In this painting the Australian Light Horse column are being attacked by air from the German planes of the Turkish air force, with devastating consequence for those directly hit by the falling bombs.
Because of the loss of life and casualties from this overhead terror, the Australian Light Horse soon learned that it was safest to march at night and rest by day. When an enemy plane was detecteded, all attempts were made to scatter and then stand still, for the troops and their horses were harder to spot from the air when scattered and standing still, than they were when on the move; the cloud of dust created by hundreds of hooves being a dead give-away.
However when involved in operations such as at Gaza, the troops could not hide and were both bombed and straifed by gunfire from the air; a terrifying experience for horses and men alike.
A brief account from Gaza…
“ On 11th April a second attempt was made to capture Gaza with operations around Abu Herera and Shellal. The headquarters of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade was bombed by enemy areoplanes as it crossed the Wadi Ghuzzi at Shellal- eighteen horses were killed and seventeen wounded. Over the span of operations, which lasted until 20th April, the aircraft returned continually and bombed several units, causing heavy casualties.”
p143. FORGOTTEN MEN The Australian Army Veterinary Corps, Michael Tyquin.Big Sky Publishing 2011
