Originally titled "Soldiers of the King", this song was written and composed by Leslie Stuart, and first featured publicly in 1895. This was an immensely patriotic and popular song sung by all people with gusto and written about 1896 by an Englishman, Leslie Stuart. He had been born Thomas Augustine Barrett and adopted a stage name.
The song served as the regimental (quick) march of the Queen's Regiment, 1966-1992. In 1992 the Queens Regiment and Royal Hampshires became the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment who now use the song Soldiers of the Queen as their regimental song (at the end of the song the Regiment then sing "Farmer's boy" to show their links to R Hampshire) It is also the regimental march of the combined 2nd and 14th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry)and the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps.
The song was sung by the public attending a farewell function in Brisbane, Australia, the day before the departure of the 1st contingent QMI, to the Boer War. It was again sung as the contingent left Brisbane on board S.S. Cornwall on 1 November 1899.
The Footage is from British Pathé and "Last Man Standing Australian Boer War Anzac Light Horse Veteran" from the ABC. The Lyrics have slightly changed based upon the singers interpretations of the song to avoid confusion.