[Sheet music] Somewhere in Palestine

This song was written in 1919, and features a studio portrait of composer of the piece in uniform, and the dedication ‘Respectfully dedicated to the memory of brave men who have gone West’ on the front cover. The song was written by Warrant Officer Peter John Charles Wallace, who served as a drill instructor prior to the outbreak of the First World War. During 1917 he was stationed at Benalla for 6 months, where he helped the Red Cross and assisted in raising funds for the purchase of a piano for the Drill Hall. He returned to Melbourne in September 1917 to assist with camp duties.

‘Somewhere in Palestine’ tells the story of a mother who lost three sons in the First World War, and continues with the theme of remembering those who did not return home, particularly those who served in Palestine. The Gippsland Times marketed the work as a peace song by ‘an old Gippslander’ in advertisements during November and December 1919, selling for an advertised price of 2/- by J. Cullinan & Sons at Sale.





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].