Bob,

Thank you for the good summary. I cannot refute it. You've given five (I think) of the 12 reasons I never mention this song when I'm in the same room as an Australian - especially one who feels I'm within punching distance.

There's also the whole discussion of how much Paterson actually contributed to the words of "WM." (I try to stay out of missile distance for that one.) That is that J.Meredith, himself, in Folk Songs of Australia mentions the song and gives the verse above and a chorus, he says that it was widely sung in Australia in the 19th Century but doesn't give any more info other than the fact that    Waltzing Matilda probably predates Banjo Paterson by 20 years and he 'polished' an existing version.

My extensive notes on the three songs are in a text file, which I've intentionally renamed to something, I couldn't remember and buried somewhere 5 directories down among tech files.

In a private communication, Mr Coe, is forthright about his own contribution to text, verifies the words of his own (Copyright, 1970, BTW. He should be mentioned if you sing it), that he contributed the title change to "bold" to avoid modern confusion as to the fusilier's proclivities. Wisely, he pretends to no scholarship on the origins of the core verse. However, before writing his own, he did as thorough a search as he could for any additional verses. He found none.

Several sources give:
The tune of "The Gay (Bold) Fusilier" was later used for "Thee Bonny Wood of Craigielea" and its tune was later used for "Waltzing Matilda" and its tune was later used for "Marching Through Rochester."

I think that should settle it.