Dambusters March

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The Dambusters March is Eric Coates's theme for the 1954 film The Dam Busters.^[1]

It is critically and popularly acclaimed, made a tremendous contribution to the film, achieving iconic status.^{[citation needed]} For many, it is synonymous with the film - indeed, with the exploit itself. The Dambusters March remains a favourite military band item at flypasts in the UK.

The composer's son Austin Coates recounted in a radio interview for the BBC that the march was not actually written for the film and had in fact been completed a few days before he was contacted by the producers. The composer had apparently been carrying out an exercise in composing a march in Elgarian form, which is the same structure as the famous Pomp and Circumstance Marches.

The march is now the musical setting for the hymn "God is our strength and refuge".

Coates had a profound dislike of writing film music and turned down numerous requests; he was prevailed upon by the producers, who told him this was "a film of national importance." He was initially inclined to refuse the commission but, on hearing more about the film, came to the conclusion that the piece he had just completed might just be the very thing.

The film score itself was completed by Leighton Lucas.