'Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching?'
song and a
Over 100,000 Australians have lost their lives in the service and defence of our country. Along with their
mates, they're marching once again, in the towns and cities, across our great land.
does not glorify war or endorse conflict of any kind. The song simply highlights the sacrifice of many Australians
who died in the service and defence of our country in war.
The song has been used for commemorative purposes across Australia by schools, churches, choirs,
bands, councils, retirement homes, military services, RSL branches and ANZAC tributes at NRL & AFL
matches. The author allows the song to be used for free for commemorative purposes.
Radio stations throughout Australia have broadcast the song leading up to ANZAC Day and Remembrance
Day.
The song is also requested to be played at funerals (for veterans).
Click here to read comments regarding the song.
your own copy of the song at no cost. To download you must right click on 'Click here' and then click on
'Save Target As...' Then choose a folder on your computer where you want the mp3 file downloaded to.
You can click here to download the words to the song (pdf file).
Sheet music can be emailed to you for no cost for commemorative ceremonies. Click here to be sent
sheet music. As well as standard sheet music, there is individual sheet music for piano, solo voice, trumpet,
electric guitar, bass guitar, choir and drum kit. NEW: Full arrangement now available. Includes all
instruments (piano, trumpet, electric guitar, bass guitar, drum kit) choir and solo voice.
have to say that it is a wonderful tribute
"I
am taking a funeral
tomorrow of a Vietnam Vet who died last week of cancer. The
family would like
to use your song... I am asking for permission to use it at the
funeral."
E-mail from a
Reverend
Vietnam
War 1962 - 1973.
Vietnam. 520 died and close to 2,400
were wounded.
It is
important to
highlight that many young men were conscripted to serve in Vietnam.
From 1965 to 1972,
19,450 national servicemen served in the Vietnam War, with 202 killed
and 1,279 wounded. The National
Service Scheme was abolished on 5 December 1972.
43
Australian Army
nursing sisters were sent to Vietnam
between April 1967 and November 1971,
undertaking tours of up to twelve
months. The nurses were assigned to a military hospital in a war zone
with
no advance preparation for what they'd encounter: caring for
horrifically injured soldiers straight off the
battlefield,
understaffed, using basic equipment and often in difficult working
conditions.
About 210
Australian nurses traveled to South Vietnam between 1964 and 1972 to
care for
injured civilians
during the war.
Many Australian entertainers went to Vietnam to
entertain
the troops and were gratefully received.
Everymans Welfare and Australian Services Canteens, were greatly
appreciated by Australians who served
in Vietnam.
of Australia (VVAA) had its advent in the Vietnam Veterans Action
Association, formed in late 1979 as a
result of Vietnam Veterans exposure to chemicals that was causing
problems with
their health and the health
of their children. The chemicals, known by
the generic name of Agent Orange included 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D, a
byproduct of which is the extremely poisonous substance TCDD or
dioxin.
The problems ranged from minor
irritation to lethal, with symptoms such as skin blisters, itching,
flushes, nasal problems, blurred vision,
respiratory, cardiovascular,
gastrointestinal, gastro-urinary muscular and nervous system disorders,
cancers
and tumors. This was often exacerbated by psychological
disorders caused by what was later diagnosed
as post traumatic stress
disorder. The VVAA
is a
wholly volunteer body, whose sole interest is the welfare
of veterans and the families of veterans.
Click
here for The Casualty List (website). Many young
Australians were killed or wounded in Vietnam. This
website gives you the opportunity to read the names of those killed or
wounded. You will see how young many
were. You will also see where those that died are laid to rest.
Click here for the Nominal Roll of
Vietnam Veterans (website). Also lists the names of people like merchant
seamen, war correspondents, entertainers and others who were civilian
participants.
Click here for the National Vietnam Veterans Museum (website).
The
remains of three Australian servicemen killed in Vietnam have returned
home.
In April 2007, the burial sites of Lance Corporal Parker and Private
Gillson were discovered by members of
Operation Aussies Home and their remains have
now been returned to Australia.
Lance Corporal Parker and Private Gillson had been members of A Company
1st Battalion Royal Australian
Regiment (1 RAR). In 1965 - 66 1 RAR formed the third battalion of 173d
Airborne Brigade. They were killed
on 8 November 1965.
Lance Corporal Gillespie became the third Australian MIA
in Vietnam to be found last year by veterans' group
Operation Aussies Home, 36 years after being killed in combat. His
remains have now returned home.
Lance Corporal Gillespie was a medical orderly aboard an
Australian Army
helicopter sent to rescue a
wounded South Vietnamese soldier in an area
known as the Long Hai Hills. As the wounded man was being
winched aboard the helicopter it was hit by machine gun fire, crashed
to the ground and exploded. The pilots
escaped but Lance Corporal
Gillespie, who was pinned under the wreckage was killed. Three other
soldiers
also died.
Click here for Operation Aussies Home (website).
"Last year
I was
contacted and asked if the song could be played at an Ardrossan service
in honour
of Lance
Corporal Richard (Tiny) Parker and Private Peter
(Gilly) Gillson. The service, conducted at
the Ardrossan Soldiers Memorial by
Pastor
Brian Tugwell, was attended by veterans from Ardrossan,
Adelaide and
the Copper
Coast. The incredible effort and commitment taken to bring home the
fallen
soldiers, is one of the greatest examples of
mateship I have ever seen."
Peter Barnes (Author of the song)
Click here for the local newspaper report on the service for the two fallen heroes (website).
The first video that was
created for
Australians who served in Vietnam is called Vietnam war
heroes.
Click here to
watch
the video on YouTube (the video has passed 51,000 views in 11 months).
The
author of
the song has been deeply affected
by the stories of some Vietnam
Veterans he has met and how poorly many
were treated on their return to
Australia. Many Vietnam
Veterans have been damaged for life because of the
rejection and abuse
they faced when they came back from Vietnam.
One Vietnam Veteran told Peter he has
never marched on ANZAC Day and
will never forget what happened
to him. Vietnam war heroes,
in a sense,
is how Australians
should have welcomed back those that
served in Vietnam so long ago. Many Vietnam
Veterans have died
over the past 40 years feeling Australia and
Australians let them down. This also has greatly
affected many families
and the loved ones of Vietnam
Veterans. For those Australian Vietnam Veterans alive
today, it's not too late to
tell them they are heroes.
Vietnam Veterans from 1RAR sent
photos to the author of the song to be included in a video with the
song.
Click here to
watch that video on YouTube (the
video has over 16,000 views in
10 months).
A
couple of years ago a Vietnam Veteran in South Australia invited
Peter
to an anniversary service for the
Battle of Long Tan where the heroes song was included in the
commemorative service. Peter has
never felt
more proud to be an Australian. The service included a helicopter pass
over and he will never forget the
experience of being with Vietnam Veterans at that time.
The Battle
of Long
Tan was a defining event in Australia's longest war. It
was one of the
most intensive
actions Australian soldiers fought in Vietnam. On 18 August 1966,
a rifle
company of 108 men from
D Company 6RAR,
cut off and outnumbered by at least ten to one, withstood repeated,
massed Viet Cong
attacks
for four hours. Many of the
Australian soldiers were conscripts, barely out of their
teens. The bravery
and tenacity of the Australian soldiers became legendary. 18 young Australians lost their lives. 17
from
D
Company
6RAR, and 1 from the armoured personnel carriers (APC's). 24 were
wounded. Of those that died,
the youngest was 19 years old and the eldest was 22 years old. 11 were
National
Servicemen (conscripts) and
7 were Regular Army enlisted.
VIETNAM VETERANS DAY - 18TH AUGUST - LEST WE FORGET
Vietnam Veterans' Day, celebrated on 18 August each year, is an opportunity to honour those Australians who
served during the Vietnam War and remember those who died.
'Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching?'
*The photograph above, was kindly provided by Tom Smith who served with 1RAR in Vietnam.
Peter Barnes initiated this song in 2001. He is the author (and copyright owner) of the song and he created
the concept, title and lyrics. You can contact Peter by email here
Please click here
Click here to read comments regarding the song.
Since being created 7 years ago, the song continues to increase in popularity and approximately 1,000
people a day view videos relating to the song on YouTube alone. There are few uniquely modern day Australian
commemorative songs you can use for free, if any at all. With this song you can access a CD quality mp3
file of the song in full length for free. You can ask for sheet music to be emailed to you to be used for
commemorative purposes for free. You can access the lyrics for free.
'Can you hear Australia's heroes marching?' © Peter Barnes 2001 - 2008. All Rights Reserved.