Musical Entertainment in the British Empire, 1914-1918

The subject of music and the British Empire, from the end of the nineteenth century to

the period after the Second World War, has been the subject of a handful of histories in the

last fifteen years. In the midst of the war’s centenary, historians are now carrying out

detailed research into the various modes of musical entertainment {from or during?} the

period of the First World War. This chapter will provide an overview of the provision of

musical entertainment for the troops of the British Empire during the conflict of 1914–1918.

It will show how British composers, musicians and entertainers worked to take music of all

kinds to those serving the British Empire, demonstrating how music was used to maintain the

morale of servicemen on the fighting fronts.