Part 02: Dene Barrett Fry letters, 17th May 1915-16 April 1917 - Page 64

[Page 64]

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The concert was held on the well deck, so that the galleries were formed by the ends of the promenade & boat decks, a real amphitheatre. One of the Colonels conducted it. The nurses & officers turned out in evening & mess-dress, and the whole was brilliantly lit by electric light. I think every man must have been present with the exception of those on guard. They lined the boat-deck, hung in the most awkward & cramping positions from all spars, and lined the two derricks like flies. The fact that they were looking straight down on the performers melon didn't matter at bit, in fact it was most useful in the case of a few who were 'not wanted'. We had an orchestra, a string & reed one too, and a brass band, as well as a good piano. The performers were very good, quite up to good concert standard. But the impression was not created by the entertainers, it was the atmosphere of glorious revellry which prevailed. It was a fresh night and everyone seemed to be the same. The boat rolled lazily from side to side, and the breeze now hushed, now strengthened the voice of the person doing his or her "little bit". All the time there was good natured chaff in abundance, and he humour amongst the men is wonderful. They have the nack common to this class of chap, of saying the correct thing at the correct time, in the most picturesque type of interjection. An immitator of Harry Lauder (and a very very good one too) was greeted by loud scotch wows. Wow! Wow! Almost female screams. Another rather poor turn was first counted out