The photograph selected at the Myall U3A Photography Group’s April meeting for the monthly Published Photograph, is called “Bill the Bastard”. The photo topic for the month was ‘Monuments’ and the photograph was taken by Group Member Pam Ransome.
“During our journey through the South West Slopes area of NSW, as a result of road closure, we took a detour through delightful country twin towns, Murrumburrah-Harden population of approximately 82 and 1,900 respectively.
To the left was a small grassy incline leading to a large workshop (formally the Old Flour Mill) displaying a sign posted boldly – BILL THE BASTARD. Intrigued we decided to investigate. Allowed entry we were awestruck with an imposing bronzed sculpture of a magnificent horse carrying five uniformed soldiers, which had been unveiled that morning to the general public” Pam explained
“Bill’s” story starts with the horse being sent to The Middle East in The Great War with 200,000 other (New South) Waler horses as part of the Australian Light Horse. Bill’s minder on the 15,000 tonne Leviathan in the Australian flotilla was writer, poet and journalist, 50 year old AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson. “Bill” was unmatched with intelligence, courage and power. He was a big 17.1hh with a long neck and big rump but no one could ride him except one man – Major Michael Shanahan.
“Bill the Bastard” is the tale of a bond between a determined trooper and his stoic but cantankerous mount. They fought together and relied on each other. (“Bill the Bastard” by Roland Perry printed 2012) In “The Battle of Romani” August 1916, with four soldiers down, Shanahan rode Bill into battle to retrieve the four soldiers and return them to safety. With two on Bill’s rump behind Shanahan and one each side standing in a stirrup, Bill carried the five troopers safely back to camp.
After going back into the battle, Shanahan was shot in the leg and Bill was shot twice but they still continued in battle until Shanahan collapsed in the saddle. Bill, realizing the seriousness of the situation then took Shanahan three kilometers through the fighting straight to the vet tent. Unfortunately, Shanahan lost his leg but they both became heroes.
Bill is permanently placed at 1 st Australian Horse and Australian Light Horse Memorial Precinct, Murrumburrah, NSW.
The artist, Carl Valerius is a sculptor who works in clay, marble and bronze.
Total cost of immortalizing Bill was $790,000 raised by the small communities of Harden-
Murrumburrah, government grants and various other sources with $12,000 donated by Carl Valerius to complete the project.
With never a sound of trumpet,
With never a flag displayed,
The last of the old campaigners,
Lined up for the last parade,
Bango Paterson, ‘The Last Parade’
For information about the Myall U3A Photography Group please email the Groups Convenor Paul at mulvaney@bigpond.com.
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