[Sheet music] The Boys of the Dardanelles

Sheet music for the song titled 'The Boys of the Dardanelles'. This song was composed by Charles W. MacCarthy with lyrics written by Harry Taylor. The song was first published in 1915, with this 2nd edition copy believed to have been published soon after. The cover features the title of the song printed in blue and red, as well as the lyrics to the chorus. The music was published by Nicholson & Co. Ltd of Sydney & Newcastle, NSW, and Toowoomba & Warwick, QLD, and sold for 2/-.

This patriotic song tells the story of Australian soldiers in the Dardanelles and narrates the aim of the Dardanelles campaign before switching in the chorus to be narrated from the perspective of an Australian soldier at Gallipoli with an account of what they will do.

Charles William MacCarthy was a doctor who was born in Ireland and served during the Franco-Prussian War. He emigrated to Australia with his family in 1884 and established a medical practice in Sydney. MacCarthy also had an aptitude for music and composed several operas and patriotic songs as well as gave lectures and wrote about music. His daughter, Maude, was an accomplished violinist.

Towards the bottom of this page is a sound recording of this sheet music, or a parody, that was created as part of the Music and the First World War project. More information about this recording, including names of the performers, can be found on the catalogue record for the sound recording. A link to the catalogue record for the sound recording can be found at the bottom of this page, under the heading ‘Related objects’ where it can be identified with the prefix [sound recording].