| Main Performers | H L Balfour - organ,
Salmons - violin
Miss Violet Essex,
Miss Lydia Kyasht,
Madame Mackenzie Fairfax,
Miss Kathleen O'Dea - vocals
Norah Blaney and Gwen Farrar,
Nan Stuart and Pat Thayer,
The Zanettos,
Bellonini,
Jack Edge,
Billy Merson,
Talbot O'Farrell,
Austin Rudd,
Tom Stuart,
Vincent Sullivan,
Tucker,
Harry Tate
The Duke of Connaught - speaker |
| Set List | 'God Save the King' (The National Anthem),
Address (The Duke of Connaught)
15:30 Concert and Variety Entertainment,
17:00 Tea,
18:30 Dancing,
20:00 Supper (served in adjoining rooms)
Presentation of Peace Christmas Card to Officers (HM Queen Mary) |
| Royal Presence | HM Queen Mary,
HRH Prince Henry,
HRH Prince George,
HRH The Duke of Connaught,
HRH Princess Christian,
HRH Princess Marie Louise,
HRH Princess Beatrice,
Prince Tokugawi (head of the Japanese Red Cross) |
| Performance Notes | "It is expected that many thousands of officers will be on leave in London on Christmas day, and this entertainment has been organised so that no officer may be lonely. ...A woman friend of the 'Beyond Seas Association' will defray the entire cost of the festival for 2,000 guests."
(The Times, 30 November 1918)
"...during the afternoon, the Royal party went into the body of the hall, and Her Majesty presented to each of the 3000 officers present a copy of her Peace Christmas Card. The Queen and other members of the Royal party spent some considerable time chatting with the officers, and as they left the hall loud cheers were given."
(The Evening Telegraph and Post, 25 December 1918)
Entertainment was organised by Mr Oscar Barrett of the Empire Theatre, London. Buses to the event were organised by the Motor Volunteer Transport Corps. Tickets were free to all Dominion and American officers and nurses who applied to 46 Grosvenor Street, the head quarter of the Beyond Seas Association. (The Observer, 22 December 1918, page 10)
"...The great hall was charmingly decorated, and by far the most striking of the designs was a massive white symbolic figure of 'Peace' placed over the orchestra under a canopy of lights...
A number of pretty children in flower-bedecked Sedan chairs allegorical of the various Dominions were carried into the hall and passed to the Royal seats, where the chidlren alighted, and the Queen gave them copies of her own Christmas card for distribution among the visitors. This beautiful card of her Majesty's bore the figure of the Angel of Peace, with Longfellow's word:
Out of the shaodows of night
The world moves into light;
It is daybreak everywhere,
together with the greeting, 'With best wishes for a peaceful, happy Christmas, and a New Year bright with hope and joy.' Medallion souvenirs and pencil-cases were also distributed."
(The Daily Telegraph, 27 December 1918) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1918/62) |