Hey Mike, I was privileged to be at a small ANZAC Day service in the very small town of Balmoral, Victoria in about 2010 where Eric and John Munro held a great concert for the township. Eric sang this beautiful song. Eric explained that this song tells the story of the brave horses that served the Light Horse regiments in the deserts of the Middle East during Word War 1. At the end of the war the soldiers weren't allowed to take their horses back to Australia. They basically had two chooses, to shoot their horses or give/sell them to the local farmers who would work them to death in fields. Because the Troopers and horses had such a tight bond, many of them could not shoot their own horses, so they got their best mate to do it for them. Terribly sad ending for these magnificent animals that were just as brave as their riders. The only horse that I am aware of that came home was a horse by the name of "Bill The Bastard"" an exceptionally brave horse. Also has a very funny back story. If you get the chance look up the story.
This morning I went to the local hall for dawn service in Oakbank, a town where horses are very popular. The service was dedicated to the many 1000's of horses that went to war, and celebrated one called Sandy, who was the only one that came home.
Not just 19 - the youngest soldiers sent to Gallipoli were 14. Many 14-18 year old boys lied about their age as everyone wanted to go and fight. It’s heartbreaking 💔
Eric has a haunting tone to all of his music . Those horsemen my god they were incredible . Their horses carried many men dying . All of these song about war actually get to the soul of how we all feel for our soldiers past and present, war is very different now but not less painful for those incredible men and women who fight for our freedom. Thank you Mike . Lest we forget xox
My English grandfather joined the light horseman and he gained so much respect for the Aussies, that he joined the Australian army and fought in Gallipoli. A lot of the wounded guys, including my grandfather, were rescued by Turkish medics. They knew it was a fight that should never have happened, if it weren't for the arrogance of the British generals, it wouldn't have. So the Turks honour the ANZACS in ceremony with the Australians every year in Gallipoli.
Amazing song. There is a great book called Bill The Bastard based on a real legendary war horse. Fantastic read. Won't tell you why because it will spoil the story.
WW1 Australia of 5 million people lost 60.000 men during WW1 being seconded to British officers who treated them as being expendable colonials The horses were known as Australian Walers being bred as war horses and made the last recorded cavalry charge in modern history winning the battle of water wells of Beersheba despite being told to retreat into the desert They chose to die fighting for water than dying of thirst in the desert Thanks for remembering Anzac Day for us
they're walers because they were bred in new south wales for Australian conditions, they aren't war horses. they used whatever suitable horses they could round up for ww1. there were many mounted charges after Beersheba even in ww2. the lighthorse were never going to retreat at Beersheba it was the deciding battle of ww1 in the middle east whoever lost that battle lost the war. the poms didn't want the Australians of the 4th lighthorse brigade to charge because they were mounted infantry not cavalry and didn't have swords but the poms weren't ready so as soon as they arrived the 800 aussies used their bayonets in hand as swords and charged the 3000 entrenched ottoman. once they controlled the wells and were inside their line of defense every other outpost was picked off. the 10th light horse regiment were the first mounted unit into jerusalem on dec 9th 1917
fortunately this song isn't factual, the majority of the horses went to indian forces or allied countries. they couldn't be bought back to australia due to diseases that australia doesn't have. quarantining that many horses would've been a massive undertaking.
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Hey Mike, I was privileged to be at a small ANZAC Day service in the very small town of Balmoral, Victoria in about 2010 where Eric and John Munro held a great concert for the township. Eric sang this beautiful song. Eric explained that this song tells the story of the brave horses that served the Light Horse regiments in the deserts of the Middle East during Word War 1. At the end of the war the soldiers weren't allowed to take their horses back to Australia. They basically had two chooses, to shoot their horses or give/sell them to the local farmers who would work them to death in fields. Because the Troopers and horses had such a tight bond, many of them could not shoot their own horses, so they got their best mate to do it for them. Terribly sad ending for these magnificent animals that were just as brave as their riders. The only horse that I am aware of that came home was a horse by the name of "Bill The Bastard"" an exceptionally brave horse. Also has a very funny back story. If you get the chance look up the story.
This morning I went to the local hall for dawn service in Oakbank, a town where horses are very popular.
The service was dedicated to the many 1000's of horses that went to war, and celebrated one called Sandy, who was the only one that came home.
Not just 19 - the youngest soldiers sent to Gallipoli were 14. Many 14-18 year old boys lied about their age as everyone wanted to go and fight. It’s heartbreaking 💔
Yes, my father lied about his age and ended up in New Guinea with his older brother during the 2nd world war.
Eric has a haunting tone to all of his music . Those horsemen my god they were incredible . Their horses carried many men dying . All of these song about war actually get to the soul of how we all feel for our soldiers past and present, war is very different now but not less painful for those incredible men and women who fight for our freedom. Thank you Mike . Lest we forget xox
LEST WE FORGET 🌹
Just been to a dawn service and came home to this beautiful song that I had not heard before, and a beautiful reaction to it. Least we forget.
My English grandfather joined the light horseman and he gained so much respect for the Aussies, that he joined the Australian army and fought in Gallipoli. A lot of the wounded guys, including my grandfather, were rescued by Turkish medics. They knew it was a fight that should never have happened, if it weren't for the arrogance of the British generals, it wouldn't have. So the Turks honour the ANZACS in ceremony with the Australians every year in Gallipoli.
Amazing song. There is a great book called Bill The Bastard based on a real legendary war horse. Fantastic read. Won't tell you why because it will spoil the story.
WW1 Australia of 5 million people lost 60.000 men during WW1 being seconded to British officers who treated them as being expendable colonials The horses were known as Australian Walers being bred as war horses and made the last recorded cavalry charge in modern history winning the battle of water wells of Beersheba despite being told to retreat into the desert They chose to die fighting for water than dying of thirst in the desert Thanks for remembering Anzac Day for us
they're walers because they were bred in new south wales for Australian conditions, they aren't war horses. they used whatever suitable horses they could round up for ww1.
there were many mounted charges after Beersheba even in ww2.
the lighthorse were never going to retreat at Beersheba it was the deciding battle of ww1 in the middle east whoever lost that battle lost the war. the poms didn't want the Australians of the 4th lighthorse brigade to charge because they were mounted infantry not cavalry and didn't have swords but the poms weren't ready so as soon as they arrived the 800 aussies used their bayonets in hand as swords and charged the 3000 entrenched ottoman. once they controlled the wells and were inside their line of defense every other outpost was picked off. the 10th light horse regiment were the first mounted unit into jerusalem on dec 9th 1917
I see your tears Mike. It is really sad 😢
fortunately this song isn't factual, the majority of the horses went to indian forces or allied countries. they couldn't be bought back to australia due to diseases that australia doesn't have. quarantining that many horses would've been a massive undertaking.