Show Your Support for SSAFA

To mark the centenary of World War One, military charity SSAFA is showing its support for our Armed Forces, past and present, with a new version of wartime song 'Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag'. Here's your chance to get involved.

During World War One, 'Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag' was sung by men marching off to war and now SSAFA (formerly known as The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), has recorded a new version of the song to show their support for the whole Forces family.

SSAFA was the only national military charity operating when WWI started. Throughout the war, it supported the families left behind on the Home Front and the charity continues that support for serving personnel, past and present, and their families today.

Now Classic FM and  SSAFA are giving  you the chance to show your support by simply sharing a video of the new version of the hit wartime song.

Pack Up Your Troubles and smile!

100 years after the start of the Great War, SSAFA wants to show its constant support for our Forces, both then and now.  We want Classic FM listeners to do the same, by sharing this uplifting video above.

Watch SSAFA’s 'Pack Up Your Troubles’ video above.

On Sunday 10th August, beneficiaries of SSAFA, members of the Military Wives Choir Foundation and other members of the Forces family led a rousing rendition of ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ against the backdrop of London’s Tower Bridge.  The choir also star in the new video of the song, which the charity hopes will become a viral sensation and find its way into the hearts and minds of the public in the same way it did during World War One.

Find out more about the song, meet the stars and see behind the scenes.

Find out about the vital support that SSAFA gives to Forces families every single day by visiting www.ssafa.org.uk.

You can donate online or by texting ‘PACK14 £3’ to 70070

SSAFA has been able to record the song thanks to the blessing of Aubrey Powell, the original composer’s grandson.  Aubrey joined the choir on 10th August and stars in the video, alongside those who have benefited from SSAFA’s support. The video also features the Ghurkas and a host of famous faces, including Alan Titchmarsh, vocal group Blake, Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford, X Factor's Jonjo Kerr and Jim Dooley of The Dooleys.

Members of the RAF, Navy and Army, as well as young cadets  also feature in the video, as do RAF Regiment Lance Corporal Kevin Ogilvie, who was injured in Afghanistan, D-Day veteran Bill Aitkenhead and surviving members of RAF Bomber Command.

SSAFA: Then and Now

SSAFA supported Forces families throughout WWI and through every conflict since. It continues that work today through a diverse portfolio of services, which support some 90,000 serving personnel, veterans and their families in the UK and around the world every year.