I imagine BBC Radio Three’s long-running programme ‘Composer of the Week’ has looked at English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams and his career, many times. I remember listening to a previous episode some time ago and being irritated as his First World War army service was glossed over and no mention made of his time with the BSF. I am pleased to say, though, that last week’s series – A Vaughan Williams Christmas – mentions Christmas 1916 which he spent beneath Mount Olympus with his 60th Division Field Ambulance unit. You can listen to the programme for a while longer online here:
Although Vaughan Williams apparently noted down Greek tunes, none is played in the programme, but you do get performances of his lovely seasonal music and symphonies, plus a full performance of his much-loved The Lark Ascending.
I can only think of one way to finish this post and that is with this Greek Christmas tune, which has featured in previous Christmas posts and featured in Aladdin in Macedonia – the first of the 85th Field Ambulance pantomimes:
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Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 
ROBERT CONINGBSY LANGTON CLARKE (1879-1934)
While two of England’s greatest composers served in the Macedonia Campaign during World War 1, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, they were not the only composers to do so. A short obituary of another composer was published in the March 1934 edition of The Mosquito.
“A Correspondent writes: Captain Robert Coningsby Clarke, the well-known composer, died early in January. He enlisted in the Artists’ Rifles in September, 1914, received a commission in the Worcestershire Regiment, and served in the Salonika Field Force, 1916-18, being present at the battle of the Doiran. Having been recommended for the MC., he was invalided home suffering from severe shell-shock and was unfit for further service.
The last surviving son of the late Colonel F. C. Hannam Clarke, he was educated at Marlborough and Trinity College, Oxford, where he was organist at his college chapel. Success came to him early in life with his setting of W. E. Henley’s ” BowI of Roses.” This was followed by more than a hundred songs, among which the best known are “The Blind Ploughman,” ” Red Devon by the Sea,” and “Songs of a Rover.” A Requiem Mass was said at the Catholic Church, Deal, followed by interment in the Old Cemetery, Walmer.”
Clarke had died on 2 January. Holst died in the same year. While the obituary states he was a Captain I have found no evidence of a promotion yet, and while he may have been recommended for a MC he did not receive one.
Clarke’s Medal Index Card states that he first served overseas in Salonika, arriving in theatre in September 1916. He relinquished his commission on account of ill-health contracted on active service (London Gazette, suppl. 31133, 19 January 1919, p. 1032), retaining the rank of Lieutenant. Entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, he applied for both on 7 November 1923. He was also entitled to the Silver War Badge.
The anonymous author of the obituary considered him to be a “well-known” composer, but since his death his music has largely disappeared from the standard repertoire. This is a shame, for his songs were performed at the Proms over 35 times between 1899 and 1925. His importance as a composer should not be underestimated, especially in his settings of the poems of Margueritte Radclyffe-Hall (1880-1943). The most famous by far is his setting of “The Blind Ploughman”, with recordings available by Paul Robeson and Nelson Eddy amongst others in both the original piano and orchestrated versions. This song was performed at the Proms no less than 17 times.
What an interesting and informative reply to Robin’s article! Thanks for sharing that Rob. BTW, there’s a recording from 1939 of ‘The Blind Ploughman’ sung by Paul Robeson here: https://youtu.be/COZByKvIVnY?feature=shared