15 July 1918: Death of Ginger, the Waler

From AWM: "Australian light horsemen riding waler horses. The soldiers are of the original contingent of the Australian Imperial Force and the photo was taken prior to their departure from Australia in November 1914. The soldier on the right is Trooper William Harry Rankin Woods, 1st Light Horse Regiment, who died of wounds on 15 May 1915, one of the first light horsemen to die during the Battle of Gallipoli."

Poor old Ginger was shot under me. 
The most intelligent animal that ever lived.
Relieved by 6 LHR. 
Saw Reg and gave him letters (Anjah)
J. A. Graham
 
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PASTED IN BACK OF J.A.GRAHAM DIARY:

The Waler
When Allenby’s army smashed the Turk,
Who was the bloke who did the work?
The Aussie knows, and he’ll tell you straight
That most of the job was done by his mate
         The wonderful Aussie waler.

It was umpty-nine in the shade each day
And the wells were spoiled in the Turkish way;
But with nothing to eat and plenty to do
The heart of the waler carried him through
         The wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
For ten long weeks through the desert hot
He plugged along, and all that he got
Was a drink – or not a drink – a day.
But did the stamina once give way
         Of the wonderful Aussie waler?

Was he the one to desert his mate?
Just watch him coming up the straight,
With twenty stone of harness and man!
No wonder the Turk was an also-ran
         With the wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
When drink was not and feeds were few,
There still was his harness that he could chew;
With a nibble or two at another’s mane
He plucked up heart to march again,
         The wonderful Aussie waler!

And when everything eatable seemed to fail,
A hair or two from a neighbor’s tail
Made a pleasant meal; and there’s no doubt
They took it turn and turn about,
         The wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
A white Australian through and through,
There’s a good time coming, old horse, for you.
There’s a paddock green, with grass to your knees,
And there you shall roll to your lordly ease,
         My wonderful Aussie waler!

With a gallop or two to keep you fit –
And won’t it bring back the thrill of it!
There’s no more hardship and little work
For the cobber who broke the heathen Turk,
         My wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
But what is this that the orders tell?
This mate of mine they’re going to sell!
To the old home paddock you’ll never come back;
They are selling you to a dirty black,
         My wonderful Aussie waler!

The times together that we’ve been through,
When all that I had in the world was you!
Out there! Out there, in a world of men
You were more than wife or sweetheart then,
         My wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
There was trust and mateship in your eyes.
A horse has no soul! All lies, all lies!
And more than a kiss or soft lips that speak
Was your muzzling nose against my cheek,
         You wonderful Aussie waler!

A life-long slavery is your fate?
Not while a mate can still shoot straight!
Your eyes….I need a steady hand…
Goodbye, old chap…you understand,
         You wonderful, wonderful waler!
 
N.S.W.  Arthur H. Adams