[Concert program] On the staff

Sheet music for the song titled, "On the Staff", composed by Ivor Novello with lyrics by Clifford Grey, also known as Frank Clifford Grey. This copy appears to be autographed by Ivor Novello. Publishing rights appear to have been held by both Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, and B. Feldman & Co. This version also advertises another song by Novello and Grey through the inclusion of the first page of the song titled "It's just a memory".

This is a humorous song about a job with the Army Staff during the First World War. It featured as part of George Grossmith and Ed Laurillard’s production of a French operette at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London titled "Arlette". Lloyd’s Weekly News wrote of this production, ‘The tale is of the impecunious Prince Paul of Perania (Mr. Joseph Coyne), who prefers Arlette, a modest attendant on the Queen Dowager (Miss Winifred Barnes), to all the vast wealth of Miss Walters from America (Miss Adrah Fair).’

This music was part of the collection of sheet music belonging to Ernest Alfred Nicholls that was donated to the Memorial in 1971. It is symbolic of the concerts, theatre and other musical performances that Australian soldiers took in whilst on leave in London during the First World War. It is highly likely that at least one Australian soldier would have seen the operette "Arlette" featuring a performance of this song during 1917. It is not known whether Nicholls himself saw the performance.