page_title: Jack Ayre
section_title: First World War
hierarchical_section_title: Jack Ayre / Career / First World War
caption_attribution_description: Sheet Music Cover, The Dumbell Rag
context_page_description: Ivor Ayre was a Canadian pianist and a member of the Dumbells, which entertained Canadian troops during the First World War. He continued to perform with the Dumbells when they reformed as a civilian touring group performing songs, skits and musicals across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
context_section_description: Ayre began his career as a pianist for silent films in Toronto.  He enlisted in the Canadian army as a private after the outbreak of the First World War. Soon after, he came to the attention of Captain Mert Plunkett, who selected Ayre to be a pianist for the 3rd Canadian Division Concert Party, known as the Dumbells. Ayre served with the Dumbells until the war ended, attaining the rank of Corporal during the war. He  composed The Dumbell Rag while still a soldier; the piece went on to sell more than ten thousand copies of sheet music.
caption: The sheet music for the Dumbell Rag sold more than 10 000 copies
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