Hi folks, My late grandfather James Jesse Stroud, born 1879, lived in NZ until his late teens and then went off to England to try and find his birth family details. While in England he joined the British India Army and became a leader of one of the viceroy's bands. He married in1906 and brought his English wife, Sarah, back to Invercargill, NZ. He continued with his composing, performing and conducting as well as writing short stories and poetry. I'm researching his story and trying to fill gaps in the family stories. We have a newspaper obituary which stated he had joined the British Songwriters Society - but efforts to find the society has been fruitless. I have since found a site with the following information Creator: Stroud, James J. (James Jesse) Contributor: Gordon, L. Stroud, James J. (James Jesse) Title: Whitsuntide [music] : sacred song / words by L. Gordon ; music by James J. Stroud. Date: 1930 - 1939 Published: Paterson [N.S.W.] : The Australian Publishing Service, [193-?] Subjects: Sacred songs with piano. Vocal music, Australian -- 1931-1960. Material Type: Music Physical Description: 1 score ([3] p.) Notes: Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn2922725 Amicus Number: 10558369 To cite this item use: http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn2922725 I have googled The Australian Publishing Service to no avail The has pictures of the album fronts and scans of the pages for each piece but no more. My grandfather wrote short stories for The Bulletin after his return to NZ - I recall as a young child, his accounts of antics he and fellow officers got up to in India - and then many years later when he was called up by the British Army to serve in France and Belgium in WW1 more tales of his exploits. I am now trying to find this Australian Publishing Service as I am hoping to find copies of his writings and composing to add to the collection of info I currently have on hand. Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time, Ainslie Pyne (nee Brown)

Ainslie, The British Songwriters Guild was established in 1936, a bit late for James Jesse Stroud. Perhaps they may be able to tell you what became of the British Songwriters Society - http://www.songwriters-guild.co.uk/history.htm There's also the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters - http://www.4rfv.co.uk/brieflisting.asp?scategory=159&company=9694 I couldn't find anything for the British Songwriters Society at the National Archives, telephone directories, google etc. Cheers Trish Nowra NSW > My late grandfather James Jesse Stroud, born 1879, lived in NZ until his > late teens and then went off to England to try and find his birth family > details. > I'm researching his story and trying to fill gaps in the family stories. > We have a newspaper obituary which stated he had joined the British > Songwriters Society - but efforts to find the society has been fruitless. > Ainslie Pyne (nee Brown)