Pack Up Your Troubles - Two Brothers, One Anthem and the Cost of War
Release Date: 07/26/2025
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info_outlineIn this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore one of the most famous morale-boosting anthems of the First World War: Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile.
They uncover the remarkable story of its creators - Welsh brothers George and Felix Powell -whose music hall careers and contrasting wartime paths tell a poignant tale of fame, conscience, and tragedy. While George became a pacifist and conscientious objector, Felix served on the front lines, later suffering a breakdown that echoed through the rest of his life
Lili and Tom also discuss the song’s meteoric rise to popularity, its role as a marching anthem, and its legacy in both WWI and WWII. Along the way, they dive into early recordings, forgotten verses, and the tragic irony of the song’s enduring cheerfulness against the backdrop of real personal suffering.
This episode is a deep look at how even the brightest tunes can hide the darkest stories - and how music helped millions face the horrors of war with a smile.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a
REFERENCES
River Walk Music Festival, Tonbridge
https://www.riverwalkmusic.live/
The Grand Order of Water Rats
https://www.gowr.co.uk/
Johnny Victory
http://johnnyvictory.com/
International Bomber Command
https://internationalbcc.co.uk/
Glenn Miller’s version of Over There
https://youtu.be/Fs6mxSJiz9A?si=DA3lXrhPJKh4BVhd
Conscientious Objectors in WW1
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/voices-of-the-first-world-war-conscientious-objection
Peacehaven, Sussex - History
https://www.thepostmagazine.co.uk/brightonhistory/peacehaven-beyond-rural-idyll
Lureland Dance Hall, Peacehaven (now a Mosque)
https://g.co/kgs/1zKJr7X
https://media.onthemarket.com/properties/6234650/909834491/document-0.pdf
Pavillion, Peacehaven
https://www.brightonhistory.org.uk/film/cinemas/Pavilion_Peacehaven.html
Sheet Music Cover (Just Text)
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C214266
Art Nouveau Sheet Music Cover
https://www.loc.gov/item/2016776938/
Gracie Field's Final Performance
https://youtu.be/BoaHT3JMu4k?si=z733Y43sn_f6NR-p&t=58
Lucifer Matches
https://www.wwiisoldier.com/a-history-of-matches-prior-to-wwi/
Phossy Jaw and the Match Girls Strike
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/what-was-the-significance-of-the-match-girls-strike-in-1888/
Pack ALL Your Trouble - Edward Hamilton 1916
https://youtu.be/lVgbv8Hxk9o?si=SDJzP05qgvqGzQpp
Talbot House (can you spot Tom)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coqTDDyRQx0
Talbot House Living History Weekend (and Concert)
https://www.talbothouse.be/en/events/living-history-weekend
https://www.talbothouse.be/en/events/the-talbot-house-concert-party
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:51 Catch Up
03:49 An Update on Last Week
04:47 P = Pack Up Your Troubles
05:50 Felix Powell and George Asaf
08:42 The Origins of the Song
11:04 Concientious Objectors in WW1
15:14 The Brother's Life After the War
19:05 Felix's Tragic End
20:15 Discussing the Sheet Music
21:54 When Did We First Hear It?
26:40 Discussing the Lyrics
31:18 Discussing the Music
33:25 Discussing Recordings
36:04 Other Recommendations
43:39 Mentioned in Dispatches
44:45 Teaser for Next Week
45:26 Outro
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod
Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil
Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine
CONTACT THE PODCAST
If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at warsongspod@gmail.com to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".
LISTENING LINKS
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318
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