Printed programme of a performance by the First World War British Army 33rd Division Concert Party 'The Shrapnels', titled 'The First attempt at Pantomime in France | To avoid confusion we name it | The Babes in the W (censored)'.

4pp., 4to. Bifolium. Fair, on aged and lightly-creased paper. An excessively scarce piece of First World War ephemera, with the only copy traced at the Imperial War Museum. The title-page (with decorative border) reads in full: 'Somewhere in France | But really in | The Music Hall Rue d'Aire | The First attempt at | Pantomime in France | To avoid confusion we name it | The | Babes in the W (censored) | (In case you think it is Cinderella or the Grip of Iron) | The entire Production Produced by the | Division Pierrot Troupe | Wrotton - Pardon - Written | by | Corporal James Flint (Glasgow Highls) | Initial Performance | Wednesday 22nd Dec. 1915 and every evening until further notice | Doors open 5.30 p.m. - Commence 6 p.m. | Admission: Officers 5d | N.C.O's and Men 1d | Come early - Take your chance - No seats booked. | Stretcher bearers at 8 p.m.' The second page gives details of the 'Grand Cast | Engaged at enormous Cost. Kitchener's Trade Union Rates Paid | More or less - Usually less'. The third page gives a synopsis of the five acts, and the last page carries spoof advertisements such as 'The Troupe is Desinfected [sic] Daily with CRESOL | Try it in your Stew' and ' LIGHTNING & Co Electricians | Let us fit up your dug-out with Electric lice'. The text of the programme was reprinted in the Preston Herald, 15 January 1916, with at least one change: the name in the spoof advertisement 'Cocoa for the Hair | As used by Gunner Wignall' is changed to 'Prince Charming'. The 33rd Division arrived in France in November 1915, and the performance is said to have taken place at Hazebrouck.