Susan Brocker - Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses

S ince I was a little girl, Ive loved horses. I also love history and learning all about our past. I was surprised then when I first heard about the amazing story of Bess only a few years ago. It intrigued me that I hadnt heard about her long before. I had to investigate.

I discovered that her story, and that of all the other Anzac horses, is simply incredible. I knew that far too many horses lost their lives in World War One in Europe, as did their human companions. What I didnt know was that so many of our horses and men also fought in the Middle East under terrible conditions in a war that is often forgotten.

As I researched and read the many diaries, memoirs and official histories of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the Australian Light Horse in the Middle East campaign, a moving story unfolded of the bonds that grew between these men and their horses.

Before sitting down at my desk each morning to write Besss story, I spent time with my own horse, Barney. Like Bess, Barney is a thoroughbred. Hes a tall, gangly chestnut with a big heart. As I learned about the conditions Bess and the horses lived and fought under, I marvelled at how they ever coped.

Horses are flight animals this means that when something frightens them their first instinct is to gallop away as fast as possible. This instinct comes from their days in the wild, when the ability to run fast could save them from becoming somebodys dinner. The fact that Bess and her comrades faced booming guns and screaming shells with steadfastness and bravery amazes me. Barney is startled by the rustle of a plastic bag, let alone an exploding gun. As I discovered, the horses went through many hours of training and conditioning. But mostly they developed incredible loyalty and trust in their masters.

During the research for this book, I received valuable advice and support from many people. Id like to thank Bob McNeil from TV3, who first brought Besss story to my attention. Thank you also to Steve Butler, webmaster and member of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association. The NZMR website is packed with interesting information, diaries and photographs, and I was in and out of the site a lot during my research. Also Terry Kinlochs books, Devils on Horses and Echoes of Gallipoli , and Richard Stowers Waikato Troopers , were invaluable sources of information and inspiration. Both Terry Kinloch and Steve Butler kindly read my text and provided some helpful feedback.

Paul Sanderson has written and produced a DVD called All the Kings Horses, which includes some excellent footage of the mounted riflemen and their horses. Thanks also to Dave Oldham, Jock Phillips, Matt Pomeroy, Mark Rhodes and Richard Stowers, and Eris Parker from Cambridge Museum, for their photographs from the private albums of the troopers. Many of these photographs show the great affection the troopers had for their horses in a way that words cannot convey.

Finally, thank you to Bess and her four-legged friends. Without their courage and sacrifice, many more of our brave New Zealand troopers might never have made it home from that distant desert land.