WW2 War Heroes.

'Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching?' is a national war memorial
song and a tribute to the ANZAC spirit of mateship, courage and sacrifice.

New website for the song at http://www.australianwarheroes.com You can link to the
new website for the song or tell others about it. The success of the song meant it was
necessary to create a domain that was unique to the song and gave it a permanent home
on the Internet. The song has over a million hits online with this website, YouTube, and other
websites that include the song. Take a look at the new website.

This website started back in the mid 90s, well before Google was even thought of. In the
beginning it was a website Peter Barnes put together for info about his advertising and
marketing business. Since 2001, the war heroes song has taken over more and more of the
website. As the website is now old, and image wise, out of date, it was necessary to create
a website for the song independent of this one. The website is kept alive today, mainly
because it still gets a lot of visitors looking for the song.

No recording or publishing company in Australia has shown any interest in the song over
the past eight years. If it wasn't for this website, our Australian war heroes would have not
been heard matching once again across our great land through this song. The global
aspect of the internet also allowed many people from other countries to hear the song.
For instance a publishing house in Norway asked for the song.

"The Norwegian publishing house Aschehoug is about to publish a new series of English schoolbooks for
8-10th grade in the Norwegian market. In this new series, called Key English, we want to make use of the song
"Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching".

Over 1,000 people a day view videos relating to the song on YouTube alone. Peter's
YouTube channel has passed one million video views, with most viewing videos relating to
the song. Click here to go to the YouTube channel. You can see videos of the song for
WW1, WW2, the Vietnam War and more.

The heroes song was created from Peter's experience in visiting the Adelaide River War
Cemetery (114 kms south of Darwin) in the Northern Territory and seeing the graves of
Australians who gave their lives in the service and defence of their country. Peter felt he
should do something within his capabilities to honour the memory of such incredible sacrifice.

A total of 434 war graves marked by bronze plaques are contained in the Adelaide River
War Cemetery. The burials are made up of 14 airmen of the RAF, 12 unidentified men of the
British Merchant Navy; one soldier of the Canadian Army; 18 sailors, 181 soldiers and 201
airmen of the Australian Forces and seven men of the Australian Merchant Navy.
The Northern Territory Memorial to the Missing honours a further 292 Servicemen and
women lost to the north of Australia. The adjacent civil section contains the graves of the
nine Post Office staff killed on 19 February 1942 during the bombing of Darwin, one of 63
separate occasions from that date. The civilian casualties of WW2 include those of 31
Indigenous Australians.

"To stand on my homeland, surrounded by our war dead, who fought heroically to defend
Australia and their loved ones down the track, was a profound experience and initiated
the creation of the song."
Peter Barnes

NEW: You can watch a video of the Adelaide River War Cemetery here

Click here for the 4 minute version of the song (has additional words).

Time marches on for our WW2 heroes

Click here for other inspiring Australian Songs by the author of the war heroes song (this is
a new website).

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.

The song is timeless and honours the memory of those who have died in the service and defence of Australia
in war.

The marching theme of the song is especially powerful and supports the spirit of ANZAC Day. The song
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.

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).

"Dale Lawther's father, Alan Dale Lawther, a WW2 veteran, passed away early in the morning on New
Years Day this year. Dale had asked if the song could be played at her Dad's funeral which I heartedly
approved. Dale was kind enough to send me photographs of her Dad and she said, 'Everyone has
commented on your song, they all loved it and thought it very apt.' Dale's email touched me deeply
and I asked her if I could do a web page in memory of her Dad. You can click here for the web page
'In memory of Alan Dale Lawther - An Australian hero'."
Peter Barnes (Author)

The author of the song will create a web page with video, the same as for Alan Lawther, for other
Australians who have served Australia in war and have passed away. This includes Australians who died in
war service. You can contact the author here for information to be sent to you if you have a loved one or
family member that you want remembered in such a way.

Click here to read comments regarding the song.

The words (lyrics) to the song have been requested to be used or read at commemorative ceremonies.
You can click here to download the words to the song (pdf file).

Second World War 1939 - 1945.

Nearly a million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War. They fought in campaigns
against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as against Japan in south-east
Asia and other parts of the Pacific. The Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time.

Over 30,000 Australian servicemen were taken prisoner in the Second World War and 39,000 gave their lives.
Two-thirds of those taken prisoner were captured by the Japanese during their advance through south-east Asia
within the first weeks of 1942. While those who became prisoners of the Germans had a strong chance of
returning home at the end of the war, 36 per cent of prisoners of the Japanese died in captivity.

For most of this war, nurses were the only women to serve outside of Australia in any capacity, except for the
Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Between 1939 and 1945, 71 Australian women lost their lives
during active service overseas. 3,477 AANS nurses served, and 71 never returned.

Click here to go to home page.

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

'Can you hear Australia's heroes marching?' © Peter Barnes 2001 - 2009. All Rights Reserved.

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All content on this page and on the video remains the property of the respective copyright holders. The song