Everytime to the front, Australia

In 1914 the outbreak of World War One produced a large quantity of patriotic songs. Some of the themes reflected in the lyrics of this genre of music are emotional and personal sacrifices, recruitment and anti-conscription.

The pressure for eligible young men to enlist was enormous and the campaign included music, posters, poetry, letters and pressure from individuals and groups such as the Win the War League.

This piece is dedicated to Lady Galway (wife of the Governor of South Australia Sir Henry Galway) who, at the request of Lady Helen Munro Ferguson (the wife of the Governor General of Australia), in August 1914 founded the South Australian Division of the Red Cross.

Piano tuner and repairer, Fred Floyd, published his 1916 patriotic song Everytime to the Front while resident at 2 Sussex St. Glenelg. He played the incidental music for the Glenelg Picture Company from at least November 1914. The Glenelg Guardian noted on 13 July 1916 His many friends will be pleased to learn that Mr. Harry Floyd, the popular pianist at the Glenelg pictures, who had been seriously ill for several weeks, is about again and making good progress.

Later that year that newspaper reported that an orchestra, conducted by Mr F Floyd had been added to the theatre. But it soon closed altogether. Fred subsequently spent a few weeks in Melbourne learning to play the expensive new ‘photoplayer’ musical instrument, required for the modern Glenelg Theatre which opened in August 1917. Briefly in 1918 Fred advertised that he bought and sold pianos, then faded from view. It is possible that he was the Frederick Henry Floyd who had a family in Victoria.

The State Library has endeavoured to identify and or locate copyright holders of material digitised for this website. Where the copyright owner has not been able to be traced and or located, the Library has decided in good faith to proceed with digitisation and communication on-line.

Material is made available for research or study. You may order a high resolution copy.

For any other use refer to the State Library of South Australia's website information about orphan works. The State Library invites persons who believe they are the copyright owners to contact the Library to discuss usage of this item.