At the end of hostilities in the desert campaign what did happen to the horses? You often hear that the Troopers had to shoot their own horses but the reality was a bit different. True, some Troopers probably did have to put down their horse, probably due to an injury or illness in the field but this wasn't the case at the end of the war.
Initially the men were under the impression that they would be bringing their horses home with them. Unfortunately the logistics of this was beyond the affordability of the already cash strapped Government. The horses would have had to been kept under quaranteen, probably in England, and the cost of getting several thousand horses there and stabling them for months as well as shipping home would have been horrendous. The danger of introducing diseases to New Zealand was also against the idea.
The horses were inspected by various Officers of the Veterinary Corps and were then categorized as A, B, C or D.
The 'D" horses were those which were deemed unsound and in poor condition. Many of these would have been the horses which had left New Zealand with the Main Body. After four years of daily drills and long treks in the desert sands carrying heavy loads their joints were worn out. These horses were put down by the Veterinary Corps using humane horse killers.
The A and B horses were passed on into the hands of the British Army, staying on in Egypt for peace keeping duties.
This is an excerpt from the Diary of Trooper WH Gunson (58453) 11th North Auckland Mounted Rifles in which he tells the fate of the horses in his Troop.
Friday 14th February 1919
Stables at 6-30 then breakfast at 9am. Then paraded the C class horses and the D class horses they shot. Got back at 10. Then was reading until stables, lunch and then was over with Sandy and Norman til the afternoon until watering time at 3-15. Stables and tea at 5. All the C class horses went down the line. Bill Leonard went with them.
Saturday 16th
Stables at 6-30 and breakfast at 7. No drill on account of sports. I did not go. I took Peps gear over to the Ambulance. Pep went away with the Ambulance. Then I did nothing until stables. Lunch and then I helped to take the B class horse up to Brigade to be examined then stables then tea at 5.
Sunday 17th
Up at 6-30 stables. Only nine horses on line. Breakfast and then a shave and then cleaned up the Hotchkiss Gun and handed her in. Then fed up and had lunch. After lunch I got a letter from Leslie, Hilda and Eva and then I was playing cards with Ivan until stables then tea at 5.
Monday 18th
Up at 6-30, stables then breakfast. Had a shave and got ready for parade. Lecture on economics, agriculture and horses and then physical jerks. Then stables and lunch. I got a letter from Meredith dated Feb 2nd. Then I was over in Sandy's bivvie then came back and had a louse hunt. Then reading Weekly News Dec 12th. Then took Pep's letters to him in hospital. Tea and then I was reading my old letters and burnt them. Bill Leonard came back.
Tuesday 19th
Up at 6-30. Stables and then breakfast. On line orderly, filled the bags and then I cleaned the lines then did nothing until stables. Lunch and then I filled the bags and then was playing cards until feed up time. Tea and then I went to see Pep and his letter from Ernie Judd.
Wednesday 20th
Up at 6-30, breakfast then on fatigue making golf rings for Officers. Back at 11am lunch then went to races. Lost 5 Quid back in time for tea. Then was reading until bed time.
Thursday 21th
Up at 6-30. No horses for once! Then got ready for parade. Lecture on IOU, vet and lecture by Lt Col McCarroll on bush farming and then dismissed at 11am. Had lunch at 12 then went to football match between NZ and Aussies. NZ won 8 to 5. Then was reading then tea and after tea went to a concert at Y.M.C.A. by the Jewish Batt. Pep came back from Ambulance.
Initially the men were under the impression that they would be bringing their horses home with them. Unfortunately the logistics of this was beyond the affordability of the already cash strapped Government. The horses would have had to been kept under quaranteen, probably in England, and the cost of getting several thousand horses there and stabling them for months as well as shipping home would have been horrendous. The danger of introducing diseases to New Zealand was also against the idea.
The horses were inspected by various Officers of the Veterinary Corps and were then categorized as A, B, C or D.
The 'D" horses were those which were deemed unsound and in poor condition. Many of these would have been the horses which had left New Zealand with the Main Body. After four years of daily drills and long treks in the desert sands carrying heavy loads their joints were worn out. These horses were put down by the Veterinary Corps using humane horse killers.
The A and B horses were passed on into the hands of the British Army, staying on in Egypt for peace keeping duties.
This is an excerpt from the Diary of Trooper WH Gunson (58453) 11th North Auckland Mounted Rifles in which he tells the fate of the horses in his Troop.
Friday 14th February 1919
Stables at 6-30 then breakfast at 9am. Then paraded the C class horses and the D class horses they shot. Got back at 10. Then was reading until stables, lunch and then was over with Sandy and Norman til the afternoon until watering time at 3-15. Stables and tea at 5. All the C class horses went down the line. Bill Leonard went with them.
Saturday 16th
Stables at 6-30 and breakfast at 7. No drill on account of sports. I did not go. I took Peps gear over to the Ambulance. Pep went away with the Ambulance. Then I did nothing until stables. Lunch and then I helped to take the B class horse up to Brigade to be examined then stables then tea at 5.
Sunday 17th
Up at 6-30 stables. Only nine horses on line. Breakfast and then a shave and then cleaned up the Hotchkiss Gun and handed her in. Then fed up and had lunch. After lunch I got a letter from Leslie, Hilda and Eva and then I was playing cards with Ivan until stables then tea at 5.
Monday 18th
Up at 6-30, stables then breakfast. Had a shave and got ready for parade. Lecture on economics, agriculture and horses and then physical jerks. Then stables and lunch. I got a letter from Meredith dated Feb 2nd. Then I was over in Sandy's bivvie then came back and had a louse hunt. Then reading Weekly News Dec 12th. Then took Pep's letters to him in hospital. Tea and then I was reading my old letters and burnt them. Bill Leonard came back.
Tuesday 19th
Up at 6-30. Stables and then breakfast. On line orderly, filled the bags and then I cleaned the lines then did nothing until stables. Lunch and then I filled the bags and then was playing cards until feed up time. Tea and then I went to see Pep and his letter from Ernie Judd.
Wednesday 20th
Up at 6-30, breakfast then on fatigue making golf rings for Officers. Back at 11am lunch then went to races. Lost 5 Quid back in time for tea. Then was reading until bed time.
Thursday 21th
Up at 6-30. No horses for once! Then got ready for parade. Lecture on IOU, vet and lecture by Lt Col McCarroll on bush farming and then dismissed at 11am. Had lunch at 12 then went to football match between NZ and Aussies. NZ won 8 to 5. Then was reading then tea and after tea went to a concert at Y.M.C.A. by the Jewish Batt. Pep came back from Ambulance.