In 1907 the New Zealand government began publication of the School Journal for use in the nation’s schools. Its content reveals just how far New Zealanders at this time considered themselves also to be ‘British’. In 1908 the Journal published this sketch of young children acting out their loyal sentiments. The American flag held by one of the children indicates that Americans too were considered part of the Anglo-Saxon race. The sketch was accompanied by a poem, ‘The band of the red, white, and blue’. It included the following verses:

There waves the Flag of Britain,
The old ‘Red, White, and Blue.'
Play up, my gallant Drummer,
A loud rat-tat-a-too.

And now we’re marching onward
In all our brave array—
On to the field of battle—
To conquer, not to slay.

Play up again, brave Drummer!
We march against our foes!
We’re fighting for the Shamrock,
The Thistle, and the Rose.

‘Rat-tat-a-too, rat-tat-a-too,'
Three cheers for the Red, White, and Blue.