World War One generated a large number of patriotic songs. Some of the themes reflected in the lyrics of this genre of music are emotional and personal sacrifices, recruitment and anti-conscription.
A phrase used in the lyrics of this song 'Tommy Atkins will not smile at green Australian boys' reflects the relationship between Australian and British soldiers. Tommy Atkins is a term applied to British soldiers and was coined by Rudyard Kipling in his poem Tommy.

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