Record

Performance TitleEl Alamein Reunion 1948
Performance Date22 October 1948
Performance DayFriday
Performance Time19:00
Main PerformersField Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein,
Lewis Douglas, American Ambassador - speakers,
Ernest Maxin and Ray Johnson,
Bonnie Downs,
Victoria Troupe,
Michael Miles,
Don Philippe and Marta
Secondary PerformersMuriel Barron,
Charles Fletcher - vocals,
Dr Thalben-Ball - organ,
Carl Ames - harp
Orchestra or BandBand of The Irish Guards,
Trumpeters Royal Artillery,
The King's Royal Rifle Corps Band,
Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) Band String Orchestra
ChoirsLuton Girls' Choir
ConductorsCaptain W Bruce Salmon
Set ListSpeech (Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein),
'Begin The Beguine', Porter (Ernest Maxin and Ray Johnson),
'Sabre Dance', Khachaturian (Ernest Maxin and Ray Johnson)

'Minuet in G', Paderewski (Bonnie Downes)

'Music in My Heart', Lehar, Tauber (Luton Girls' Choir),
'To Britons Sing' (Trumpet Voluntary), Purcell, Geehl (Luton Girls' Choir),
'Summer is Over', arr. Purcell, Mansfield (Luton Girls' Choir),
'Intermezzo' from Cavalleria Rusticana, Mascagni (Luton Girls' Choir),
'Count Your Blessings', Reg Morgan (Luton Girls' Choir)

Community Singing, 'The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond' (Carl Ames),
'If You Were The Only Girl in The World' (Carl Ames),
'Daisy, Daisy' (Carl Ames),
'Keep The Home Fires Burning' (Carl Ames),
'Pack Up Your Troubles' (Carl Ames),
'There'll Always Be An England' (Carl Ames)

'In The Still of The Night' (Muriel Barron, Charles Fletcher),
'You Just You' (Muriel Barron, Charles Fletcher),
'Dearest Love', Coward (Muriel Barron, Charles Fletcher),
'We'll Gather Lilacs', Novello (Muriel Barron, Charles Fletcher)

'The Easter Parade' (Don Philippe)

'Martial Moments', arr. Winter (Band of The Irish Guards),
Waltz, 'Night of Gladness' (Band of The Irish Guards),
'Shaftesbury Theatre Memories' (Band of The Irish Guards),
'Lilli Marlene' (Band of The Irish Guards),
'Eighth Army March', E Coates (Band of The Irish Guards)

'See Me Dance The Polka', Grossmith, arr. Owen, (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Jumpin' At The Woodside', Basie, arr. Hathaway, (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Leave Us Leap', Finckel, arr. Hudson ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'So Tired', Morgan, Stuart, arr.Adams ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'A Fella With an Umbrella', Berlin, arr. Warrington ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Near You', Craig, arr.Warrington (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'It Only Happens When I Dance With You', Berlin, arr. Warrington ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'The Girl That I Marry', Berlin, arr. Weirick ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'I'm in Love With Two Sweethearts', Box Cox, Ilda, arr. Gill ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'In The Mood', Razaf, arr. Garland (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Smoke, Smoke, Smoke', Travis, Williams, arr. Segure ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'American Patrol', arr. Gray (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Hear My Song Violetta', Klose, Luckesch, arr. Barnes ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'La Cumparsita', Rodriguez, arr. Billi ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'1, 2, 3, 4, Jump', Phillips, arr. Hudson (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Queen Street Rag', Grey,Bruce, arr. Blakeman (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover', Woods, arr. Dixon, Warrington (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'The Palais Glide', Weston, arr. Caryll ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Little Brown Jug', Weston, arr. Caryll ( King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Waiting at The Church', Weston, arr. Caryll (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'I'm Looking for a Sweetheart', Hutchins, arr. Wagner (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band),
'Now is The Hour', Scott, arr. Lally (King's Royal Rifle Corps Band)
Performance NotesThe fourth Alamein Night. In 1946 and 1947 it was for soldiers only but on this occassion women were permitted to attend as guests.

Montgomery made the following speech, 'To me this reunion looks forward, not back, and we celebrate tonight not past victories but the spirit which made those victories possible. If only that spirit could be carried on into the post-war world what a glorious prospect of peace and understanding and happiness lay before us.'
Related Archival MaterialProgramme (RAHE/1/1948/241),
Setlist (RAHE/8/7/25)
Catalogue
Reference NumberTitleDate
RAHE/1/1948/241El Alamein Anniversary Concert22 October 1948
RAHE/8/7/1948/10El Alamein Reunion set list22 October 1948
Work
Ref NoTitleNo of Performances
Claviset_BopEl Alamein Reunion 19481
Performers
CodeName of Performer(s)
DS/UK/6909Montgomery; Bernard (1887-1976); 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG GCB DSO PC; British Field Marshal
DS/UK/8147Douglas; Lewis Williams (1894-1974); American politician, diplomat, businessman, academic
DS/UK/8148John Miles; Michael (1919-1971); British presenter
DS/UK/8150Muriel Barron and Charles Fletcher; fl 1940s; English vocal duo
DS/UK/1233Ball; Sir; George Thomas Thalben- (1896-1987); English organist, composer
DS/UK/8151Ames; Carl (fl 1940s); Esq; British harpist
DS/UK/3149Lidell; Tord 'Alvar' Quan (1908-1981); British BBC radio announcer, newsreader
DS/UK/2813British Army; The Band of the Irish Guards; 1900-; British military band
DS/UK/2640British Army; Royal Artillery Band; 1762-; British military band
DS/UK/7728Luton Girls' Choir; fl 1940s-1950s; English choir
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