seen
As place for many
rallies -
Such a
thoroughfare always able
To gain an
audience.
On 3 September
1915, well known
Names came to
gain recruits,
For 2nd
(Territorial)
Battalion of the
London Regiment,
Royal Fusiliers.
Recruitment
rallies were nothing
New - varied ways
to gain
Attention involved aid
Of many a
contemporary celebrity -
As in those of Music Halls.
By start of
autumn, a September
day, was to see
presence
Of Music Hall figures;
George Robey -
alongside a Mrs Pye
Who lost a baby
on Lusitania.
On stage with Leo
Dryden - singer
Of patriotic
songs - the two
Comics turned
serious
In their address
to depict England,
Under rule of
Germany.
George Robey
famed in eccentric
Characters, made
appeal
To 'do their
little bit.'
Cheers were
raised as some recruits
Responded to call.
To follow
previous footsteps,
Of funny man
Harry Tate
And a songstress,
Violet Loraine - Singer
Leo Dryden
Made his address.
Stepping up to sing
to crowd,
Leo Dryden,
wearing the
Uniform of a recruiter,
Sang 'The message
from the Man
Behind the Gun.'
The Trafalgar
audience cheered
To song of 'India's
Reply,'
To the Music Hall man,
In his
League of Frontiersmen
Uniform.
Such comics were to be seen in new
Light with their
serious presence -
Like Leo Dryden,
in his part
As paramilitary - fearful of invasion
Since 1905.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. George Robey As Recruiter -
Address In Trafalgar-Square. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 4 September. P.9. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11817052/Daily-Telegraph-September-4-1915.html
[Accessed: 5 September 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 5 September 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London
