"The Phantom White Horse" of ANZAC Cove legend

[steve fuller]

Hi Pals

Was browsing through the 5th Btn Bedfords book last night & had completely forgotten about this guy, so while he's fresh in my mind, though Id ask who knows about him.

Apparently, every evening a daring Australian rider would run the gauntlet of shells & snipers to gallop across the beach, presumably with despatches or similar.

Anyone know who he was & whether he survived?

[BeppoSapone]

Are you sure it was White Horse and not Haig?

[SiegeGunner]

Are you sure it was White Horse and not Haig?

Sounds a rum story to me - so more likely Bundaberg!

[Auimfo]

Here's a photo of one of the despatch riders that galloped all the way from Suvla Bay to Anzac Cove to avoid being sniped at. O.k, this one's not a 'white horse' but the riders certainly did exist.

Tim L.

[steve fuller]

Gotta be a despatch rider really, but was wondering if they were recorded. P115 of Websters 5th Btn history talks about legends that spring up as a result of static warfare (presumably referring to bored minds of men who only really stared at the clouds for fear of being sniped at if they looked elsewhere). he says:

"For instance, every man who was at ANZAC will remember the famous story of the Phantom White Horse and its daring rider. Even after all these years (book was written in 1930) one dounts if that phenomenon has been explained to everyones satisfaction. There seems to be good reason, however, that an Australian, mounted on a white horse, ran the gauntlet as he rode with despatches from ANZAC Beach to Suvla Bay. His appearance was looked for daily with much interest. From all accounts, he rode at breakneck speed along the beach, and, although frequently fired at, was never hit".

Shame really as I was hoping someone else had heard about it, so woudl know the gent in question. He seems to have amused many bored, suffering troops though and picqued their interest! Nothing like a good old fashioned bit of soldiers imagination that results in a mini legend

BTW Tim, great photo. Captures it all. Thanks for including it mate

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Steve

G'day mate

The "White Horse" line should have been a tip off that the story is a leg pull. The obvious reason is a white horse is a wonderful target. In selecting walers, white was one colour that was specifically avoided. So only brown coloured horses ever made it into the ranks.

As for galloping at night - that would have been a no no. In Tim's pic, it is easily seen that it was taken around about noon.

As the earlier contributors mentioned, I think the troops were talking about the contents of their bottles such as "White Horse" or "Haig" or even the Bundy Polar Bear who also is white.

Cheers

Bill

[steve fuller]

Yea, good point Bill.

Possibly bored men exgagerating the story & turning it into a white horse, or mabe the horse changed to white over the years of retelling it whilst spending a bored year staring into the sands of Egypt on outpost duty.

Shame that but cant argue with the reasoning! The thought of a maniac on a highly visible white horse charging across the salt lake every evening made me smile. Conjured up pictures of lines of men cheering him on from their trenches!

Oh well ...

[Ozzie]

Brown, chestnut and bay horses were the army's choice, but have seen some greys in Egypt, probably Officer's horses.

Galloping at night along a beach, no problem, so long as the moon was up. In the moonlight a chestnut horse may look grey. There may lay the story.

If the despatch riders rode at night they ain't gonna walk are they? Not with rifles following them.

Would love to hear more first hand accounts of this.

Cheers

Kim