Horses & Drivers

[christine liava'a]

Nearly 10,000 horses from New Zealand went overseas during this conflict. The main body as it became known consisted of 8,247 Officers and Men and 3,815 horses. This was the largest single body of men and animals to have left the Dominion. During the seven-week voyage the horses stood in their stalls all the way, except for coming ashore for a few days at Albany, Western Australia. The Troopers found that frequent rubbing and hosing with salt water helped prevent their legs from swelling. Shoes were removed for the voyage. When the animals came ashore at Alexandria they were in good condition. Sixty-five died on the voyage to Egypt.

Some remounts were despatched from New Zealand early in the War. However, the British War Office established a remount pool on Salisbury Plain, drawing its animals from UK, Canada, South America, South Africa and the USA. Some three million (horses and mules) passed through this pool during the time it operated. Especially fitted out horse-transport vessels operated out of the Port of Bristol and moved them across the channel to France.

Gallipoli

The Gunners and the ASC were the only NZ units to land horses on the peninsula, the remainder were left at the base in Egypt. Conditions on the beaches were bad and difficulties were experienced in getting guns and horses ashore. Our Infantry were desperate for supporting fire from our guns. The Royal Navy were shelling the area, but most of their fire was ineffective owing to the flat trajectories of their guns. It was later on 26 April 1915 before a section of 4.5 howitzers and two Indian Pack Batteries were brought ashore.

Water, forage, ammunition, rations, plus other supplies were brought in by barges. This system of supply continued for the duration of the troops' stay in this terrible place. Following the withdrawal, troops, guns and horses returned to base back in Egypt.

At base the Force was re-organised into an Infantry Division and a Mounted Rifle Brigade.

The Division moved to France and arrived at Marseilles in April 1916. Only men and animals went to France, the Division re-equipping at the overseas base.

The privations suffered by horses on the Western Front - particularly during winter - were terrible. Overwork, lack of shelter, food shortages and illness took its toll. Some animals became so weak they just fell and drowned in the mud and shell holes. Gun teams performed prodigious tasks in bringing the guns in and out of action. Bringing up ammunition was another arduous duty for Drivers and their horses.

With the defeat of Germany the NZ Division crossed the Rhine River at a place called Deutz. Here life was much more pleasant for all concerned. Barracks, stables and other amenities were available.

New Year 1919 saw the start of demobilisation and creation of an occupation force. When the time came for New Zealand Forces to be relieved of their occupational duties plans were made for bringing the men home.

No so for their 'long-faced' friends. Horses were divided into three classes. Certain mares were selected for breeding purposes, others were marked for retention by the British Army and the final group were sold either to be butchered for food or used for general purposes in Germany.

...............................................

What about other countries' horses?

[Guest paddy]

G'day Christine.

Steve seems to be AWOL at the moment, and Andrew's probably still asleep.

To their authoritive references, you might like to add some of my favourites.

In " Off Down the Track" Banjo Paterson gives a beaut account of horses from his time as a [the Boss ]Remount Officer in WW1 and a correspondent in Sth Africa. 10 -12 pages in all.

The Desert Column, Ion L Idriess, and The Long Ride by some W A bloke are "Boys Own" accounts taken directly from their diaries. The DC is an eye-opener re Anzac Cove. Both full length and not horse specific.

My favourite WW1 horse yarn. Despite being camped out in the desert, a ALH unit was "suffering" losses from being Crimmed by the MPs in Cairo. Smartie noted that men could only be tried in front of his C.O. C.O refused to go to Cairo. MPs must come to camp. Last 6 miles on hoseback. No ladies hacks available. MPs soon chose to stay in Cairo.

[Simon R]

Dear All,

A higher and wiser authority (my mum) suggests that British native ponies were highly sought after by the army both before and during the war and refers me to the following:

'Dales ponies.... were also recruited into the Army in large numbers for Mountain Artillery pack work in both world wars, helping to replace mules which had to be imported.' Dales Pony Stud Book Index 1916-1981..

Furthermore, after the South African campaign '... the war office had noted that most army remounts had not had the stamina for the long treks... it now supported a move to get more native pony blood into troop horses, as natives and native crosses had acquitted themselves well'. FitzGerald, I. 2000 Dales Ponies Whittet Books, Stowmarket p. 68.

FitzGerald notes how a 1912 committee of the Board of Agriculture & Fisheries considered that 'the larger Dales pony... with its great bone and surefootedness, is a foundation for producing ponies of the riding type and if mated with thoroughbred or polo pony sires gets riding horses or artillery lead horses up to 15.2 hands' p. 70.

Hairy beasts.