Eric Bogle (born 23 September , 1944 ) is a Scottish -born Australian singer and songwriter. He was born in Peebles , Scotland , and emigrated to Australia in 1969. He currently resides near Adelaide , South Australia . Perhaps his best-known song, written in 1972, is And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda , a haunting evocation of the ANZAC experience fighting in the Battle of Gallipoli ; it has also been interpreted as a reaction to the Vietnam War . studentsiworld