MINCHINHAMPTON Branch of the Royal British Legion held their Gallipoli Centenary Concert in St Matthews Church, Cainscross.

The concert was a blend of songs from the Stuart Singers combined with readings and included some audience participation.

The readings and songs really resonated with the audience who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and found the concert poignant and thought-provoking.

The concert raised £831.00 for the Poppy Appeal which goes directly to The Royal British Legion’s welfare work providing through life care to anyone who is currently serving in the British Armed Forces, who has previously served, and their families.

Stuart Singers

At this time a century ago, Australian and New Zealand soldiers were encamped in Egypt, undergoing training prior to being sent to France.

These troops were formed into the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and diverted to Gallipoli.

Ian Ross, Chairman Minchinhampton Branch RBL welcomed the audience, which included the RBL County President AVM Ian Corbitt: “The message: Live On - To the memory of the fallen and the future of the living provides a clear understanding of what The Royal British Legion does: Remembrance is a hugely significant part of our work, but we also help the living to approach their future with hope. As Custodian of Remembrance we ensure the memories of those who have fought and sacrificed in the British Armed Forces live on through the generations, as we did tonight.”

The Gallipoli Campaign started with the landing on April 25,1915.

The 7th Bn Gloucestershire Regiment saw its major commitment to battle on August 7.

At the concert Minchinhampton Branch especially remembered 2Lt Johnson and Pte Cuss from the 7th Bn who were killed at Gallipoli and whose names are on the Minchinhampton War Memorial.

After the opening two songs the audience were told how, in 1971 whilst living in Canberra and well aware of the significance of Anzac Day to Australians, Scottish-born folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle wrote ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’.

In writing an anti-war song, he tried to avoid denigrating the servicemen who'd suffered, and wanted to indict those responsible for the ridiculous loss of life and limb in war.

His song describes war as futile and gruesome, while criticising those who seek to glorify it.

The song tells the account of a young Australian soldier who is maimed at the Battle of Gallipoli.

He loses his legs in the battle and later notes the death of other veterans with time, as younger generations become apathetic to the veterans and their cause.

The song incorporates the melody and a few lines of the lyrics of "Waltzing Matilda" at its conclusion.

The second verse was read out as it presents powerful imagery of the devastation at Gallipoli.

The audience then joined the choir in singing “Waltzing Matilda” and this was followed by three songs arranged by Barrie Cooper, the Stuart Singers Accompanist.

The last song was “Meditation” from the show Shenandoah, a comment on the US Civil War, North against South, Grey on Blue.

This is a very strong and emotional piece about "What is the dying for?" the loss of family members, "not just faceless names ... but children, sons, fathers".

The last section before the interval included two songs and the poem “Entrenched” written by Pippa Moss when she was 14.

It encapsulates the feelings of soldiers such as those at Gallipoli and was read by Lily Hayward the youngest member of the Branch.

The second half of the concert followed a similar format of songs interspersed with details of the events at Gallipoli and the devastation suffered by the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, as well as the plight of the ANZACs.

The audience then joined the choir in singing the three favourites “Goodbye-ee”, “Long Way to Tipperary” and “Pack up you Troubles”.

Helen Sims, Director of Music: “I know that the choir thoroughly enjoyed the concert, and many found the readings most illuminating and sobering.”

Mark Thomas, Chairman Stuart Singers: “It made an interesting and musically entertaining departure from the norm for us, and I'm delighted that the format worked so well, conveying so effectively the message which The Legion wanted to get across.”

A Happy Audience

The Gallipoli Concert was part of Minchinhampton Branch’s remembrance of the First World War.

Others events will include parading its Standard on Sunday, April 26, at Leighterton for the Memorial Service in remembrance of the 23 young Australian airmen killed in flying accidents at Babdown Aerodrome near Leighterton and Minchinhampton.

Finally, on May 6, the Branch meeting will feature a talk by John Winterburn on the military history; the social and wider contexts of the Gallipoli campaign from both British and Turkish perspectives; and illustrate the campaign with both modern and historical photographs of the landscapes.