Harley Cohan, from Mudgee, NSW, studied drama and elocution before enlisting in 1915. In August that year he was wounded at the Battle of Lone Pine, Gallipoli and returned to Australia, where he wrote the patriotic lyrics to ‘They Were There! There! There!’

Set to music by Bert Rache, the song first became a hit for singer Peter Dawson on the Tivoli Circuit. Cohen found success in concert appearances and advertising, and continued to write lyrics, with his last known works published in 1954. In 1916 he co-founded the Gallipoli Strollers, a variety troupe of wounded veterans who toured Australia until the early 1920s. This recording is performed by English radio and concert singer Foster Richardson and was released on the Zonophone label.

Lyrics:

VERSE 1

There’s a land away across the rolling sea

We all know it ‘cos it’s called Gallipoli

April twenty-fifth the day

That they landed from the bay

We will keep that date fresh in our memory

Our Australian troops were landed on the beach

And within an hour those Turks were out of reach

They charged ‘oer dales and hills

And dosed those Turks with pills

Whilst to Allah every one of them did plead

CHORUS

They were there! there! there!

Our Australian boys were there

They never hesitated

Nor for an order waited

Never once looked to the rear

They were there! there! there!

Loyally they did their share

And when again they’re wanted

They’ll be there! there! there!

VERSE 2

It was at the early hour of half past four

That our boys were well established on the shore

Over hills the Turks had fled

But they left a heap of dead

Our brave troops were simply covered in their gore

Many gallant heroes died upon that day

But their bravery will in our memory stay

They did their duty well

They charged into a hell

And for the other troops they paved the way

CHORUS

They were there! there! there!

Our Australian boys were there

They never hesitated

Nor for an order waited

Never once looked to the rear

They were there! there! there!

Loyally they did their share

And for our Anzac  Heroes

Let us cheer! cheer! cheer!

(Additional verses not included on this recording)

VERSE 3

Now the Tommies who were sent up to relieve

Marveled at the gains that our boys did achieve

Then our troops went to the sea

Mustered up each Company

But the few that answered roll-call made them grieve

They had only been an hour upon the sand

When the news came flashing through, “We want a hand,

“Australia, we need you!

The Turks are piercing though

So once again those trenches were all manned

ENCORE VERSE

Now the news we did receive was none too bright

When we heard our Anzac boys had ceased to fight

Nine months solid work they’d done

In the broiling heat and sun

We had thought the end of all was well in sight

It grieves us much to know it was all in vain

After thousands of our best have now been slain

But Australia’s name they’ve made

That will never, never fade

And we will sing with all our might this true refrain