From Pack horse to Legend- Bill the Bastard
Bill’s military life began at Sydney’s Liverpool Army Camp, used by recruiting officers to test the skill and strength of would-be lighthorsemen.
After bucking each eager recruit with ease, Bill was labelled unrideable and delegated to work as a pack horse carting supplies and munitions.
Along with 130,000 other Australian war horses, Bill began his voyage to the Middle East in late 1914. He was cared for by bush poet and war correspondent Banjo Paterson, who later commanded the Australian Remount Squadron.
During the journey, Paterson noted in his diary: “you can’t lead Bill the Bastard to anything and you certainly can’t make him drink”.
After arriving in Egypt, Bill was sent with Anzac troops to the shores of Gallipoli.
He began work as a pack horse and eventually carried the body of war hero John Simpson from the battlefield after his death on May 19, 1915.
Journeying between Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove, Bill suffered two gunshot wounds. One bullet was never removed.
It was during his recovery that Bill became inseparable from Major Michael Shanahan, who grew determined to break-in Bill and become his rider.
Major Shanahan adopted a strategy of whispers, pats and liquorice allsorts, soon earning Bill’s trust and becoming the only man to ride him in battle.
It wasn’t until the Battle of Romani on August 5, 1916, however, that Bill and Major Shanahan’s heroics would become legendary.
Fighting off Turkish troops, the pair rescued four stranded Tasmanian soldiers, who piled onto Bill as he rode almost three miles to return them to safety.
Returning to battle, Major Shanahan passed out on top of Bill after suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg, which was later amputated once Bill returned him safely to base.
Bill survived the war but was unable to return to Australia. He died in 1924 at the age of 21 and is buried at Walker’s Ridge in Gallipoli.
We’ll remember them 🥀💮🥀🎴🎴🎴🥀💮🎴🥀🥀🎴💮🥀🎴🥀🎴💮
@peacewriter51
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