Talk:Waler

Returned Waler

The book Light Horse by Laurence McCrea, 1986, gives an account from his father describing the history of the sole returned waler. According to this book:

• this horse was called "Samson" and last ridden into battle by a Pte Andrew (Andy) McTavish of the Light Horse
• Andy McTavish and Samson lead an ANZAC day march in Sydney after the war

The book is presented as a truthful although 2nd hand account. I could find no record of Andrew McTavish in the war records, so the book may not be entirely correct. On the other hand it does seems a little suspicious that the only returning waler would just happen to be that of a General.

As the book's account is different from the article's, could anyone provide sources for either claims:

• the "Sandy" mount of Major-General W.T. Bridges
• the "Samson" mount of Pte McTavish

--Zarni02 05:39, 5 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Sandy definitely came home and after his death was apparently stuffed and was on display at the War Memorial for a while. He gets discussed a bit at lighthorse.org.au, one such thread is here. There is some dispute was to whether Sandy, being a thoroughbred, qualified as a Waler. As far as being suspicious, I think quite the opposite -- the only sort of person that could get a horse returned through Australia's quarantine would have to have some clout. Given the strict process that went into the disposal of horses, I would be interested to know how a private could get his horse home. As far as I know, no soldier "owned" their horse -- they were all property of the army. Even those who supplied their own horse when enlisting were paid for it and then had it issued back as a remount. That said, if there's a source claiming another returned Waler, that is worth mentioning in the article. Geoff/Gsl 09:09, 5 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Thanks for the link. The waler in the book was returned to Australia in 1929, so I now think this story is unrelated to the "Sandy" of General Bridges. The General Bridges "Sandy" has lots of references, so am sure this story is factual.

I put a post on the lighthorse forum and will await replies before posting anything here. This book seems unreferenced elsewere, and is either forgotten or some of the book may be a bit of a yarn.

--Zarni02 00:54, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I don't see where you are getting the thoroughbred definition of Sandy from. 110.142.251.8 (talk) 01:58, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Questioning the breed

Having been active with the Lighthorse Association of Australia and with a general interest in Australian military history and getting around to looking through some articles on wikipedia I'd like to point out that there is no official reference towards a "whaler" being a defined breed and that historically the term was used to describe horses purchased in Australia for British Commonwealth government service overseas where they were known as New South Whalers or Whalers.

I intend to get some references from the official histories and other literary sources then come back and make an addition to the page. 58.169.80.111 (talk) 13:42, 24 November 2008 (UTC) — ermm posted by me TasDave (talk) 13:45, 24 November 2008 (UTC) (I lost session info)

One Came Home...

Of all the thousands of horses from Australia that travelled to distant lands to fight alongside our soldiers, only one came home - Sandy.

Sandy had belonged to Major General Sir William Bridges, who was killed at Gallipoli. From 1 August 1915 Sandy was in the care of Captain Leslie Whitfield, an Australian Army Veterinary Corps officer in Egypt. Sandy remained in Egypt until he and Whitfield were transferred to France during March 1916.

In October 1917 Senator George Pearce, Minister for Defence, called for Sandy to be returned to Australia for pasture at Duntroon. In May 1918 the horse was sent from the Australian Veterinary Hospital at Calais to the Remount Depot at Swaythling in England. He was accompanied by Private Archibald Jordon, who had been at the hospital since April 1917 and classed as permanently unfit for further active service.

After three months of veterinary observation, Sandy was declared free of disease. In September 1918 he was boarded on the freighter Booral, sailing from Liverpool and arriving in Melbourne in November. Sandy was turned out to graze at the Central Remount Depot at Maribyrnong, where he saw out the rest of his days. Following his passing, Sandy's head and neck were on display at the Australian War Memorial for many years.(www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/horses/sandy.asp) 180.181.24.67 (talk) 10:43, 15 November 2012 (UTC) Hope the above info is ok to post here. If not, can delete. Signed: Samantha George

       Owner of Waler: "Damascus".  
       Rural Southern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.