Desert Stop

[Steve_Butler]

Another of Trooper Fred Foote's fabulous photographs. Here he has stopped and taken a photo in the desert with a small band of Bedu. Actually there are a few things here that I would like to ask.
1. It may be of course, that the horse in the picture is not Trooper Footes mount - because that is the first question I want to ask - below is a close up of the horse - is that an officers saddle? - it appears to be so to my eye (no leather extension on rear of seat to lash a bedding roll?

2. I have never seen a number on a saddle cloth before. What would the "79" signify? What are the leather pounches that sit in front of the rider's legs?

3. The Bedu here seem to be carrying a few fantasies of water - are these fantasies "Army" property or is this a common enough container to carry water by both Army and locals?



The answer to these questions will go a long way to presenting these photos on our updates page - I would like to post them sometime later in the week.

[hbtoday98]

They appear to be standard issue wallets for your housewife ,clothing and rations. The flap has a pair of brass studs to secure it and the troops would have had general purpose straps to tie on greatcoat,blanket and waterproof sheet which is why this photo give you more detail.Thats the easy stuff one two go

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

Also those are not fantasies but some form of jug.

An Army fantasies was a long metal container of tin and zinc.



[Note: the exceedingly beautiful watercolour by Australain warartist George Lambert has been used here to show a Fantassi cyclinder strapped between the two poles on the saddle - the Fantassi shown here attached on the right and a fodder container attached on the left - both mostly obscured by the saddle blanket]

[greg]

Hi Steve,

The saddle is not a troopers saddle and therefore could be an officers saddle, however some troopers had aquired "officer pattern" saddles. Can we have a close up of the saddle?? And the bit?

Regards

[Steve_Butler]

When you scan 6 x 4 photo in a home album collection, what you get is fairly restrictive - in this case -just a jumble of pixels - so I am sorry not much scope here.

[stevenbecker]

Mates,

I surpose we can also look at the reason's a Trooper would be ridering around Palestine by hinself.

It was not comen practice for a Troooper the take his horse off the line and go for a joy ride cross country for the fun of it.

A Horse was Army property and so you couldn't just go off by yourself unless on some duty?

Its like grabing the Army land rover and going for a ride, frowned on by the RSM.

So if this man was on duty (like a messenger) then he would not need the full marching order for his horse and have only enough to move at speed to a HQ.

If on operations then the horse would have full gear on but if the unit was at rest then there would be no need to have all that gear on the horse.

S.B

[Jonsig]

Eeek Steve B

An unfinished Version, of a drawing of mine............
I will be back onto the Pack horse, Camel, Mule, Donkey and Draft horse drawings soon.

You do see The colonial pattern saddles being used by NZMR Troopers in photographs, this appears to be one or an officers as Greg has said.



Regards Jonathan

[note from Editor: your drawing withdrawn replaced with George Lambert watercolour]

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

Yes sorry, I needed a photo to show what I ment and the first I came apon in my DB was your test example.

I have no copywrite on this drawing so if you want me to remove it no worries?

S.B

[Steve_Butler]

To get the full impact of the magnificent Camel watercolour by Australian War Artist George Lambert. I have included the full frame to show the colours and work George was able to achieve while in the harsh enviroment of the Desert.

The original held at the AWM.