In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine dive into the wonderfully absurd world of In the Quartermaster’s Stores - the endlessly versatile, delightfully chaotic list song beloved by soldiers, scouts and singers around the world.
They trace its murky origins, from WWI army camps to RAF hangars, scout campfires, and even the Spanish Civil War, where American volunteers sang it on the front lines. But this quirky tune leads them somewhere unexpected: straight into the gleefully anarchic world of 1930s and 40s British comedy, and the brilliant duo Murgatroyd and Winterbottom.
Lili and Tom shine a spotlight on Ronald Frankau and Tommy Handley - two broadcasting pioneers who pushed the boundaries of taste and satire on the BBC. From saucy songs that were banned from airwaves to iconic catchphrases that united the nation during WWII, this episode is a love letter to double acts, ration jokes and the peculiar humour that helped people endure the unendurable.
Expect mystery meat, enormous rats, surprise verses and the joy of hot jazz with harmonies.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlister here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a
REFERENCES
Tricity Vogue
https://www.tricityvogue.com/
The Club for Acts and Actors (C.A.A.)
https://www.thecaa.org/
Ian Fleming’s War Service
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/Ian-fleming-royal-naval-intelligence-department
Operation Mincemeat (Musical)
https://operationmincemeat.com/
Operation Mincemeat (Film)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1879016/
Murgatroyd and Winterbottom Documentary - BBC Radio 4 Extra
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b010hncl
Nicholas Farnkau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Frankau
Daly’s Theatre, London
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/DalysTheatre.htm
Ronalad Frankau and Montre Crick - Don’t Let’s Sing About The War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymUfxxdnHiY&t=6s
The Cabaret Kittens, Folkestone Poster (1923)
https://www.leaspavilionarchive.org.uk/performance/the-cabaret-kittens-3
Leas Pavillion Redevelopment
https://leas-pavilion.co.uk/
ITMA - It’s That Man Again
https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/july/its-that-man-again
Kite Balloons in WW1
https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/balloonatics-duri
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