AAVC Commemorative Troop Queensland Inc. in Mudgeeraba, Queensland, Australia | Community organisation

AAVC Commemorative Troop Queensland Inc.

Locality: Mudgeeraba, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 405 480 266

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Non-profit organisation
• Community organisation

24.01.2022 We will remember them Lest we forget

24.01.2022 We held our monthly troop meeting in the stable block this morning and a small training afterwards. We focused on some desensitising training for the new horses and all went very very well. Sometimes it does not need to be Troop drill at training. Introducing new and different training keeps the interest in both horse and rider whilst improving horsemanship and riding skills. And the best thing......big smiles on people's faces.

22.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/events/258650121934038/

20.01.2022 Members from 'B' Squadron AAVC Troop attended an informal service at the War Memorial in Yandina on Rememberence Day, to honour the service and sacrifice of those that gave their tomorrow so that we could have our today. The Ode was recited after the minutes silence was observed and although a sombre occasion those that attended were all very appreciative of the troopers attendance and the significance of the occasion. "LEST WE FORGET"

15.01.2022 This year the troop held its AGM over a weekend at Stoney Ridge Ranch ( home of B Squadron AAVC)..after a couple of hours discussing Troop business and voting in a new committee, troop members headed off on an adventurous trail ride to Wappa Dam. Plenty of smiles and laughter on the ride and we arrived back late afternoon and followed with a few cold drinks, bbq and campfire. Congratulations to Our 2021 committee President - Laurie Watts Vice President - Roy Mientjes Secret...ary - Diane Chang Treasurer - Jane Howie Quartermaster - Matthew Langdon/ Chris Kennedy Social media - Jane Howie/Annmarie Lawson. See more

13.01.2022 Its not just Halloween today. On this day 102 years ago, the Australian Light Hose took Beersheba after a bloody battle. Take a moment to remember our animals o...f war. LEST WE FORGET Bill the Bastard. - By Liz Martin OAM Bill the Bastard was without doubt Australia's greatest war horse and a true legend of remember our animals of war. Gallipoli and the Battle of Romani in WWI. He was a massive horse unmatched in power, intelligence, stubbornness and courage. In size, character and performance he stood above most of the other Australian horses sent to the Middle East in the Great War. Bill the Bastard was a chestnut waler, an Australian breed of riding horse developed from horses that were brought to the Australian colonies in the 19th century. Bred in New South Wales, they were originally known as "New South Wales. Bill was fractious, fierce and built like a rhinoceros. At 17 hands, with a will of steel, he was the unbreakable horse. Many tried but his spirit was strong. Bill had all the attributes the Army looked for in a lighthouse but had one insurmountable problem; he would not let anyone ride him. Bill's military life had started at Sydney's Liverpool Army Camp where he was used to test the skill and strength of would-be lighthorsemen. After bucking each eager recruit, one after the other, with ease the huge chestnut was demoted to pack horse. Some said Bill took pleasure in watching would-be riders unceremoniously hit the dust, certainly the seasoned riders who matched him up with new riders did. After Bill was deemed unrideable he was sent to war as a pack horse to cart supplies and munitions. He famously carted the mail in Gallipoli and was the steed given the task of carrying the body of war hero John Simpson from the battlefield in May 1915. As unlikely as it would seem, Bill the Bastard went on to become a wartime legend and hero, famed for his incredible stamina and for saving many soldiers’ lives. It was Bill’s relationship with his rider, Major Michael Shanahan, that gave the packhorse the chance to become the hero he was meant to be. Before that, he was treated as a bit of a joke, according to biographer, war historian and author Professor Roland Perry. On one ocassion where enemy fire killed his rider, the Anzac and British troops bet on whether the horse would survive the fierce battle or also die. They could see his heroic efforts from the trenches. Bill made it and thereafter never faulted in bringing the post to Anzac Cove.The men on Gallipoli never knew whether their mail would reach them or be shot down by Turks on its seven-kilometre journey from the beach. The cavalry men were shot off, but Bill always reared up and always got through. He was once saved by a vet who worked very quickly on a flesh wound." Bill later left Gallipoli with bullet in his rump. Journeying between Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove, Bill suffered two more gunshot wounds. One bullet was never removed Major Shanahan saw this and thought he would try to get the horse. He saw the big horse's will to live and military potential where others did not. At the time, the military treated horses roughly, whipping them freely, pulling on the reins and riding them until they collapsed. Desperate times called for desperate measures. It was life or death. But Shanahan was 100 years ahead of his time. He gave Bill the respect he deserved. Shanahan was a brilliant horse whisperer. He would cajole but was never brutal. He nursed the horse, sang Aussie ditties to him, went swimming with him and fed him Licorice Allsorts. Bill the Bastard grew to love Shanahan. His loyalty to his rider was nothing short of outstanding. Bill soon gained a reputation for being fearless, standing his ground in an ambush and warning his rider of danger ahead, using his keen instinct and sense of smell. Shanahan persuaded his captain, Banjo Paterson, to let him take Bill the Bastard into battle when 200,000 horses headed out into the 50 sandy windblown desert for the pivotal Battle of Romani. Both sides desperately needed a win to take control of the much prized water wells. August 5, 1916, should be a date writ large in Australian history, said Prof Perry. It was a magnificent effort. Bill's spirit became hugely important during one of the many crisis in the battle of Romani. A pitched battle was raging between the Turks and Australians, with the two sides just 35 metres apart, warring in the dark of night. Bill's heroic efforts and exceptional instincts in battle saved the lives of Shanahan and four of his Tasmanian troop. The right flank was under fierce assault. One group of five troopers saw their horses shot or lost - all except Bill the Bastard - he had not cut and run with the other horses. Bill stood his ground, almost as if he knew he was this quintet's last hope of escape; which indeed he was. Three troopers hurried across the sand and scrambled on top of Bill, praying he would not buck, which he always did when mounted. This time however, instead of complaining about his load Bill stood firm. The remaining two troopers balanced on a stirrup on either side of the big horse and hung on as best they could. The mighty waler dug his hooves into the soft sand, snorted and sweated in a lumbering gallop for just over a kilometre, all the while under constant fire. He carried his precious load, the heavy load of five Australian light horsemen, to safety. Any other horse would have collapsed, but not Bill! On another ocassion Shanahan was shot in the leg but kept fighting, going up and down the line until he collapsed on his horse. The loyal steed carried his rider three kilometres to the vet, who passed him on to a medic, where his leg was eventually amputated. Bill the Bastard had to be forced to leave his riders side. It was the first time the Turks were defeated in the Middle East. Bill was officially retired after the battle, he performed so well. He still saw a lot of action everyone wanted Bill. He would carry mail to the front lines, machine guns or lead the line, and was seen as a symbol of strength. The story of Bill the Bastard is the remarkable tale of a bond between a determined trooper and his stoic but cantankerous mount. They did everything together, eat, sleep and go into battle. Shanahan never poured himself a drink of water before he filled his turned up slouch hat for Bill. The pair depended on each other for their survival and trusted each other implicitly. When the chips were down, Bill always pulled through. Bill had become a legend, a symbol of the courage and unbreakable will of the Anzac mounted force. There was no other horse like Bill the Bastard. Horses can be heroes too. Bill was one of the 130,000 Australian horses which served in World War One and were never to return home. The horses were not supposed to be returned to Australia because of logistical, costs and disease risk factors. The small town of Murrumburrah in NSW is recognised as the birthplace of the Australian Light Horse in 1897. The town also features a bronze sculpture of Bill the Bastard carrying five men during the ‘Retreat at Romani’. Bill has also been immortalised in the form of a book by Roland Perry, aptly titled ‘Bill The Bastard’. Most walers were taken into the desert and shot by their riders to stop them falling into enemy hands where they'd be abused, used as beasts of burden or brutally killed for meat. It must have been shattering for them, Bill the bastard survived the war but even he was not allowed to return to Australia. He was left with villagers in Gallipoli where he died at the age of 21 in 1924. He is buried at Walkers Ridge in Gallipoli. RIP. Bill the Bastard; A loyal Australian war horse who rode with bravery and valour at Gallipoli and the desert campaigns of Egypt and Palestine.

13.01.2022 https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=422406728679025&id=311406719779027

11.01.2022 Today we celebrated War Animal Day in Cunungra with troop members from both A and B Squadrons AAVC Troop, and troopers from QMIHT as well as the heavy horse that attends AWAMO events. A big thank you to all whom attended and persevered with the rain. The day was also celebrated in New Zealand, the USA, Tasmania, Canberra and Poziere in France.

09.01.2022 Just a reminder that if you have not paid your ALHA or AAVC Troop membership you are no longer financial and not covered under the insurance at Light horse events. If you're wanting to renew your memberships then go to the ALHA website for their membership renewal process and contact the AAVC secretary for their renewal process. Looking forward to your continued involvement and support. AAVC Management Committee.

09.01.2022 Today members of 'A' and 'B' Squadron AAVC Commemorative Troop attended the Beersheeba Day parade through the town of Woombye. In total, 26 mounted Light horse participated in the parade. Troops included 2nd Lighthorse Woombye Troop 5th Lighthorse Gympie Troop 5th Lighthorse Maleny Troop 2nd Lighthorse Plainlands section... 2nd Lighthorse Cooroy Troop And our section from AAVC We are the last section in the video in front of the nurses https://fb.watch/1uiagGkHO6/

08.01.2022 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup Feature | Episode 3 Tuesday 15 Oct 2019 This episode of Off The Bit features Arthur De Main, Chief Judge of the Australian Light Horse ...Association discussing the aim and importance of the ALHA. ALHA Sports Day | Sat 30 Nov 2019 Warrnambool Showgrounds Haymes Paint Jericho Cup Race Day | Sun 1 Dec 2019 Find out more https://bit.ly/2n1FRLP

02.01.2022 Congratulations to the new AAVC committee Lawerence Watts - President Roy Mientjes - Vice President Diane Chiang - Secretary Damon Hughes - Treasurer/Quartermaster... Something different we held the meeting in the shade of the trees. Thanks again to Chris Kennedy for allowing us the use of his beautiful property for training.