Gitz Rice

Lieutenant Gitz Rice (born Ingraham Rice; March 5, 1891 – October 16, 1947) was a Canadian service member and entertainer, best known for creating various World War I war songs popular among both troops and civilians.

Early life Ingraham "Gitz" Rice was born in 1891 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia to Amos Ingraham Rice and Eliza G Rice. His father, Amos, was a photographer who developed his craft in Nova Scotia but transferred his business to Montreal in 1892 when the Gitz was young. He earned the nickname "Gitz" from his eldest brother Charles, due to his odd walking style during his earliest years. Gitz Rice was a direct patrilineal descendant of Edmund Rice, an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England. He began writing songs during training, mostly jokingly musing on the training procedures.

Life after service

Having developed a reputation for writing numerous popular war songs, Rice moved to New York City in 1919 to pursue an entertainment career further. He went on to create the successful vaudeville act "Gitzy Rice and His North West Mounted Police," which featured performers in Royal Canadian Mounties uniforms.

Personal life Rice married silent film actress Ruby Hoffman in 1918.

He died in October 1947 after facing bronchial asthma for a number of months.

Notable works "Dear Old Pal of Mine" "Keep Your Head Down, Fritzie Boy" "Mademoiselle from Armentières" "On the Road That Leads to Home"