Goodbye Old Man

[angelab]

If a horse was mortally injured, did its rider/driver have to shoot it? Must have been difficult to do, but better than watching the animal suffering.

Angela

[John Gilinsky]

I wonder if Haig as a cavalry general ever saw this work especially during the war?

Does anyone know?

[Ozzie]

WOW - you will NOT believe this - BUT I have a contemporary print (from 1916/17) of Goodbye Old Man - It belonged to my grandmother who died in 1979. BUT it's a black and white print (about 30" high).

Until today I never knew it was a colour picture originally - I ALWAYS knew it as B/W Ink picture. In MANY respects it is more distressing in it's simpler form. If anyone is interested I'll try to post a piccy of it...

Yes, please.

Kim

PS Steve, lost the details but this post have brought them up again. Asking for it as a Xmas present.

[johnreed]

Today I took down the framed print of "Goodbye Old Man" which hangs in my dining room and pasted on the back is a poem where I obtained it I don't know, but I thought that I will share it with you.

The Offside Leader

I want no ribbon or medals to wear

Ive done my bit and Ive had my share

Of the filth and fighting, blood and tears

And doubt and death in the last four years

She learnt her job as the best ones do

And we hadnt been more than a week or two

Before she would stand like a rooted oak

While bullets whine and the shrapnel broke

And a mile of the ridges rocked with glee

As the shells went over from Battery B

WE swayed with the battle back and forth

Lugging the limbers south and north

Round us the world was red with flame

As we gained or gave in the changing game

The little brown mare with a blaze on her face

Who would die of shame at a slack in her trace

Would swing the team at the least command

Would charge a house at the clap of a hand

Who would turn from a shell to muzzle my knee

The Offside leader of Battery B

But I want no medals nor ribbons to wear

As Ive done my bit, it was only my share

If a man has his pride and the good of his cause

And the love of his horse, they are unwritten laws

Unknown Gunner

8th December 1918

[Roger H]

John

Thank's for sharing that - most moving. I hadn't seen the original thread.

Roger

[Guest exuser1]

Intrestingly sold a colour copy some years ago at Rochester flea market ,an old boy came up and said had a copy of that on his bed room wall ,when i was a youg lad would make me cry evernight befor i went to sleep saddest picture ever ,took us ages to sell it after that .