Les from Hull wrote; I agree that it's still a great song. And not nearly as inacurrate as that other fine song Eric Bogle's 'The band played waltzing matilda'!

Before Kevin Fewster became director of the Powerhouse Museum he had been the director of the Maritime Museum, latterly the Sydney one and, before that the Adelaide one. So I suspect he'd be able to set us straight on the correct story. In light of Les' comment, Kevin had done his PhD in Australian military history, and as a lecturer (and having edited the Diaries of CEW Bean) used the text of Eric Bogle's song as part of examination papers, asking the students do document the errors of fact.

How the wheel turns.
Cheers, Rowan