[Sheet music] Australia's Boys in Khaki and Blue

Sheet music for the song titled 'Australia's Boys in Khaki and Blue', written by the Australian composer Stanley David Hewitt. This song was first published in 1916, although this copy may have been published later. A blurb on the cover about Hewitt states '...The composer, Sergeant Hewitt, is a Returned Wounded Soldier, having been shot right through one lung. Though suffering greatly through haemorrhage and weakness, he is independently handling his own clever composition throughout Victoria...' It is believed that this was the second song written by Hewitt to be published, after 'The Kaiser's Boast' in early 1916, with this song published about June 1916.

The cover features an illustration of an Australian soldier, recognisable by his uniform and slouch hat. It is likely that this soldier is the composer, Hewitt. Above the soldier fly the Australian flag and the Union Jack. Ribbons of blue, red, and white border the top and bottom of the cover. The reverse page of the music is an advertising preview of Hewitt's song 'The Kaiser's Boast', promoted as 'The Song that has sold over 15,000 Copies in Victoria alone'. Hewitt's songs were unusual at the time, in that they were self published. They sold for 2/- per copy. This copy has been hand-sewn on the left-hand side by the original owner to strengthen the binding.

The Australian actress and singer, Dorothy Brunton, describing it as a 'dandy song' and requested permission to perform the song at fundraising events during the First World War period soon after it was first published. Copies of the sheet music for this song continued to be sold in Australian music stores up until approximately 1925.

Stanley David Hewitt served with the 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion from August 1914 to May 1915, before being discharged and repatriated for medical reasons.

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].