[Sheet music] The Anzac Marseillaise

Sheet music for the song titled, 'The Anzac Marseillaise', written and composed by Albert James Smith. Smith was a 44 year old grocer from Brighton, Victoria. This is a copy of the fifth edition of 'The Anzac Marseillaise' that was published by Dinsdale's Pty Ltd in Melbourne. It was printed by Barker & Cousins, Melbourne. The lyrics of this song discuss fighting for England at Gallipoli and teaching the world how to spell Australia.

The third edition of this song was being printed in June 1916, with one music publisher reporting that it was 'the finest patriotic song and march ever handled by them'. Mr G Oppenheim was reported to have completed the band parts for this song by 3 June 1916. Around the same time, Smith was visiting military camps to introduce the song. The lyrics of this song discuss fighting for England at Gallipoli and teaching the world how to spell Australia.

After this song was written, Private Albert James Smith enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and served with the 12th Field Ambulance during the First World War. The publication of the song was announced in the Brighton Southern Cross newspaper on 12 August 1916. Smith subsequently wrote other songs, one of which was published with praise for 'The Anzac Marseillaise' by the French president: 'the President and Madame Poincare begged to congratulate Mr Smith for his Musical Masterpiece, and much appreciated his good feelings and demonstrations of sympathy towards the French Nation.'




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].