The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Sheet music for the song titled 'The Blue Dragoons', with lyrics written by Frederic Edward Weatherly and music composed by Kennedy Russell. This song was written in 1911, with this copy of the sheet music published about 1912. The front cover features the signature of the composer. Inside the front cover are the typed lyrics for the song in full and an advertising preview of the song titled 'A Devonshire Wedding', written by H Lyall Phillips.
The back cover features a list of the titles published by music publisher, Chappell & Co, that were regarded as 'ballad concert successes'.
Carman writes that from the early 18th century, dragoons were trained for combat with swords from horseback. Prior to this, they were a type of mounted infantry who travelled on horses but fought as conventional infantry soldiers. The lyrics of this song describe the former, with its description of soldiers with sabres on horseback, and encourages men to join in order to prove that they aren't made of silver spoons and to be rewarded with kisses.
In addition to being a proliferate lyricist who is said to have written the lyrics for 3000 songs, Weatherly was also an author and a lawyer. Some of his most famous songs include 'The Holy City', 'Danny Boy' and 'Roses of Picardy'.
Russell Kennedy was born Robert Charles Kennedy in London, England. He was a pianist and conductor, including opera and theatre, who also performed the piano accompaniment at concerts in London.
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].
Souvenir program for a concert held to entertain troops during the First World War. This program is for a performance given by the Cubs of Neptune aboard HMAT Wiltshire at 7pm on Saturday 9 March 1918
Recording of the song titled 'The Blue Dragoons', created as part of the Music and the First World War project. Lyrics written by Frederick Edward Weatherly with music composed by Kennedy Russell. Pro
Souvenir concert program produced during the First World War. This program is for a performance by the theatrical society in the Officers' prison camp at Newbrandenburg in Germany. The concert was ent
Sheet music for the song titled, 'Thora'. Lyrics written by Frederic Weatherly and music composed by Stephen Adams. This song was written in 1905 and published by the music publishers Boosey & Co, Lon
Sheet music for the song titled, 'Friend O' Mine', with music composed by Wilfrid Ernest Sanderson and lyrics written by Frederic Edward Weatherly. This copy was collected by Maude Mewkill (nee Philli
Sheet music for the song titled 'Up from Somerset', with lyrics written by Frederic Edward Weatherly and music composed by Wilfrid Sanderson. This copy was included in the album of sheet music titled
Sheet music for the song titled 'Australia's Bonny Boys in Navy Blue', with lyrics written by Frank King and music composed by Ben J Fuller. The front cover shows an illustration of a Navy ship with a
Sheet music for the song titled 'Sunshine of your smile', with lyrics written by Leonard Cooke and music composed by Lilian Ray. This song was first published in 1913. Towards the bottom of this p
Sheet music for the song titled 'The Appeal', with lyrics and music composed by Charles R Brooks. This is a recruitment song dedicated to the Defence Department and is described as 'a national recruit
