[Sheet music] Heroes of the Dardanelles

Sheet music for the song titled, 'Heroes of the Dardanelles', written and composed by Reginald Alberto Agrati Stoneham. Stoneham served as a trumpeter with the South Australian Contingent in the South Africa War. This copy was published by Loebel & Co, Melbourne. The back pages feature, by way of publisher’s advertisement, the first page of 'On the Cocos Coast', depicting the 1914 action between HMAS Sydney and the Emden, and 'Roseleaves'.

'Heroes of the Dardanelles' was sung by John Ralston in Victor Jacobi's musical play 'The Marriage Market'. Other baritone singers who performed this song with 'great success', according to the cover of this copy, were H Pride, Malcolm McEachers, Jack McGowan, James Fraser and Harry Newton. The music sold for 2/- and was not to be performed in public without fees or license except at music halls and theatres and a note was added at the very bottom of the front cover in capital letters advising that the "public performance of any parodied version of this song is strictly prohibited."

The lyrics are patriotic in tone and commemorates those who died in the campaign at the Dardanelles while also calling on men to help their mates by enlisting. Upon its release, in 1915, Australian newspapers described this song as a stirring patriotic and recruiting song that had a dramatic quality in parts and a catchy ending that suited popular concerts.

This copy of the music originally belonged to Private Ernest Alfred Nicholls and features his name, written in pen, at the top of the front cover as well as every page stamped with 'E. A. Nicholls, AIF'. It is part of a collection of sheet music that was donated to the Memorial in 1971, and is symbolic of the concerts, theatre and other musical performances that Australian soldiers took in whilst on leave in London during the First World War.