Remember The Horses Too

All registered Forum users can post bush poetry dedicated to all those who served
Post Reply
Kym

Remember The Horses Too

Post by Kym » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:58 am

I did my "Remember The Horses Too" poem at Toastmasters last night for Anzac Day today. I also showed a powerpoint of photos and paintings of horses in the war beside me. Yes, I got a little teary and shaky voiced, but that's ok - it just proves the poem comes from the heart. During the last couple of lines, I played a couple stanzas of "The Last Post", and gave it a very emotional ending.

"Remember The Horses Too"
by Kym Eitel

This is a tribute to the silent heroes of war …

The men who went to war for us and died so far away,
are honoured and remembered well each April - Anzac Day.
Our soldiers fought with hero strength, but let us not forget -
who helped them through those horrid times of bomb and bayonet?

The Remounts Section sourced the best – Australia’s finest Walers
were led aboard a hundred steam ships – patient equine sailors.
Oblivious to war ahead, they crossed the angry waves.
Not all of them survived the trip, some sleep in ocean graves.

The Brigadier’s prancing mount, the communications steed,
the half-legs pulling water carts, gave strength, endurance, speed.
The Waler took the trumpeter to call at Palestine.
The heavy horse pulled medic carts behind the firing line.

The gun horse hauled artillery to arm the troopers’ fight,
while sections rode reconnaissance each dark and restless night.
Through dust storms, scorching temperatures and shifting sand and hills
they proved that they had hearts of gold, with courage, nerve and wills.

The horses saw the desperate times when death was all around.
They galloped through the screaming injured, thrashing on the ground.
They were shot at, strafed by German planes, felt shrapnel each grenade.
The wounded, frightened horses fell as Turk machine guns sprayed.

All did their job, and did it well, with little hope of rest.
The saddle taken off at night was thanks they got at best.
A pat, and “Thanks, good on ‘ya mate,” a nosebag full of corn,
a quick lay down, a few hours sleep, then back to war at dawn.

There’s been so many stories told – heroic acts of horses
who double-backed the injured men and dashed through Turkish forces .
Then when the war was finished, all the troopers clapped and cheered,
but what about the horses, that they loved and so revered?

Their horse was friend and comrade, through the thick of war and thin.
The Aussie politicians wouldn’t let them come back in.
They said, “Because of quarantine, and massive costs involved,
you’ll have to leave your mounts behind.” The troopers’ cheers dissolved.

The war was done. The men could leave that nightmare combat zone,
but first, they had to take the lives of those who’d saved their own!
The younger mounts were volunteered to India’s command.
Those over four were shot and left to perish in the sand.

The horses of the 3rd Brigade were killed in Tripoli.
They lined them up in olive groves, then shot them. Tears ran free.
Each marksman fired, and wished the horse had died while serving war,
to lay the blame on enemy – instead his own heart tore.

The horses’ frightened screaming rose above the gunshot rattle,
and left the men with lifelong scars, of killing after battle.
A horrid way to thank each horse for service in the sand,
and fearless dedication shown to save our precious land.

Three hundred thousand Aussie horses gave their blood and lives ,
to help return our troopers to their children and their wives.
They gave their all, then still found more brave gallantry to give.
They’d never see green fields again, or come back home to live.

We’re grateful for the Anzacs and their sacrifice as well.
We know the wars were brutal and the soldiers went through Hell.
So honour fallen loved ones and the men we never knew,
but please, on every Anzac Day … remember the horses, too …


K.

Neville Briggs
Posts: 6946
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 12:08 pm
Location: Here

Re: Remember The Horses Too

Post by Neville Briggs » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:43 am

Well done Kym Good to hear from you.

Don't forget the famous donkey too ( I think the donkey was a native of the Dardanelles, not Australia ).
Neville
" Prose is description, poetry is presence " Les Murray.

Post Reply