The Spitfire Song - The 'Whip-Round' That Won the War?

In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine take to the skies with The Spitfire Song - a rare 1940s number penned by the remarkable Horace Maybray-King.

They explore King’s fascinating life, from English teacher and wartime concert-party organiser to tireless fundraiser for the famous Spitfire Funds - public appeals that saw communities “buy” parts of the iconic fighter aircraft to help Britain prepare for the Battle of Britain.

Along the way, they uncover the story behind the song’s only known recording by Joe Loss and His Orchestra with vocalist Sam Browne, whose own wartime adventures included surviving being shot in the jaw while travelling to a concert. The conversation takes in the history of the Spitfire itself, the ingenuity of wartime fundraising and the enduring appeal of dance bands and morale-boosting music.

It’s a celebration of song, aircraft and the extraordinary ways a nation came together in its hour of need.

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

International Bomber Command Centre
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/

Ramsey 1940s Weekend
https://ramsey1940s.co.uk/

The Spitfire Song
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/

Joe Loss Cigarette Card
https://www.londoncigcard.co.uk/product/dance-band-leaders-1936-reprint-1992/1400

Astoria Ballroom
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/AstoriaTheatreCharingCrossRoad.htm

Kit Kit Club
https://www.jazzageclub.com/the-kit-cat-club/1564/

Holborn Empire
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/westons.htm

Joe Loss - In the Mood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rDnLR6u2Y

Melody Maker - Digital Scans
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/

The Spitfire Prototype
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_prototype_K5054

The Spitfire Funds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35697546

The Kennel Club Spitfire
https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelClubUK/posts/today-we-mark-the-80th-anniversary-of-ve-day-to-commemorate-the-occasion-were-lo/1244698633680029/

Boaty Mac Boatface
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface

Gritter Names
https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/roads-and-highways/highways-maintenance/winter-maintenance/our-gritter-names/

“Fun of the Fair” Spitfire
http://www.midlandshowmensguild.com/Community.html

Marks and Spencer Spitfire
https://www.forcesnews.com/heritage/wwii/how-marks-spencer-bought-spitfire-war

Vickers Armstrong Spitfire Factory Southampton
https://spitfiremakers.org.uk/dispersal-sites/original-supermarine-sites/

The Spitfire Song
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/

109 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth - Horace King’s House
.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}