| Main Performers | George Robey CBE - speaker |
| Orchestra or Band | Massed Bands of the Brigade of Guards |
| Set List | 21:00 Dancing,
00:00 Auction of Goods (George Robey),
00:30 Dancing
02:00 Carriages |
| Performance Notes | "The Admiralty of have lent four powerful searchlights, which will be placed in the top galleries. It had been decided to issue a numbe rof spectators' tickers at 10s each, inlcuding tax. These will be available for the galleries. yesterday Mr Shadforth Watts bought a box for 500 guineas, and 100 guinea boxes were also booked by lady Congleton, Lady Polson, and Major Norris. The first 1,000 tickets are almost all sold.
(The Times, 18 January 1919)
"The preparations for the United Services Ball at the Royal Albert Hall, tomorrow, in aid of King George's Fund for Sailors, have been practcally completed during the week-end. Organized as a special ribute t othe induvidual work of the Navy in the war, it has the hearty support of every branch of the Services, and though the time for organization has been short the work of the committee - Lord Weir, Vice-Admiral Sir Herbert Heath, Major-General Sir David Mercer, Sir Owen Philipps, and Captain A W Clarke - has ensured what promises to be one of the greatest successes of the season....Mr George Robey CBE will sell by auction various prints [10] signed by admirals, including the Trafalgar picture by W L Wyllie RA; and half of the voice pipe of the Vindictive as it was cut by a shell in action at Zeebrugge.""
(The Times, 28 January 1919)
"The United Services Ball, at the Royal Albert Hall last night, served a dual purpose. In the first place the King George's Fund for Sailors benefited greatly as a result of the large amount of money subscribed for the tickets, and thereby gave a very practical appreciation of the work done by the Navy during ball on the lines of the ever-popular Chelsea Arts Club Ball, and was shorn of the ceremonial trappings with which other similar enterprises have been encumbered in the past. Instead of expensively costumed processions and much display, there were just some two or three thousand exceedingly happy people, some in fancy costume and many in plain evening dress, but all animated by one thought - namely, to put in as many dances as they could.
It was a brilliant spectacle as viewed from the boxes; but even more remarkable was the spirit of gaiety which animated the whole company. Colour there was in plenty and service dress was as conspicuous as any. Towards midnight, when band and guest alike had warmed to the work, the floor space was a moving mass of colour, and the coloured lights from the great apparatus above the boxes added greatly to the effect. Dancing ceased at midnight, when Mr Robey, as usual, had something to sell, and as usual demanded high prices for his goods, all for the good of the cause. The articles upon this occasion included a piece of the voice pipe of the Vindictive as it was cut in half by a shell at Zeebrugge. Print of the Trafalgar picture by W. L. Wyllie, R.A., and others signed by prominent admirals.
The break, however, was very short; dancing began again immediately afterwards and was continued well on into the early hours of the morning, The mass bands of the Guards, under Major Mackenzie Rogan, supplied the music."
(The Times, 30 January 1919)
Under the Patronage of HRH the Duke of Connaught and supported by Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Asmiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, Major-General G P T Feilding, Lord Weir and Lord Burnham. |
| Ticket Prices | 10s (spectators) - £3 3s (incld. supper) |