SONGS OF WARTIME

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 5, 17 August 1928, Page 9

SONGS OF WARTIME

HEN a programme reminiscent, of war days was organised for 2XA on August 4, it could not have been fully’ realised how wonderfully successful it would be. Judging by the correspondence received, nearly every "Digger" from North Cape to Bluff must have listened-in. We will quote a few of the letters received :- "T WISH to offer the best congratulations on the programme of Saturday evening last (August 4). There was not one dull moment from §& o’clock till 10. I hope 2YA will give us some more of the like quality in the near future. Personally, this was the best evening’s entertainment I have yet heard by radio from any station in Australia or New Zealand."’-H.W., Wellington. . OS "FT REALLY must write and thank you for the beautiful ‘"Diggers’ " concert you put on the air for us last night. It was perfectly lovely to have all the old memories brought back to me. Each item was so realistic, as I spent. five years with our dear boys, and knew so well all their little tricks and sayings. There was only one item left out. It was: "First offence, Sir.’ TI was told by our sergeant-major that that was always a good chestnut to excuse them when brought before

their colonel., We laughed till we eried, and I am sure this letter will only be one of many thanking you for all the great trouble you must have spent in arranging such a programme. Of course, although I am writing expressly to thank you for the "Diggers’"’ programme, please do not think we haven’t appreciated all former concerts, as they have been a source of real delight and pleasure to us."-Ex-Sister, late N.Z.A.N.S. : "(NONGRATULATIONS on Saturday’s programme. As one whose family left its brightest and best on Gallipoli and in France, the silly wartime songs to-night brought to me a slight tightening of the throat, -and-I admit it-a moist eye. All the peace talk and twaddle-all they write about the horrors of war-do not impress me, put your little programme made me realise how different 1928 is from 1916. I sat by my set and realised many things-the declaration of war, our boys on final leave, their last handclasps, and those telegrams-‘Killed in action" The humour-despite its fun and genuine sparkling wit, helped your programme drive home its lesson of the utter futility of war. Put on a programme like that every August 4, and you will earn the gratitude of everyone who hates war for the horror and

useless slaughter it is."-

K.

H.

Christ-

church: