[Sheet music] They were there! there!! there!!!

Sheet music for the song 'They were There! There!! There!!!', composed by Bert Rache with lyrics by Private Harley Cohen of the 4th Battalion AIF. The song was written and published in 1916. The cover features a photograph of performer Peter Dawson, flanked by the Union Jack and the Australian Flag. The cover proclaims the musics dedication to "Our Anzac Boys who by their glorious deeds of bravery and untiring efforts towards success have created a world famed and undying name for Australasia". An inscription on the first recto page reads: "Anzac Memorial Band / Narromine / August 2nd 1916 / A D Fraser / Secretary". The reverse cover features an advertising preview of the song 'To live in the Light of Your Eyes' by Alan M. Rattray.

This patriotic song was written in the trenches with Cohen reporting at its first performance that it was written 'in memory of those who had fallen, and he trusted those heroes would not be forgotten'. It was set to music by Bert Rache and published during March 1916. The first public performance was given by Mr Peter Dawson for a special matinee performance in honour of returned soldiers at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney on 23 March 1916.

Harley Cohen was born in Sydney on 28 October 1892 and enlisted on 17 August 1914 with the 4th Infantry Battalion, 1st Brigade. He departed Sydney with his unit aboard HMAT Euriphides on 20 October 1914. Cohen took part in the landing on Gallipoli and subsequent battles. He was injured on the first day of the battle of Lone Pine and arrived back in Australia on 19 October 1915.


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].