A Celebration of Sir Harry
Lauder
"Laird
of the Music Hall"
1870-1950
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A few months ago, while sitting at my pc in the piney woods of southeast
Texas known as the "Big Thicket." My daughter in law Nancy forwarded a
URL to me with a note it said, "I think you'll like the music." Little
did I realize when I clicked my mouse that my life was about to change.
The image of a kilted Scotsman came onto the screen with the melodic strains
of "Scotland The Brave"
The
homepage belongs to Gordon Irving a resident of Glasgow, Scotland, a writer,
journalist, published author and 'retired' Theater Critic. He is also now
one of my dearest friends. It is because of him that I have established
this the "Official Website for Sir Harry Lauder" Gordon encouraged me to
find and read "Great Scot, The Absorbing Life Story of Sir Harry Lauder
Legendary Laird of the Music Hall" a book that he had written and now unfortunately
out of print. There was not a copy to be found until he happened across
a copy at a Scottish flea market and sent it to me. I don't think anyone
could read this book and not be touched on some level by Sir Harry Lauder
which is why I'm on a quest to find a publisher with an international market
to put "Great Scot" back into circulation so everyone, friends, loyal fans
and hopefully a new generation of fans alike can read his biography that
could only be written with the insight of a personal friend.
Henry
MacLennan Lauder called Harry was the first of eight children born
to John and Isabella McLennan Lauder a couple of little financial means.
At the tender age of twelve Harry lost his father to pneumonia at a time
when there was no government assistance for widows with small children.
Young Harry took a part time job in a flax mill consisting of three days
a week, working until his fingers bled for a few pennies a week to help
his mother support his younger siblings. Attending school three days a
week he delighted in entertaining his class mates with imitations of their
teacher until he was caught in the middle of his routine by you know who.
Punishment was swift.
Two
years later Harry found work in a coal mine working for dollars instead
of a few cents. It was dangerous work and he sang to himself to bolster
his courage. Soon, his co-workers were calling out, "Let's have a wee sang,
Harry ma lad!" They encouraged him to enter local talent contests that
earned meager but cherished prize money. He finally entered a contest singing
the two songs he knew best, "Bonnie Annie Laurie" and "I'm a Gentleman
Still".
Though
poverty daily looks in at my door,
Though
I'm hungry and footsore and ill,
Thank
God, I can look the whole world in the face
And
say, I'm a Gentleman still!
He won second prize and given the chance to sing in small music halls.
Harry Lauder singer, song writer, comedian (wearing a kilt and carrying
a crooked, knobby stick) was on his way up the ladder to international
fame. One of the things that strikes me about him is that he never demanded
x number of dollars which is the norm today for less talented people
but gratefully accepted what was offered and became the highest paid entertainer
of his time.
Harry met Annie Valance destined to be the only woman he would ever love,
it was love at first sight and he could think of nothing or no one else.
Though still teenagers, they gained family permission to marry. He wrote
"I love a Lassie," "She is my Rosie," "Queen Amang the Heather," "She's
the Lass for Me" and "Bonnie Wee Annie" all for his "Nance" a nickname
that he gave her.
When Harry
Lauder visited his son Capt. John Lauder at the military installation
prior to being shipped overseas he asked every soldier that he met 'What
can I get for you? what do you need?" The answer was nearly always
the same "More men" At his own expense Harry Lauder hired one hundred
pipers to march the length and breadth of Scotland to recruit men.
A captured enemy soldier (name unknown) called the Scottish forces, "The
Ladies From Hell", "Wearing their skirts, brandishing their bayonets
and shouting gaelic war cries".
Note:
"The story of the "Ladies From Hell" came from the Second Battle of Ypres,
April 24, 1915.
Canadian
and Scottish regiments were still wearing their kilts, (not skirts) because
there was a shortage
of
the regulation army pants" G.
Young, Lakefield Heritage Research.
Toward the end
of the war he kept seeing wounded and disabled soldiers in the hospitals.
He knew that they would receive a government allowance but he also knew
it wasn't enough for them to support themselves. He did not want them to
become objects of charity or reduced to selling pencils on a street corner.
He used his performances to create a fund to insure that these men would
have what they needed to live the dignified life they had earned for King
and Country.
Years later when World War I raged in Europe January 1, 1917 to be
exact while Harry was
on
tour he received a telegram while having breakfast with friends at the
Bonnington Hotel in London. It read, "Captain John Lauder killed in action
December 28, 1916"
Harry
Lauder and his beloved wife Nance lost their only child a son on a battlefield
in France. The Theater manager closed the show until further notice
knowing it would be impossible for any star to go on stage to tell jokes
and sing.
Harry rushed home to be with his wife and spend a private time of grief
and prayer. His wife reminded him of millions of other parents that had
received similar telegrams and encouraged him to go back to London and
reopen the show to keep from putting hundreds of people out of badly needed
work.
Returning
to the theater he was given a letter that had arrived by special messenger.
It was from a fellow officer that had been with his son John when he was
killed. It read, "The Captain" he wrote had died with great gallantry
calling out the words "Carry On." Harry Lauder the father in a devastating
state of loss answered his dying son in the only way he knew and the call
of entertainers "The Show Must Go On" was born. Harry, did carry on that
night singing his songs and telling jokes giving all he had to give. When
the final curtain fell he fainted.
Weeks later he tried to enlist for combat into the military and was rejected
for combat because of his age. I'll quote from "Great Scot" and let Harry
Lauder tell you in his own words what happened. "Right then" replied Lauder
"let me sing to the boys. I'm an entertainer......I can make their load
a wee bit lighter wi' a sang or two and a joke or two. It's the least I
can do for memory of John" No one had ever made such a request before.
Many performers had entertained in military hospitals but none had actually
gone to the battlefield where the enemy objected to his performance
by sending rounds of live ammunition. After weeks of debate in the
War Office Harry Lauder became the first person to entertain troops
(both British and American) in the battlefield. With a small custom built
piano tied to the grill of a military vehicle he sang and joked his way
across France in base hospitals, old chateaus, pillaged barns and dug outs.
It was a practice he repeated in World War II. Now in his seventies, after
receiving a request from Sir Winston Churchill. He answered, again quoting
from "Great Scot" "If I can hirple on to the platform and sing a wee song
it shall be my duty to do so." He was a special favorite of American troops
who came over to Scotland and were billeted at Glasgow. Many had heard
from their own fathers of how good an ambassador this man Lauder had been
in the previous great war in Europe.
His Majesty, King George V bestowed knighthood on Harry Lauder for service
to his country in Buckingham Palace with his dear Annie now Lady Lauder
in attendance.
(It
is my own personal opinion that our US Congress should bestow their own
highest honor on Sir Harry Lauder on behalf of all American troops who
have benefited from the practice begun by him) Note:
I wrote to my Congressman and received a political non-answer.
Sadly
Lady Lauder died just before he received the "Freedom of Edinburgh Award"
in 1927. An empty chair was placed on the platform next to her husband
in her honor.
Sir Harry turned to his faithful niece Greta Lauder daughter of his brother
Alick to run his household which she did with quiet and gracious dignity.
Sir Harry, said of her, "only her presence makes Laudervale a place of
delightful ghosts and fragrant memories still habitable for her lonely
old uncle."
So
it was that a lad born of poor and loving parents in Portobello, Scotland
grew up to entertain and be entertained by his King, the Royal Family,
five American Presidents, Heads of State and battle weary troops.
If you have ever laughed at at jokes about a mean penny pinching Scot (a
myth started by Harry Lauder when in truth his heart was as tender as a
newborn babe) laughed while watching Danny Kaye imitate a Scot wearing
a kilt and carrying a crooked walking stick, if you or a member of
your family was ever entertained by any performer on a battlefield, then
your life has been touched by Sir Harry Lauder.
A few months ago I had never heard of him and now I am one of his biggest
fans. I lovingly admire this man who never let fame and fortune rob him
of his humanity or his humility. He wasn't without faults who of us is?
He was a human being that used the talent given to him by God, and gave
the world the precious gift of laughter when it's soul was crying.
Gordon, thank you for introducing me to your friend and allowing me to
quote so heavily from " Great Scot" and to my daughter in law "Yes
Nancy, you were right, I love the music."
Sir
Harry, Lady Lauder love of your husband's life, John the joy
of your parents and Greta devoted niece and guardian angel,
this website is for you.
Edie
Thank
You Scotland for Sharing
Your
Native Son With The World.
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Awarded Life Membership in the
Scottish Music Hall Society
Edinburgh, Scotland
******
Contributing Writer to
"Gathering of the Clans"
*****
Featured on
Cylinder of the Month
BBC-Radio-Scotland
www.tinfoil.com
with live telephone
March, 2000
interview
March 12, 1999
*********
*
Featured Guest on Reel Blend
BBC - Radio Scotland & Radio
Scotland Online
June 24, 2001
*********
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