Egypt, 1915

EGYPT, 1915

'EGYPT, 1915'. Tribute to the Mounted Rifleman ANZACS from WW1, and the horses that carried them. Only 4 of the more than 10,000 horses returned home. Bess, the best known, is commemorated in a private memorial near Bulls where this mural is painted.

I was inspired to explore this time in history after a 'Carter-family' reunion we had earlier this year. I knew my grandfathers from my English (Carter) and Greek (Ioannidis) side had both served in WW2, but didn't realize I actually had 3 Carter ancestors who served in WW1. My great-grandfather, my great-great-grandfather, and my great uncle all served as Mounted Rifleman' starting in Egypt, 1915. They went from farmers riding horseback working the land, to soldiers riding horseback in front of the great pyramids of Giza! Its hard to imagine the contrast they felt, both terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time.

Lest we forget

Mural located at: 69 High Street, Bulls, NZ.