Community choirs, musicians, singers and brass bands are being invited to perform a First World War song ‘No Parades’, which explores the often forgotten history of the war outside Europe.

The song is part of a major national ’Away from the Western Front’ project, funded by the Lottery, which aims to increase understanding of what made the conflict into a World War and the involvement of colonial troops.

Robin Clutterbuck, who lives in Newton Abbot, is national coordinator of the musical side of the project. The demo of the song No Parades has been recorded by Buckfastleigh-based choir Lost Sound and the composer Chris Hoban is based in Topsham.

Robin said: ‘With ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ and ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary’ we all know songs which grew out of the First World War.

‘Now Away from the Western Front is adding a new song to the collection, but with a very different angle. No Parades, composed by Chris Hoban who has written for acclaimed folk band Show of Hands, has been inspired by the experience of West Indian men who fought in the First World War.’

Two battalions of the British West Indies Regiment served in Palestine and Egypt, and at the end of the war they joined the rest of the Regiment in the Italian port of Taranto. After poor treatment by their British officers the soldiers mutinied, demanding equal pay and conditions to the white troops they had served beside for four years. The mutineers were punished and the Regiment disbanded, sent home under guard and barred from the victory parades.

The song No Parades continues their story:

‘From the islands and mainland we came

To fight and to show our allegiance

But returned to our homelands in shame

While for some there’ll be honour and glory

The West Indian will have no parades.’

Robin said musicians, community choirs and brass bands can join the project in two ways.

He said: ‘They can record their performances of No Parades by using the score and lyrics provided or use the song and accompanying information on the Away from the Western Front website to inspire their own compositions and submit those.

‘The project will produce a CD of the best performances, as well as promoting the performances through the website and social media.’

The song has been written in several formats including mixed choir, solo voice with piano, male voice choir and brass band, and also has a version in the style of ‘Mento’, a forerunner of Calypso and Reggae.

Robin said: ‘The song forms the centrepiece of the music project, which aims to highlight the often overlooked history of the wider First World War.

‘Colonial troops played a very big part in the campaigns away from the Western Front - in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), East Africa and the Balkans.

‘The experience of West Indian men was similar to that of Indians and black Africans, and for some led to feelings of anger and disappointment after the war due to the way they were treated once their assistance was no longer required.’

Project partners in Devon, Lancashire, Berkshire, Sussex and London are studying different aspects of the wider war. Museums and National Trust properties are working with community groups, youth groups and schools to research the lives and stories of those who served in these far away campaigns.

Those stories are being brought to life through drama, film, art and music, specifically designed to raise public awareness of the First World War away from the Western Front.

For more information and to listen to the demo No Parades visit https://awayfromthewesternfront.org/projects/national-music-project/