Duration: 57 minutes, 30 seconds ($12.00) • Order DVD
First released: 1997 • Read Lyrics • More on John McDermott 

The Tragedy of War is an apt title for this video. John McDermott, well-known Toronto balladeer, has been providing his fans with meaningful renditions of songs (some going back to the 17th Century) which have a common theme – the tragic loss of men killed in battle and the grief of their loved ones.

Mr. McDermott's theme fits exactly with The War Amps NEVER AGAIN! message. He wears his feelings on his sleeve when, through his rich tenor voice, he paints the sad (or to use his words, the "dark") side of some of the most terrible conflicts in human history.

These include the American Civil War (The Faded Coat of Blue), the hopeless debacle of Gallipoli (And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda), and the senseless war of 1914-1918 (The Green Fields of France; Christmas in the Trenches).

In this video, produced by The War Amps to commemorate the granting of honorary membership to John McDermott, we included the love song The Rose of Tralee, and reflected, through visual images, the impact on the women at home and the men fighting in Normandy.

A McDermott "standard" is Mother Machree. As background, we have shown photos of war amps and their mothers – as they appeared in the '40s. We use snapshots of war amps and their wives to illustrate the emotions of separation in wartime as McDermott's voice touches us deeply with the title song of his fifth CD – When I Grow Too Old to Dream.

John McDermott's voice lends a haunting quality to the lyrics that accompany the historic film footage, paintings, and photographs; mostly from The War Amps treasure house of archives.

• Gold Award - 1999 International CINDY Competition (California)
• Gold Camera Award - 1998 U.S. International Film and Video Festival (Illinois)
• Gold Award - 1998 Worldfest-Houston (Texas)
• Silver Award - 1998 Questar Awards (New York)
• Bronze Award - 1997 Mercury Awards (New York)