First Presented to Fellow POWs in Camp Concerts at Changi [Singapore], Taihoku [Taiwan], and Omori [Japan]
http://www.harryandgwenberry.org/
Linda West recently discovered
recordings her father made of songs he wrote during his time as a POW in Formosa
and Japan. Whilst sorting through 100s of his old tape recordings of jazz she
discovered recordings her dad had made, self accompanied on the organ in his mid
70s, of songs he'd written during his time as a POW.
The Dawberry Swing, Singapore 1942
First tune I wrote. Dawson played Drums and I played piano,
Hence the Drawberry Band was formed
Were in Trouble Again, Singapore 1942
Signature tune for the double act of 'Berry & Berg' (Harry Berry and Danny
Goldberg)
Song without Words, Taiwan 1943
Easily 'Top of the Pops' in the Taihoku and Omori POW Camps
Ijo Arimasen [Everythings OK], Tokyo 1944
My translation may not be all that correct
The Bucket Swing, Tokyo 1944
We always hear when the daily ration of rice and soup was being carried from
the cookhouse to the various barracks.
The ration were contained in wooden buckets and as they swung on the metal
handles, they squeaked! 'Buckets are Swinging' was the call used to go out
when rations were on the way.
Somewhere across the Ocean, Taiwan 1943
Well received but never reached the popularity of My Songs without Words.
Goodbye, Tokyo 1944
Corny but cheerful chorus for concert finale
When We Meet Once Again, Sweetheart, Tokyo 1945
Tune not remembered
Dreaming That I'm Steaming, (on a Steamer Home to You), Tokyo 1945
Written in great hurry for final concert when war ended. Hence similarity to
Tiptoe through the Tulips. Would have been changed if I had had more time
The Changi Concert Party audio
Source: Radio Helicon, “Changi Concert Party”, originally broadcast Monday,
October 17, 1983. Produced by Margaret Evans.
Features eight of the original concert party artists Keith Stevens, Berry
Arthur, Jack Boardman, Slim de Grey, Fred Brightfield, Ray Tullipan, Fred
Stringer and Syd Piddington.
The music was recorded at a POW reunion at Victoria Barracks in Sydney in 1981
and from a concert recorded at Legacy House in Sydney on July 28, 1983.
1. ‘Opening Night’
A former member talks about the first night of the Changi Concert Party in
February 1942.
Sings “Castles in the Air”, recorded at a POW reunion at Sydney’s Victoria
Barracks in 1981.
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2. ‘The Piano’
A Morrison upright now sits in the ex-POW Association rooms in Sydney.
A member of the concert party talks about finding the piano in Singapore and
hauling it back to the camp through the wire.
The piano is played by Jack Boardman, a former Changi POW.
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3. ‘Were’d You Get That?’
A drum kit was smuggled in the prison, while a sewing machine was also brought
in and this was used to make costumes for the Changi Concert Party.
The POW’s also ingeniously made their own instruments, and a range of skills
were used to make the sets and paint backdrops.
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4. ‘Changi Hit Parade’
Much of the music was written by the prisoners and the “popular” song of the
week was posted on a tree, a favourite was “Waiting for Something to Happen”.
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5. ‘A Female impersonator’
Former POW, Keith Stevens, talks about one of his appearances in the Concert
Party.
There is also an extract of a reading from “Changi Diary” about the food in the
camp.
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6. ‘The Selerang Barracks Incident’
A reading from “the Changi Diary”.
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