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Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson

Birth and Nationality

Andrew Paterson was born on February 17, 1864 to parents Andrew and Rose Isabella Paterson. He was given the nickname Barty in Narrambla, New South Wales where he was both born and raised.

Education

Barty’s was taught by a governess in his early years. Later, in 1874, he was enrolled at Sydney Grammar School.

Spouse and Children

In 1903, Barty married Alice Emily Walker and had two children named Grace and Hugh. The couple’s first home was in Queen Street, Woollahra.

Military and Poet Career

“The Banjo”, after his favorite horse, was his penname when he started submitting poems in the Sydney edition of The Bulletin in 1885. In 1889, he became The Sydney Morning Herald’s war correspondent. He did not become a war correspondent during the WWI, but he we served as an ambulance driver for the Australian Voluntary Hospital. In 1916, he was reported missing during his mission in the Australian Imperial Force. The same year, he was assigned in Cairo, Egypt as commanding officer of the unit based there. He was discharged in the army in 1919.

In between military missions, he still found time for his passion in poetry. "Waltzing Matilda" is one of his famous works and became one of Australia’s famous songs. “The Man From Snowy River”, "Clancy of the Overflow", “An Outback Marriage” and “The Animals Noah Forgot” were equally famous.