Adam Lindsay Gordon & World War One Horses & MulesPrint Page

Plaque:
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength:
He goeth forth to meet the armed men.
He mocketh at fear, and is not afraid,
Neither turneth he back from the sword. Job 39 v21-22*

Plaque:

Erected by the Adam Lindsay Gordon Society to mark the centenary of the poet`s living in Ballaarat. 

Also as a memorial to the 958,600 horses and mules killed in the First World War, including 196,000 that left these shores never to return.

"The Lay of the Last Charger"
Forward! the trumpets were sounding the charge,
The roll of the kettledrum rapidly ran,
That music, like wild-fire spreading at large,
Madden’d the war-horse as well as the man.

Where are they? the war-steeds who shared in our glory,
The “Lanercost” colt, and the “Acrobat” mare,
And the Irish division, “Kate Kearney” and “Rory”,
And rushing “Roscommon”, and eager “Kildare”,

We, too, sprung from mares of the prophet of Mecca,
And nursed on the pride that was born with the milk,
And filtered through “Crucifix”, “Beeswing”, “Rebecca”,
We love sheen of scarlet and shimmer of silk.

And what then? the colours reversed, the drums muffled,
The black nodding plumes, the dead march and the pall,
The stern faces, soldier-like, silent, unruffled,
The slow sacred music that floats over all!

Unveiled by His Worship the Mayor of Ballaarat, Cr. M. J. Brown

President Cr. W. F. Roff C.B.E.          Secretary P. Abson, Esq