1938-39

Four new boys join the band Pete Humphreys, Meade Sinclair, Ross Sturley and Porkie Downs. Disaster strikes when Joe Brown comes to town. Arthur won’t help him in his pursuit saying how dare you take my boys. He prepares for another trip to England. They are dangerous times and Arthur risks losing everything the band and his family. Gordon decides not to go on the this trip.

Walter Delamont gets a letter. Arthur needs accommodation for forty-six and places to play when he passes through Toronto on his way to the New York World’s Fair. Later, they meet a contingent of American art students on board the Duchess of Bedford bound for Liverpool. Lillie receives a letter from her sister and shows it to Arthur who confirms it is all true, things are worse than he admitted. Lillie is upset and Arthur is embarrassed.

Don asks Norma Coffey one of the American art students for her address. Don and Ross compare notes on the train ride to London. Paul and Pete go out with Vera in London; she managed to talk Arthur into letting her play the xylophone on the trip on condition. She has to be the majorette. Paul confesses to being happy that she came along.

They tour the Bristol Blenheim Bomber factory and can’t believe all the air raid shelters and trenches in the parks. Sand bags are going up and air raid balloons are everywhere. Everyone knows Chamberlain will not be successful when he goes to see Hitler so the country is preparing for war.

Stocky tells Arthur if things get any worse they will have to leave. Then it happens:

GET OUT OF ENGLAND IMMEDIATELY!

They are suppose to go to Liverpool but Arthur does some quick calculations and their bus under cover of night and in a black out with air raid sirens and balloon barrages above heads for Southampton.

Mr. MacAdams is responsible for the bus says Stocky. The boys are disappointed they won’t see the American art students again as they have headed to Liverpool to board the Athenia. The boys head out to find a fish and chip shop. Lillie asks “Why, Arthur interrupts and says, ‘The Empress is faster.’

Quotes from Ambassadors of Empire, Season 1 Episode 6:

Arthur: “Come out here and steal my boys.”

Newspaper: “39 boys and 1 girl.”

Inscription on the Czech Pavilion: “The Czechs are working towards freedom for their nation.”

Boys: “We went up past the Cotton Club where Cab Calloway was playing. Where did you go?”

Boys: ” We went to a different club and met Tommy Dorsey.”

Arthur about their broadcast to the Empire on BBC: “It was the best I ever conducted at 3:45 in the morning.”

Talk of the Day: “There was music in the air and not street music.”

The New Hippodrome Theatre in Coventry: “Canada Calling!”

Bristol Blenheim Bomber factory: “The normal turnout is fifteen a week but in case of war or an emergency they can turn out seventy a week.”

Boy: “I tell you it was Hailie Selaisse the Emperor of Ethiopia sitting with his dog painting.”

“Join the Navy and see the world or join the champion Kitsilano Boys Band and see England.”

Stocky: “The British government wants you home.:

Paul Jagger: “He was an extremely focused person, Victorian, Salvation Army trained. There was a singleness of purpose there.”

Newspaper: “The Athenia which left Liverpool the same time as the Empress left Southampton was sunk by a U-boat off the coast of Ireland. All lives lost.”

Carson Manzer: “it is likely the news of the Athenia influenced the Captain’s decision to make a run for it zig-zagging back across the Atlantic.”

Carson Manzer: “To avoid chances of encountering the same submarine which had torpedoed the Athenia the Captain set off down the south coast to the Bay of Biscay and Spain before heading out into the Atlantic wisely reasoning the sunbmarine was probably headed south to intercept her near where the Lusitania was sunk in 1915.”

Carson Manzer: “On board, Arthur gives Lillie half the money in his money belt in case they are separated. The boys play concerts for the passengers to calm them.”

Carson Manzer: “Back home newspapers report us all missing because due to the wartime blackout we can’t wire home our position. Everyone thinks the band is lost.”

Arthur: “If they come to me any older than eight, I cannot do anything with them because they are already involved in other pursuits.”

Vera Delamont sings: “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.”

Dr. Staton, British Adjudicator: “Outstanding, we have nothing like them in the Old Country. It has great advertising value.”

Winnipeg Free Press 1939: “You may not know that the Kitsilano Boys Band comes from Vancouver. It comes every year or two to startle the Boy’s Band universe with its magnificent uniform and even more magnificent musical accomplishments.”