[Sheet music] Give me dear Australia

Accession Number RC11293
Collection number Sheet Music Collection 808
Collection type Published Collection
Record type Item
Item count 1
Measurement Overall - closed: 35 cm x 25 cm
Object type Sheet Music
Maker Smith, Albert James
Place made Australia
Date made c 1917-1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Sheet music for the song titled 'Give Me Dear Australia', composed by Private Albert James Smith of the 12th Field Ambulance. The music was published by Dinsdales Pty Ltd, music publishers based in Melbourne, between 1916 and 1918.

The cover of this copy of the sheet music features a photographic portrait of the composer in uniform, and promotes the song as being 'Sung by Staff Sgt Les. Williams with Instantaneous Success'. It is believed that this performer was Staff Sergeant Henry Leslie Williams who served with the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column before being posted to 1st Field Artillery Brigade and later joined the Anzac Coves Concert Party.

The cover verso contains the full lyrics to the song and a footnote stating "Already the sale of copies in Victoria of 'The Anzac Marseillaise' has reached over 20,000". On the reverse cover is an advertising preview of an earlier song written and composed by Albert Smith titled, 'The Anzac Marseillaise'.

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].