Recording the music of the First World War - do you know these musicians?
As part of the commemorations of the centenary of the First World War, the Memorial is undertaking a project to record selections of sheet music held in the collection. These selections are representative of the music that was performed at concerts attended by soldiers during the First World War, referenced in diaries and letters, written by soldiers themselves or indicative of home front songs. These recordings will be attached as a sound file to sheet music catalogue records on the Memorial’s website and, where possible, linked to other collection items that contain a reference, for example, concert programs and personal diaries and letters.
The Memorial would like to hear from descendants of the composers, lyricists, and arrangers named in bold of the songs and musical pieces given below. If you can provide any relevant information, please contact the Research Centre via email at pubanddig@awm.gov.au.
Wake up! Australia
A patriotic song designed to encourage enlistment and support of the war effort, Wake up! Australia was written and composed by Alfred Mansfield. Mansfield may have been a member of the British military forces.
You’d never know that old home town of mine
This handwritten arrangement was adapted from the original work by Ernest Alfred Nicholls and is believed to date from the First World War when he was serving in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The original song was published in 1915 and is known to have been performed by battalion bands of the AIF and also at concerts during the First World War.
The battle eve
Written by G W Southey with words by Theo Bonheur, The battle eve dates from the 1890s, with lyrics talking about the approaching battle and the sorrow that it may bring tomorrow night. It describes watching sleeping comrades, the approaching dawn, and then the sound of drums and the call to battle.
G W Southey may have been a French composer who died in 1955.
When the great red dawn is shining
Written c.1917 by Evelyn Sharpe, with words by Edward Lockton, this song describes being away from home and a loved one.
Sharpe was born in 1884 and died in 1969. She was a composer who produced hundreds of songs and carols. Some of her other pieces included Hambledown lock, When the world was a garden of love, and The bubble song. She also composed church music and piano pieces for children.
When you come home
Written by William Henry Squire with words by Fred E Weatherly, this song describes pining for an absent lover.
William Henry Squire was born in England in August 1871, and died in London on 17 March 1963. He married Marion S Warren in 1899.
The ruddy platoon
Composed by Howard Fisher, with words by Howard Fisher and W.F. Tompkins, the lyrics of this song describe conditions faced by in the trenches for non-commissioned officers. Trench slang terms feature prominently.
We believe Howard Fisher died in 1932, but have no information about W.F. Tompkins.
God send you back to me
Written by A Emmett Adams, with words by Douglas Furber, this song tells of pining for a lover far away, while having faith God will reunite them.
Furber was born in London on 13 May 1885. He was married twice, once to Diana Christianson and once to Elsa Cutler. He died in London on 20 February 1961.
The soldier’s homecoming: describing the arrival of a troop-ship
Described on the front cover as a “descriptive fantasia”, this instrumental piece of music dates from about 1916. The subject is the arrival of a troopship into Sydney Harbour; the scene is set “The ship is seen approaching the harbour” and ends with “The soldiers disembark and march through the Town to the lively strains of Bugle Band, Drum and Fife Band, Scottish Pipers and Full Military Band.”
Our copy is credited to Carl Reber, but we have been unable to find any information about him, other than that he may have lived in the United Kingdom.
Soldier’s life
This largely instrumental piece is described on a First World War concert program as a “descriptive fantasia” and appears to have been first published in 1900. Different sections of the notation reveal different scenes in the life of a soldier. Only the chorus has lyrics.
Our copy is credited to Carl Reber, but we have been unable to find any information about him, other than that he may have lived in the United Kingdom. Another version of this song is credited to Cyril Stafford.
Coming home
Written in 1914, this song tells of the light steps and bright eyes that come when knowing one is going home. The song was composed by Charles Willeby with words by D (May) Eardley-Wilmot.
Charles Willeby was born in 1865 and died in 1955. He spent time living in England and in New Zealand, and married Mary Hume-Willeby. He had two children: Guy Paul Charles Willeby and Kathleen Maud Willeby. Guy married Evelyn Macleod-Carey in 1932. He served with the British Army in the First and Second World Wars.
May Eardley-Wilmot was the elder daughter of Rear Admiral Sir Sydney Marow Eardley-Wilmot and his wife Grace Maud Hoare. She wrote the lyrics for several popular songs including: Little grey home in the west, Rose of my heart, Coming home, The road of looking forward, and What a wonderful world it would be. During the First World War she served as a nurse with the British Red Cross at 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth. She also wrote a volume of poems, published under the title Voice from Dunkirk. May Eardley-Wilmot died in 1970, aged 86.
So-long
This march, dedicated to Australia's Expeditionary Forces, was written by May Summerbelle in 1914. The lyrics were written by John Barr. We believe that he died in 1971.
The appeal song
Written in 1917 by Charles Brooks, this song was especially written for recruiting purposes by the composer and the melody was described in a newspaper report as “strong, rhythmical, tuneful and dignified”. A copy of the song was sent to the Director of Recruiting, Donald McKinnon, in February 1917 for recruitment purposes. When published, it appeared with a dedication to the Defence Department on the cover and was described as a “National Recruiting Song”.
It’s a long way back to Sydney
Sung to the tune of It’s a long way to Tipperary, the lyrics to this song were written by two Australian soldiers, Walter Deveril and Harry James Wall Ross (whose real name was William James Wilson).
Ross served with the Divisional Artillery Column in the First World War. His wife was Emily Lillian Ross, and they lived in Fitzroy and later Prahran in Melbourne. He died in 1959.
Good-bye girlie, I must go
This song was originally published in 1911 and was performed at concerts in Australia and New Zealand during the First World War. It was also included in a songbook used by the 37th Infantry Battalion, AIF. The lyrics tell the story of a couple who are parted when he goes off to war and their plans for when the war ends. Written by P C Cole and Jack Dawe.
My old bushland home in Australia
This song was written, composed and sung in France by Corporal Neil McBeath who was a member of the Coo-ees Concert Party. The song depicts themes of homesickness and longing for family members.
McBeath was from Victoria, and served with the 7th Field Artillery Brigade. He died in 1980 at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. He and his wife Emmeline had a daughter, also named Emmeline, who died in 2012.
I’m glad to be back in Australia
This song was written by Harold Daniel Abbott, who embarked with 2 Australian General Hospital in November 1914. The song dates from about 1918 with lyrics focusing on the theme of being home in Australia.
Abbott was born in England but served with the AIF. He embarked with the 2nd Australian General Hospital in November 1914. He later married Florence Jane Denton. He died in 1957 in Victoria.
Australia’s boys in khaki and blue
Extolling the virtues of Australian soldiers, this song was written in around 1916 by Stanley David Hewitt of the 3rd Infantry Battalion.
Hewitt was born in Walhalla, NSW, in about 1892. He married Alma Loades in Newcastle in 1918, and he died in Wollongong on 7 July 1982.
The Kaiser’s Boast
This song was written also by Stanley David Hewitt, 3rd Battalion AIF, and was reportedly written in the trenches at Gallipoli. It was published in 1916. The song was performed several times by Hewitt with one such performance being in Bairnsdale, Victoria, during October 1916.
They were there! There! There!
This song was apparently written in the trenches of Gallipoli by Private Harley Cohen of the 4th Battalion. The accompanying music was composed by Bert Rache and the first rendition of the song was performed by the Australian baritone, Peter Dawson, at a concert for returning soldiers at the Tivoli Theatre in Sydney on 23 March 1916.
Cohen was born in Sydney in around 1893. His full name was David Harley Victor Cohen. He died in 1971 and is buried in Rookwood in NSW.
Demobbed
A humorous song with the lyrics mentioning that the bands will no longer play "Abide with me", "Rest in Peace", "Reveille" and "Come to the cook-house door”, this was written by Eric Carlton, with words by Leslie Crossley.
The letter that never reached home
Believed to have been written sometime between 1914 and 1918, this song tells of a note found on the battlefield that was never sent home and thoughts of the intended recipient who would never see it. It was written by Archie Gottler, with lyrics by Bernie Grossman and Edgar Leslie.
Leslie was an American composer and lyricist. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut on New Year’s Eve 1885 and grew up in New York. One of the most prolific composers and lyricists from his era, Leslie collaborated with writers such as Irving Berlin, Joe Burke, Fred Ahlert, James Monaco, Walter Donaldson, Archie Gottler, Maurie Abrams, Joe Young, Harry Warren, Pete Wendling, George Meyer and Ray Goetz. Edgar Leslie died in 1976.
Composer Archie Gottler was born in New York City on May 14, 1896. He was a pioneer composer for many silent films, composing the scores for The Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 and 1930’s Happy Days. Gottler also had success writing songs for the various revues in the 1920’s and 30’s, including the Ziegfeld Follies and eventually wrote the scores for the 1920 Broadway musical starring Eddie Cantor, Broadway Brevities. He died in California on June 24, 1959.
Don’t forget there’s someone in Australia
This song was published in 1917 with lyrics about parents and friends back home in Australia waiting for the return of those who had enlisted. It was written by Harry Gifford, with words by Alf J Lawrance.
A prolific songwriter and talented pianist, Lawrance wrote hundreds of songs during the two decades he was involved in the Australian variety industry . He and his wife, singer Violet Carmen, first came to Australia as a piano/vocal duo. He died in 1955.
Gifford was born in 1876 in Plymouth and was a prolific songwriter in the 1930s and early 1940s. Some of his biggest hits were collaborations with Fred Godfrey in the 1910s and during the First World War. He died in 1960.
Australia’s bonny boys in navy blue
This song was first appeared in around 1908 and according to a review from the time, “appears to have been written in advocacy of the establishment of an Australian Navy. It was composed by Benjamin Fuller with words by Frank King.
We have no information about Frank King. There was a Sir Benjamin John Fuller who was involved in musical theatre, although we have found no specific mention of him writing music.
Tommy Brown
Written and composed by Margaret Coney, this song featured in the 1914 film “With the fighting forces of Europe”. Articles were published in several Australian newspapers between 24 March and 17 April 1915 reporting that the name “Tommy Brown” had been chosen as the new name for Australian soldiers during an impromptu toast at a gathering of soldiers. This story is also published in the inside cover of this piece of music. The words sung after the announcement was made differ to the lyrics of this version which became known as “Australia’s Soldier Song”.
I can’t find a place for that
Composed by Harold Montague, with words written by Ralph Roberts, this song is written from the perspective of a soldier contemplating sending an Active Service Postcard to a loved one at home. The soldier voices frustration with the limited range of messages and expression allowed by the postcard format.
We have been unable to find any information about Harold Montague or Ralph Roberts.
Anzacs, well done!
This song was first written as a poem by Sergeant William Darwin, 7th Battalion AIF, whilst recovering in hospital before printed copies of the poem in Kirkleston, Scotland and including it in a letter to Mr James Walker, Bendigo, dated 24 June 1916. The poem was dedicated to the Anzacs who fell at Gallipoli as well as those who were still living. The poem was published in the Bendigonian on 21 September 1916.
The music in this copy is credited to Charlwood Dunkley, but we have been unable to find any trace of a person with this name.
But a short time to live
This handwritten musical manuscript incorporates the poem titled “But a short time to live” which was written by Leslie Coulson, a British poet, who was fatally wounded during the Battle of Le Transloy and died on 8 October 1916. The reference that he served with the AIF is incorrect. The poem was later set to music by Leo Russotto and dedicated to Captain Reginald Hugh Knyvett by the officers and other ranks of the 27th American Division who were attached to the 2nd and 4th British Armies during 1918. Knyvett served with the AIF and was the author of “Over there with the Australians”, published in 1918 while he was in America.
Russotto was born in around 1897. He was the first vocal director of Radio City Music Hall in 1931. From 1931 to 1943, he was also the staff pianist for the National Broadcasting Company. Russo died in 1978 in Encino, California. He had one son, Henry.
Hymn for absent soldiers and sailors
Composed by Mrs M Ingoldby of Bowral, NSW, with lyrics written by Lucy Homfray, this song was sold for the benefit of the Red Cross Fund. According to a newspaper report in July 1915, the lyrics were said to make the hymn well suited to “singing in church or at any gathering at which our brave defenders are remembered in prayer”. Mrs Ingoldby was a piano teacher in Bowral.
Just a khaki soldier for a little maid
This unpublished love song, known only to have been written and composed by “Victoria”, dates from Christmas 1914.
He sleeps tonight by the lonesome pine
Described as a soldier story ballad and dedicated to those who fell in the Dardanelles, this piece was composed by Felix Le Roy, with words by George Foster.
Only one of the toys
Arranged by Professor Ireland, this edition was published in 1914 and incorporates a new verse and chorus. This is the 21st edition to be published of this song and includes an additional verse and chorus that was not included in the original version. The music is by P. Clay-Bealer with lyrics by Mark Erickson. The number of editions of this piece of music is alone indicative of its popularity but the lyrics were also referenced in newspaper articles of the period. The reference in the lyrics to the “rank and file” of the army as “toys”, featured in an article published on 29 June 1916, where the reference is correlated to 599 men who were with Kitchener on the Hampshire when it was torpedoed.
Knitting
Written and composed by Muriel E Bruce and Baron Alotti in about 1915, this patriotic song is dedicated to The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. The song refers to the struggle of the men on the battlefield, the conditions they face and the loss of comrades beside them, while at home the needles are lovingly busy knitting for the brave sons, brothers, fathers and lovers. The music was published by Chappell & Co. Ltd and the cover was illustrated by the Starmer brothers.
Muriel Elizabeth Bruce was born in 1890 in Toronto, Canada to John Bruce and his second wife Helen. She had two older half-brothers, Henry Addington Bayley Bruce (1875-) and Rupert N Bruce (1874-) from her father’s first marriage. Muriel moved from Canada to New York after marrying (Abraham) Louis Hasbrouck in December 1931. Together they wrote a collection/series Space-Time Forecasting and Economic Trends 1958-1996, which discusses the correlation of natural forces on market forecasting. Louis passed away in June 1979. They do not appear to have had children.
Muriel was also a classical pianist, reporter for a Toronto newspaper, published several books, novels and sonnets. From an early age, she had an interest in the Theosophical movement and cosmological theory. Her most well-known book is Pursuit of Destiny, later titled Tarot and Astrology. She died 27 November 1981.
Baron Alotti was born in 1889, the son of Enrico Aliotti, the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Smyrna, Turkey around 1900. His grandfather was Barone Antonio Aliotti (1814-1889) of Oriental Carpet Manufacturers Ltd. He had three siblings: Eduardo “Eddie” (1891-1967); Filippo “Enrico” (1893-1939) and Edmondo “Andrea” (1896-1957). He also had two half siblings from his father’s first marriage: Adrienne (1884-1921) married to Louis Splatt; and Gabrielle (1885-1886). His eldest brother Eduardo had two children, Livia and Lorenzo. He is also known for the song When life was all a song (1916) – words by Thomas Edgelow, music by Baron Aliotti. He was serving as an officer of the Italian army when he was killed on 12 July 1917 in Rovigo, Italy during a battle against the Austrians.
Twilight Dreams
Very similar to her song Knitting, Muriel E Bruce is the lyricist and composer for this lesser known piece of music. Written in 1916, it is dedicated ‘To my soldier,’ and sings about sitting knitting socks while waiting and dreaming for her beloved to come home. As the knitter falls asleep, she dreams her dear brave man has come home, only to wake and find herself alone. Published in London by The Frederick Harris Co. it includes the first page of the Knitting song and the cover was illustrated by the Starmer brothers.
A soldier’s thought of home
This song was written by Reginald Walter Jones who served in the 14th Battalion and was awarded the MC and MM. Two of his brothers, also in the 14th Battalion, died on the Western Front. The lyrics could have been written after the loss of one or both of his brothers - the final line reads "He knows his old home will be lonely, when he reaches the forest again". His mother, Salome Elizabeth Jones, wrote a letter to Birdwood in 1920 - held in 3DRL/3376 9/1 Item 5 - where she mentions her “two dear sons who “fell” in battle and have now entered into higher service”. The piece was composed by James Dodd.