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From: matheson75@yahoo.ca
Date: 12/14/2001
Time: 10:53:05 AM
Remote Name: 192.30.226.25
Back in October '95 Mr Box sent me a listing of books on The Light Horse in WWI. His books listed there were - " The best fellows anyone could wish to meet..." Geroge Auchterlonie & the Eighth Light Horse Regiment AIF 1914-1918 - author, Leongatha, 1992. And ""Saddle & Spur" - A Photographic Record of Gippsland's Mounted Regiments 1885-1945, churchill, CGS, 1989. In another letter dated 19 February 1996 he told me of his researches in writing a short history of the 8th LHR AIF. When he came across a trunk belonging to Captain Stan Mountjoy, Veterinary officer to the regiment. He was in charge of dispersal of horses belonging to the 3rd LH Brigade (8,9,10 LH) He mentions the 3 categories. A - Suitable for British & Indian Regiments, B - Siutable for sale to the local population, C - To be destroyed. Of this last he said all manes & tails were cut & shoes remved. The iowners took them for a lst meal, then squads under the Veterinary officer's supervision destroyed them. "The Myth that each man killed his own horse still persists, but this was not so". Mountjoy had grisly photographs of the piles of destroyed animals, prior to them being burnt. Allan continues..."What an end for such gallant beasts. In Australia the story still catches one in the throat." While I lost touch with him, Allan Box was at :- Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria 3842 - in the Education Dept.