This short video is an introductory tribute to the contribution of Australian horses to the conflict known as “World War I”.
While you may have an image of that war being fought in the trenches of France and Belgium, think again. The war was fought on many fronts across Europe and the Middle East. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) went to war as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that fought mainly in the region known then as Palestine, as well as Egypt and, most famously, Turkey, where the Battle of Gallipoli served up the British-aligned forces one of its worst and bloodiest defeats.
The horses shipped from Australia to the Middle East were known simply as “Walers” because they were shipped from New South Wales, where most Australian horse breeding was centered. They were horses bred to work the sheep stations, with no thought to an official breed registry. After the Waler horses went to the Boer War in Africa in the late 1800s, it became obvious to the British Empire that the horse that was suited for work on the vast Australian sheep stations was also good at war.
What little was left of the Waler breed after World War I evolved into today’s Australian Stock Horse. According to the breed association, the recent preservation of Waler bloodlines centered on stock found running wild in the outback on properties that had been military remount stations.
A magnificent effort in Australia has preserved the bloodlines and re-established the breed. (Photo accompanies a story on the breed's web site.)
The Australian horses were the toughest on any front of World War I, and War Horse News is looking forward to giving these horses some of the due respect owed them. Luckily, their accomplishments in the war have been well-documented, even if their human counterparts were forced to abandon them when the war ended. That’s right, one Waler–an officer’s mare named Sandy–made it home to Australia.
Along the M7 motorway in Sydney is the symbolic Australian Light Horse Sculpture Parade. It is dedicated to the heroic troops who served in the Australian Light Horse mounted unit and to their horses, who could never return to their native country.
There are no horses in the sculpture and no mention of them. Their absence is symbolic of the fact that the horses could never return.
The human and equine sacrifices of ANZAC during World War I aren’t well known in the United States, but as this blog unfolds you will become aware of how much they did and how gallantly they did it, without seeking glory. Today, Australia and New Zealand still excel at horse sport and racing.
And it’s no wonder, with blood and heritage like the ANZAC and their Walers running in the horses’ and riders’ veins.
Learn more about Waler horses on the Waler Horse Society of Australia web site.
Rent or stream the video of the excellent film Gallipoli (starring a young Mel Gibson) to learn more about ANZAC and the Corps’ tragic experience in that battle.
All content © 2011 Fran Jurga and EquiSearch
Subscribe to Posts
Thank you for the introduction to the “real” war horses. You are right- I know very little of the history and am keen to learn more. Eagerly awaiting new blog posts!
Thanks, Sarah! I am thrilled that you came to the blog! I can’t tell you what an education this has been for me…and will continue to be over the coming weeks. Onward!
Thank you for the history. I re-posted again on my fb.
That’s terrific, Debbie, thank you very much!
I have driven past the Light Horse sculpture parade on the M7 many times and never really like the aesthetic of it or had any idea what it was meant to represent. However it explains in your link the lack of representation of a horse is symbolic of the loss of the Light Horseman in having to leave the horse behind. It is a pity the intent of the artistic message is not easily conveyed from the sculptural form to the audience.
Hello, Dyanna, I guess it is lit up at night?
More on Sandy
http://mhhv.org.au/?p=830
Jason, thank you very much for that link. What a fantastic story! It was so kind of you to stop by!
The United States had similiar policies in place for returning war horses and combat dogs home after a conflict. After WWII and the Vietnam conflict, many combat-trained dogs were euthanized rather than returning them to the states. They were classified as ‘property’. Many vets attest to the bravery of these animals and how their loyalty in battle saved many human lives! It has only been after the recent formation of such groups as German Shepherd Rescue that these policies have changed.
And then there is Dunkirk where many war horses were killed/shot on the beach during the evacuation of British troops.
Reviewing the history of the war horse will serve to change these antiquated and inhumane policies and bring to light the crucial role war horses and other animals played in retaining our freedom!
awarness is everything, fantastic
[...] jQuery("#errors*").hide(); window.location= data.themeInternalUrl; } }); } blogs.equisearch.com (via @Horse4LifeorgUK) – Today, 7:19 [...]
I really like how you’re incorporating history with this blog. Joey’s is the “voice” of all those anonymous cavalry horses.
Wow..love this stuff….
Not just dogs, but the horses also were euthanized..and in the US….and dumped in pits….(or driven into pits and shot) ….especially out west where they fought American Indian tribes for their land. In fact there is a movie about that..some soldiers defying orders to run the horses to Canada. I forget the name……very sad after their loyal work…