Relaxing

Written by one of Canada's most successful composers of popular music, this sing was first sung by Little Mildred Manley, "Phenomenal Child Vocalist" - and the composer's daughter.

This medley of national songs was introduced at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition in 1915.

This song, with lyrics by the noted poet Jean Blewett, was dedicated to the 9th Mississauga Horse, a Toronto-area militia unit.

Adorned with an image of a smiling soldier from the 21st Battalion, this song reflected on the homesickness of the soldier serving overseas.

Dedicated to the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, the piece was privately published before Canadian troops left for the battlefields of Europe.

This song was intended to be sold by returned soldiers, both as a source of income and to encourage other young men to follow in their footsetps.

Toronto shoemaker Henry Hancock enlisted with the 83rd Battalion in 1915, was wounded in the Somme offensive in 1916 while serving with the 2nd Battalion, and turned to musical composition after the war.

MacNutt and Kelly were among the more successful song-writing duos of the First World War - this was an attempt to follow up on their hugely popular "We'll Never Let the Old Flag Fall."

Although it was published early in the Second World War, this song would not have been out of place during the First World War.

Not long after writing this song, Toronto bank clerk Gordon Dagger enlisted in the 257th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.