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Source: Australian War Memorial
The Nightbirds The Nightbirds i(7923683 works by) (Organisation) assertion (a.k.a. 8th Field Ambulance Concert Party; The Night Birds)
Born: Established: 1917
c
Egypt,
c
North Africa, Africa, ; Died: Ceased: 1918 Western Europe, Europe,
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BiographyHistory

Established in Egypt in 1915, the 8th Field Ambulance was assigned to the 5th Division in February 1916 and sent to the Western Front where it operated in both France and Belgium. Its entertainment troupe, known at one stage as the Night Birds, was active in France in 1917 (and likely 1918). It may have also presented concerts in Belgium at some stage. A program held by the Australian War Memorial credits the management of the troupe in 1917 to Staff Sergeant E. Kitson. The entertainment, which was accompanied by a small ensemble of musicians, included original sketches like 'The Anzac Wafer' (described as a tragedy) and 'Sommewhere.'

Performers identified to date are: Staff Sergeant E. Kitson, Eric Herford, Bill Gamble, E. Payne, P. Moore, H. Douch, Bobbie Roberts, (given names and rank unknown) – May, Peattie, Orr, Morrison, Lear, and Blanton. Musicians included: Fred Saunders (piano), Johnnie Moore (violin) and Horrie Playford (cornet).

[Source: Australian Variety Theatre Archive]

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930).

On the Web

Last amended 20 Nov 2014 06:42:25
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