Singer Simone Craddock tells poignant WWI family history in Ellington Jazz Club Remembrance Day concert

West End veteran singer Simone Craddock seems barely old enough to have a World War I Digger grandfather; indeed, Charles “Len” Pooley was too young to fight yet lied about his age to enlist, as so many did in that fateful time.

His story and the popular music of his life wove a poignant thread through the Ellington Jazz Club’s Remembrance Day matinee on Saturday, with pianist Harry Mitchell, bassist Shane Pooley and drummer Greg Brenton joining Craddock in accompaniment and solos.

Contemporary favourite The Band Played Waltzing Matilda opened with Brenton accompanying his own solo on guitar — a direct appeal to an audience including many of Vietnam vintage — before a Great War medley of Long Way to Tipperary and Pack up Your Troubles brought Craddock and the rest of the trio to the stage.

Light vocals spoke of the innocence of a teenager set loose on the wide world, while a memoir of Len’s savage blooding at the First Battle of Bullecourt painted a graphic scene:

“I got up, and I pulled the bolt from my rifle. The carburettor had got clogged up with mud and snow. So I got down, and a young chap from the 13th, he got up. And as soon as he got up, he got it right through the head. He said ‘Mother’ and he just dropped down. I’ll never forget that.”

Bugle calls and a minute’s silence paused for reflection, before soft drums and piano led in another WWI classic, Keep the Home Fires Burning.

Around the World and White Cliffs of Dover opened out the songbook, as Len’s time as a PoW unfolded, first in Lille and then Cologne.

Closing out the half, Craddock cranked out I’ll Be Seeing You with the raw edge of a torch song and a passion very close to home.

Craddock’s and Pooley’s grandfathers were brothers, the latter instrumental in introducing Len to his post-war bride of 70 years, Poppy; and Ellington’s co-owner Travis Simmons is a veteran of recent conflicts who gave a heartfelt acknowledgement of Aboriginal soldiers over many wars.

The buzz in the room was palpable as the jazz trio returned from the break with an instrumental echo of I’ll be Seeing You.

A second-half roll call of 20th century standards was interspersed with further extracts from Len’s memoir; some happy, some sad, with a nod to the ongoing cost of combat on all veterans’ health and wellbeing.

A certificate signed by King George V attesting Len’s war service and disability was front and centre of a display of memorabilia from a long, productive life, albeit marred by trauma.

Craddock and band revelled in For All We Know, I Only Have Eyes for You, If I were the Only Girl in the World, Macushla, The Sheikh of Araby, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, and I Remember You, culminating in the World War II anthem, We’ll Meet Again — a rousing singalong to close out the show.

Ellington Jazz Club continues Saturday matinee concerts until January 13, with regular evening programs through the week.

www.ellingtonjazz.com.au.