A great deal of Australian patriotic music was inspired by Australia's involvment in military conflicts.
In 1899 the Australian colonies committed contignents to the South African War, also known as the Boer War. The songs that were inspired by the conflict show Australia's colonial self image as firmly part of the British Empire but over time, particularly after Federation, songs were written that reflected our growing national identity.

This piece was described as a descriptive piano solo 'illustrating the gradual approach, march past and disappearance of an Australian patrol'.

The Oxford companion to Australian music , Melbourne : Oxford University Press, 1997

Music : a monthly journal devoted to the interests of the art and trade in South Australia, Adelaide : [Distributed by] Cawthorne & Co. for the Proprietors, [1896-1900]
See September 1900

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