The outbreak of World War One in 1914 produced a large quantity of patriotic songs. Some of the themes reflected in the lyrics of this genre are personal sacrifices, recruitment and anti-conscription. Many published war songs, marches and choruses evoked remembered delights, portray longing and hope amidst the anxiety and anguish of war time experience.

Gertie Campbell composed songs and piano music, published the works of other South Australians and sold music in her shop in Bowman's Arcade, King William Street. As a pianist she was in the habit of embellishing popular pieces as she demonstrated them to her customers.

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Damousi, Joy. Living with the aftermath : trauma, nostalgia and grief in post-war Australia, Cambridge ; Melbourne : Cambridge University Press, 2001

Damousi, Joy. The labour of loss : mourning, memory and wartime bereavement in Australia, Cambridge ; Melbourne : Cambridge University Press, 1999

Holmes, Robyn. The collector's book of sheet music covers, Canberra : National Library of Australia, 2001