In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine take to the skies with The Spitfire Song - a rare 1940s number penned by the remarkable Horace Maybray-King. They explore King's fascinating life, from English teacher and wartime concert-party organiser to tireless fundraiser for the famous Spitfire Funds - public appeals that saw communities "buy" parts of the iconic fighter aircraft to help Britain prepare for the Battle of Britain. Along the way, they uncover the story behind the song's only known recording by Joe Loss and His Orchestra with vocalist Sam Browne, whose own wartime adventures included surviving being shot in the jaw while travelling to a concert. The conversation takes in the history of the Spitfire itself, the ingenuity of wartime fundraising and the enduring appeal of dance bands and morale-boosting music. It's a celebration of song, aircraft and the extraordinary ways a nation came together in its hour of need. SPOTIFY PLAYLIST You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlister here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a REFERENCES International Bomber Command Centre https://internationalbcc.co.uk/ Ramsey 1940s Weekend https://ramsey1940s.co.uk/ The Spitfire Song https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/ Joe Loss Cigarette Card https://www.londoncigcard.co.uk/product/dance-band-leaders-1936-reprint-1992/1400 Astoria Ballroom http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/AstoriaTheatreCharingCrossRoad.htm Kit Kit Club https://www.jazzageclub.com/the-kit-cat-club/1564/ Holborn Empire http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/westons.htm Joe Loss - In the Mood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94rDnLR6u2Y Melody Maker - Digital Scans https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/ The Spitfire Prototype https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_prototype_K5054 The Spitfire Funds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35697546 The Kennel Club Spitfire https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelClubUK/posts/today-we-mark-the-80th-anniversary-of-ve-day-to-commemorate-the-occasion-were-lo/1244698633680029/ Boaty Mac Boatface https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface Gritter Names https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/roads-and-highways/highways-maintenance/winter-maintenance/our-gritter-names/ "Fun of the Fair" Spitfire http://www.midlandshowmensguild.com/Community.html Marks and Spencer Spitfire https://www.forcesnews.com/heritage/wwii/how-marks-spencer-bought-spitfire-war Vickers Armstrong Spitfire Factory Southampton https://spitfiremakers.org.uk/dispersal-sites/original-supermarine-sites/ The Spitfire Song https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/features/snapshotsofthepast/2214997.sure-fire-hit/ 109 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth - Horace King's House https://www.facebook.com/bournemouthlocalhistory/posts/here-is-sherry-and-haycocks-timber-yard-in-the-1950s-they-had-all-the-plot-here-/1924861327628864/ The Sound of a Spitfire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5rGyP6SSYM Sam Brown https://fromthevaults-boppinbob.blogspot.com/2014/03/sam-browne-born-26-march-1898.html I'm Gonna Get Lit Up - Richard Suart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyMwe0YHSfQ Lew Stone's Arrangements https://blogs.bl.uk/music/2017/01/lew-stone.html My Girl's Pussy - Harry Roy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x359GgVRWaE Harry and his Band at the Cafe Anglais https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttI1kwhbHRA&t=137s&pp=2AGJAZACAQ%3D%3D Siren - Lili Redman @ Edinburgh Fringe https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lili-redman-siren CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:34 S = The Spitfire Song 02:58 Horace King 06:23 Joe Loss 12:33 The Spitfire 14:51 Spitfire Funds 21:44 Discussing the Sheet Music Cover 24:36 Discussing the Lyrics 28:45 Discussing the Music 30:44 Discussing Recordings: Joe Loss and Sam Browne 34:58 If You Liked That You'll Like This 40:20 Mentioned in Dispatches 42:09 Clue for Next Week 42:59 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 [email protected] 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 If you've enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you'd leave a review and make sure you've subscribed and turned on notifications so you'll never miss an episode.