Lindsay/Two Bold Singermen and the English Folk Revival, 5. A World Turned Upside Down

This chapter discusses World War One’s impact on Norfolk, especially on Harry and Sam’s families and their communities (the death toll in Harry’s home village of Catfield was twice the national average). Harry joined the Royal Navy, Sam became a Royal Navy reservist and both saw active service – this book will be the first to consider the impact of this service on their post-war lives and approach to singing. Life returned to normal following the Armistice and by 1925 both Harry and Sam were married – Harry would become a father, Sam and his wife, Dorcas, remained childless. Radio brought new entertainment opportunities – and new threats to the popularity of singers like Harry and Sam.