The above image show members of the QMIHT.

Rob Thomas from Australia, sent us his research about what happened to the horses of the Australian Light Horse after the war.  He recommends a copy of 'The history of the British Veterinary Corp in W.W.I'

Rob says "Near the end of this volume it discusses the disposal of horses in France. The same system of classing was used in the Middle East. Categories A, B, C, D depending on age and condition.  The GREAT MYTH in Australia is that the Light Horse shot all their horses so that the Arabs wouldn't mistreat them!! The real story is that they were categorised the same as in Europe, some were destroyed in their units prior to categorisation. These were horses which were too debilitated for further use and this was standard operation procedure.

After the Turkish defeat, the speed of disposal increased. Horses were aged, sent to the remount unit and disposed of. Whether by sale or destruction, depended on the age and condition of the horse. Firing parties were allocated from Regiments to destroy horses at the remount unit (refer the regiment and brigade war diaries where this task is recorded). So all those stories about "Granddad shooting his own horse" are in the main wishful fantasy. For a man to destroy his horse (Government property!!) was an offence, and while it may have happened, it would have been concealed as an accident, or it would have been one of those too worn out for further service or by chance, when allocated to the task of destroying horses, he chanced across his own horse.

The majority of the Australian horses were passed to the Indian and British units which were remaining in the Middle East.  They were not returned to Australia because of transport costs, projected losses during the travel and Australia's strict quarantine regulations for livestock (e.g., the 1956 Olympics were held in Melbourne, the equestrian events were held in Helsinki). One horse was returned to Australia, not because of any significance of his war efforts! General Bridges, who was killed on Gallipoli, was returned to Australia for burial. (Until the interment of the unknown soldier, the only Australian to be treated in this way) One of his horses, a Thoroughbred gelding called Sandy was returned as well. This horse was led at his funeral with reversed boots. His head is in the AWM in Canberra".