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28 November 2006
Much has been said about the New Zealand soldier who has served loyally in many theatres of war, but very little has been said about one of our noblest of warriors, that of the Anzac horse. Their contribution in the line of duty is worthy of recognition and is now the subject of a new documentary film, titled All The King’s Horses, written and produced by Paul Sanderson.
New Zealanders have long held an affection for the horse. Being an agriculture-based economy, New Zealand relied on the horse as a work horse and for transportation, so when WW1 broke out New Zealand was in an ideal position to supply not only young men but also horses.
On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. The following day the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Liverpool, read the “Declaration of War” to an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the steps of Parliament.
From every corner of New Zealand young men flocked to the recruitment centres all keen to get away. For many this was an opportunity of a lifetime; it was a chance to see the world, a chance to prove oneself. Little did they know what lay ahead.
Those who owned a horse joined the Mounted Rifles, otherwise it was the infantry. Joining the Mounted Rifles was not easy, and the training camps soon weeded out the unsuitable. Apart from being fit and healthy you had to be over five-foot-four and less than 12 stone and, above all, you had to be a master horseman.
Within two months the troops of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and their horses were ready to depart. Of the 12 transports, eight carried 3,700 horses, with the Orari carrying the largest consignment of 730 horses. When conditions allowed, the horses were led from their stalls for a walk around the deck; however, the seven-week journey took its toll and 25 horses from Orari died.
By the beginning of December 1914, the combined Australia and New Zealand fleet of 38 transports steamed into the ancient port of Alexandria, Egypt, and the horses were unloaded. Many stampeded in the excitement of being on solid ground and some took days to round up, but once settled into camp the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the Australian Light Horse trained in the harsh desert. It was strenuous work and many survival lessons were learnt.
For most troopers this was their first trip overseas. When day passes were issued they took in the sights, visiting the pyramids and many ancient temples; for others, the temptations of the bars and brothels in the Wassir district of Cairo became more appealing. Back in camp there were rumours of a new destination called Gallipoli and soon the excitement turned to disappointment as the bandoleers, leggings and spurs of the mounted horseman were replaced with the unfamiliar putties and packs of the infantry.
By May 1915 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and Australian Light Horse had landed without their horses. However, the terrain was unsuitable and some horses were landed in August for dispatch work between headquarters in Anzac and Suvla.
By the end of the Gallipoli campaign the New Zealand Mountain Rifles had suffered many casualties and all regiments were less than half strength. On Boxing Day 1915 those who survived Gallipoli were reunited with their horses back in Cairo. Reinforcements brought the Mounted Rifles up to strength and a reorganisation saw the infantry sent to France. This new force was now known as the Anzac Mounted Division, and consisted of the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade. Artillery support came from the Ayres and Inverness Royal Horse Artillery Batteries from Scotland and the Summersets and Leisters from England.
The objective was to secure the Suez Canal and drive the Turks and their German overlords from the Sinai and Palestine. This proved to be no easy task. Right from the outset the troopers and their horses suffered in the harsh desert conditions and many battles were fought over and in the vicinity of wells. It was not uncommon for horses to go without water for up to 90 hours, in gruelling heat and often on the run. Soon the straining sands of Sinai were behind them and the mounted troops moved into the fertile plains of Palestine. At least in this wilderness they could find grass. Beersheba, Gaza and Ayun Kara soon fell and the Mounteds crossed the Jordon River and moved into higher ground. El Salt and Amman were captured but celebrations were short-lived as malaria swept through the division.
Whatever was thrown at the horsemen, they overcame. They held their own in the harsh environment, often under fire and without water and supplies. Compared to the horsemen on the Western Front who had little chance for a decent charge, the desert campaign seemed more of an adventure, but times were changing. The tank or land battleship (as it was known) had made an impact, and so too had the aeroplane. In the space of only a few years, motorised transport was firmly entrenched and the last and greatest mounted army in history slowly moved back to the coast.
In October 1918 Turkey sued for peace. With the hostilities over, the British Army faced a new problem, what to do with all the horses. Many were repatriated home and thousands were sold to the Indian Army, but against public opinion and protests from the RSPCA, 20,000 British horses who fought in the Desert Campaign were sold to the Egyptians.
A similar fate awaited the Australian and New Zealand horses. The troopers had seen how harsh the natives treated their animals and the thought of their faithful companions becoming slaves in a rock quarry or being whipped on the streets of Cairo was not an option. Many were taken to the desert and shot. For the troopers who had guided their mates through years of war and the harsh conditions, the decision not to return them to Australia and New Zealand because of quarantine and cost was a bitter blow.
From 1914–1918, New Zealand sent 10,238 horses on active war service to Europe, including France, Egypt and Palestine. Colonel Powles’ horse Bess was the only horse who left New Zealand to return, and only one horse returned to Australia.
If you would like to see some images and clips or purchase a copy of the documentary All The King’s Horses, visit the website below.
Paul Sanderson is a freelance researcher and documentary film maker living in North Canterbury. His son PTE Oliver Sanderson 2/1 Battalion RNZIR, is presently deployed to East Timor
More Images/Clips on: www.horsedocumentary.com
Images: © Alexander Turnbull Library
This page was last reviewed on 29 November 2006 and is current.
