Sounds of War

What songs were popular during the First World War?

This month friend of the podcast Dr Emma Hanna (Kent) returns to talk to us about popular music during the war. Along the way we discuss who decided what music was suitable for the troops, the rock and roll lifestyle of men in the Royal Flying Corp, and which versions of Mademoiselle from Armentières are suitable to play to your children.

Selected Music

References

Emma Hanna, Sounds of War, Music in the British Armed Forces during the Great War (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021)

Other episodes

My Soul, A Shining Tree

March 1, 2026 No Comments

What does the First World War look like when it arrives not as a battle, but as an invasion of home, family,

A Very Long Engagement

February 1, 2026 No Comments

What does the First World War look like when the story is driven not by battles, but by loss, hope and unanswered

The Choral

January 1, 2026 No Comments

Can a film about the First World War work without trenches or battles?