Four Minute Australian War Heroes Song

 

The video has the longer version of Australian War Heroes Song.

 

The four minute extended longer version of Australian War Heroes Song, ‘Can You Hear Australia’s Heroes Marching?’, is used as an ANZAC day song in Australia. Also suitable for Remembrance Day.

 

This was the first recording of the music in 2001, and it was then cut down to three minutes. The four minute version has additional spoken words. The song was created in 2001. The four minute version was made available to the general public (April 19, 2009).

 

The three minute version of the popular song has been used over the past 24 years as an ANZAC Day song and very appropriate for Remembrance Day.

 

School children have sung this song across Australia over the last 24 years for commemorative purposes.

 

Over 100,000 Australians have died in war service. 60,000 Australians died overseas in WW1. 46,000 Australians died on the Western Front (about 18,000 with no known graves). Only one was brought home for burial (In 1993, to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1918 armistice, the Australian Government exhumed the remains of an unknown Australian soldier from the Western Front for entombment at the Australian War Memorial’s Hall of Memory, Canberra).

 

For so many to have died without any identifiable trace was an additional grief for their families. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers died in the Gallipoli campaign, and even though the campaign was a failure, the ANZAC legend was formed. Australia was a young nation and the courage and character shown by Australians at Gallipoli was quickly recognised and honoured back home.

 

In 30 years from 1915, many Australians died in action. Many also died through sickness and accidents. Many Australians came home with severe war injuries and died not long after, or had a greatly shortened life.

 

For the first time, during WW2, Australia’s mainland was attacked, when Darwin was bombed by the Japanese. 40,000 Australians lost their lives in WW2.

 

Over 500 Australians died in the Vietnam War, and since WW2, Australians have also seen action in places like Korea, Indonesia, Malaya, Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor.

 

The ANZAC spirit of mateship, courage and sacrifice is a very important aspect of our national identity.

 

ANZAC Day is a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians lost in war and military conflicts. It is also a day when Australians can reflect on the many different meanings of war. Gatherings are held at war memorials across the country.

 

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is held on April 25 and is the anniversary of the first major military action by Australian and New Zealand forces in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign during the WW1.

 

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