A Call to Arms.

A rather amusing story from the early years of the ABC Orchestra at which (as a youngster) I was an amused onlooker:-

During the later years of the 2nd World War many troops returning from overseas were billeted in the Adelaide suburbs, including at the home of the then Orchestral Manager, Jack Thomas.

In this same period the orchestra was frequently augmented with players from interstate, who not only enjoyed the break, but particularly the hospitality of Jack and his wife Moina, whose post performance supper parties became almost a legend - particularly on one occasion when, suitably primed with South Australian hospitality, the trumpeter from Melbourne (John Robertson?) thought it would be rather interesting to play "Reveille"  in the middle of the street at 2 am.

- David Thomas