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1914: Riding into War
“Billy galloped Tui neck and neck alongside the squadron of
horses, the noise of a hundred horses’ hooves thundering in his ears … All along the lineup of horses, the other troopers were doing the same, leaping, crouching and firing. The noise was deafening … machine-gun fire cracked overhead and shells thudded into the ground.”
horses, the noise of a hundred horses’ hooves thundering in his ears … All along the lineup of horses, the other troopers were doing the same, leaping, crouching and firing. The noise was deafening … machine-gun fire cracked overhead and shells thudded into the ground.”
Billy may have been fresh off the farm, but he was a good rider and an even better shot. When the world went to war in 1914, Kiwis rushed to enlist. For Billy and his best mate, Jack, joining the Mounted Rifles Regiment held the promise of adventure –– little did they know that half the battle would lie in keeping their horses alive aboard the troopship as they journeyed halfway around the world.
- GenresWar
204 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Susan Brocker
58 books14 followersSusan Brocker is the award-winning author of books for older children and teens. She lives in New Zealand on a small farm with her horses and many pets. Her close affinity and love of animals shines through in much of her writing. She also has a history degree and a great love of social history that is often reflected in her books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 12, 2020
This book brilliantly describes how war was very different to what it sounded like, it is set in the perspective of a boy named billy who signs up when he is seventeen to join the mounted rifles. When the summits of chunik bair his friend dies, then he gets hit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2019
Seventeen-year-old Billy Bowman, nicknamed Billy the Kid because of his youthful looks, is excited to enlist when war is declared in August 1914 and leave his farm job in small town New Zealand for an exciting adventure.
Billy lies about his age and he and his friend Jack Thompson and their two horses Tui and Spirit join the Mountain Rifles Regiment.
The story follows Billy and Jack’s training at Awapuni, their trip by sea to Egypt, and more training before they are sent to fight at Gallipoli without their horses.
The horses are also important characters and the boys’ relationships with their horses are an integral part of the story. Sadly we often overlook the number of horses that were killed in war.
Brocker is passionate about horses. She lives on a small farm with horses and many pets. She has written several books about horses, including Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses, a true story of Bess, one of only four horses to return from war.
The book also features a map of the ‘Journey of the NZ Expeditionary Force, October-December 1914’; timeline, glossary and bibliography for readers to learn more.
This was the first in a five book series ‘Kiwis at War’ released to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The series was scheduled to be release one a year to coincide with the 100 years commemorations (2014 – 2018).
Characters will appear across several books to connect the stories. Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.
I have read the next three books in the series – 1915: Wounds of War by Diana Menefy, 1916: Dig for Victory by David Hair, and 1917: Machines of War by Brian Falkner. I’m still waiting to read 1918: Broken Poppies by Des Hunt.
Brocker portrays the reality of war realistically without the novel being too graphic in its depiction of the horrors of war.
Billy lies about his age and he and his friend Jack Thompson and their two horses Tui and Spirit join the Mountain Rifles Regiment.
The story follows Billy and Jack’s training at Awapuni, their trip by sea to Egypt, and more training before they are sent to fight at Gallipoli without their horses.
The horses are also important characters and the boys’ relationships with their horses are an integral part of the story. Sadly we often overlook the number of horses that were killed in war.
Brocker is passionate about horses. She lives on a small farm with horses and many pets. She has written several books about horses, including Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses, a true story of Bess, one of only four horses to return from war.
The book also features a map of the ‘Journey of the NZ Expeditionary Force, October-December 1914’; timeline, glossary and bibliography for readers to learn more.
This was the first in a five book series ‘Kiwis at War’ released to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. The series was scheduled to be release one a year to coincide with the 100 years commemorations (2014 – 2018).
Characters will appear across several books to connect the stories. Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.
I have read the next three books in the series – 1915: Wounds of War by Diana Menefy, 1916: Dig for Victory by David Hair, and 1917: Machines of War by Brian Falkner. I’m still waiting to read 1918: Broken Poppies by Des Hunt.
Brocker portrays the reality of war realistically without the novel being too graphic in its depiction of the horrors of war.
May 11, 2017
Riding Into War is an excellent 'first' in the “Kiwis at War” series to be published by Scholastic New Zealand.
Susan Brocker knows her horses and knows her history. With her clear writing skills, good use of dialogue and occasional use of Kiwi and Aussie slang and idiom, she has woven a tale that will be well-liked.
Billy Bowman is a quiet young man, not much more than a boy, who knows and wants little more than the quiet farming life he is leading. But with the enthusiasm of friend Jake who hankers after the adventure and travel that war seems likely to provide, and the support of his employer, Billy finds himself volunteering for duty in the early days of World War One.
Letters from home, in particular from Alice, support him and are the link with home and his future, if he is to have one, that he so much needs as he copes with the endless boredom of training and the horrors of Gallipoli.
Susan Brocker does not dwell on the huge loss of life, but neither does she gloss over the many ways Billy is confronted by the realities of war. Trench warfare is not for the fainthearted. While his skills as a horseman cannot be used here, his ability as a marksman and his courage in battle are unquestioned.
Maps, a timeline and glossary, photos and a bibliography are all there for the reader wishing to pursue this subject. Meanwhile we await the next book in this series of five.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
Susan Brocker knows her horses and knows her history. With her clear writing skills, good use of dialogue and occasional use of Kiwi and Aussie slang and idiom, she has woven a tale that will be well-liked.
Billy Bowman is a quiet young man, not much more than a boy, who knows and wants little more than the quiet farming life he is leading. But with the enthusiasm of friend Jake who hankers after the adventure and travel that war seems likely to provide, and the support of his employer, Billy finds himself volunteering for duty in the early days of World War One.
Letters from home, in particular from Alice, support him and are the link with home and his future, if he is to have one, that he so much needs as he copes with the endless boredom of training and the horrors of Gallipoli.
Susan Brocker does not dwell on the huge loss of life, but neither does she gloss over the many ways Billy is confronted by the realities of war. Trench warfare is not for the fainthearted. While his skills as a horseman cannot be used here, his ability as a marksman and his courage in battle are unquestioned.
Maps, a timeline and glossary, photos and a bibliography are all there for the reader wishing to pursue this subject. Meanwhile we await the next book in this series of five.
Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)
May 20, 2021
This book overall was a good book that I would recommend to some people, it would not be for the weak-hearted. The beginning was average overall-as I do not really like romance- but what captured my attention, was when they got shipped to Egypt and fought in Gallipoli. It was very interesting, and I learnt that soldiers were generally bored and that they wanted to fight that badly.
In the very end, it started losing its power and I thought it was a little boring. It was a bit short to me and I think that it could have gotten into a lot of detail. But the trenches of Gallipoli were very good and it was the best part, it made up for the rest of the book.
I'm sure this is the shortest book in the series, (as I have not read the others yet) and I certainly think that it has potential to be better if it was given another chance.
Overall, quite a good and interesting book, and I would recommend this to others, but not to the ones that cannot take violence. Very nice fine details and if I got a chance, I would definitely read the other books in the series. A great start to the series indeed, I love it.
In the very end, it started losing its power and I thought it was a little boring. It was a bit short to me and I think that it could have gotten into a lot of detail. But the trenches of Gallipoli were very good and it was the best part, it made up for the rest of the book.
I'm sure this is the shortest book in the series, (as I have not read the others yet) and I certainly think that it has potential to be better if it was given another chance.
Overall, quite a good and interesting book, and I would recommend this to others, but not to the ones that cannot take violence. Very nice fine details and if I got a chance, I would definitely read the other books in the series. A great start to the series indeed, I love it.
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July 8, 2022An exciting moment in the book was when they were told they were heading to Gallipoli. This was exciting because it was the mounted riflemen's first proper encounter. A quote that shows when they were told was "The next day, the New Zealand and Australian infantry were told to prepare for war." I think the author wrote this to show that now the ANZAC's were finally heading to war and the bleakness of this statement reflected on how some of them felt, as if they knew it was coming. We might have to prepare for something similar to happen with the situation in Ukraine. As the situation becomes more dire, we should be prepared to step in.
November 23, 2023
This was an excellent book about a young NZ man who left his work as a farm hand to sign up to fight at the outbreak of WWI. A realistic depiction of the early events of the war for kiwi soldiers - training in Egypt, the anxiousness to see action, and the grim horrors of Gallipoli.
Written for a middle-grade reader, reading this story is a great way for a young person today to put themselves in the shoes of a young man facing the reality of war.
Written for a middle-grade reader, reading this story is a great way for a young person today to put themselves in the shoes of a young man facing the reality of war.
August 28, 2017
Overall was a good read. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Was a bit short for my liking, but at least it omitted a lot of the boring stuff that Billy, Jack and their comrades experienced while training for war.
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April 13, 2020Very good and a bit sad
May 9, 2022
One of my favourite reads of 2021.
These are a fabulous telling of the reality of war, written in compassionate and informative ways that make you feel like you are standing in the trenches with the characters. The characters weave their way through each of the stories. You're in for a treat if you've never read a New Zealand accent; you will find it littering these pages. They are full of Kiwi lingo. They cover many of the ANZAC troop's critical battles during the war years, like that of Gallipoli in 1915 and Passchendaele - which still hails as the most significant loss of New Zealand life in action to this day.
If you are fascinated by World War One...
...
Read my full review on my blog: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahg...
These are a fabulous telling of the reality of war, written in compassionate and informative ways that make you feel like you are standing in the trenches with the characters. The characters weave their way through each of the stories. You're in for a treat if you've never read a New Zealand accent; you will find it littering these pages. They are full of Kiwi lingo. They cover many of the ANZAC troop's critical battles during the war years, like that of Gallipoli in 1915 and Passchendaele - which still hails as the most significant loss of New Zealand life in action to this day.
If you are fascinated by World War One...
...
Read my full review on my blog: https://sarahgael3.wixsite.com/sarahg...
October 26, 2015
Told from the perspective of young Billy, this book shows the Gallipoli experience of troopers in the Mounted Rifles - from the declaration of war and signing up, the journey over, the boredom of Eqypt before finally the ridges and valleys of Gallipoli. Whilst not overly graphic, the book doesn't shy away from the horrors experienced by the soldiers. The story doesn't get bogged down with too many characters. One error - the band wouldn't have been playing "God Save the Queen." No queen on the throne then. A map of the Gallipoli peninsula would have been useful.
July 18, 2015
Very interesting book looking at New Zealanders who went to war with their horses, or so they thought would happen. Seeing boredom of training in Egypt for months. Then being sent out without their horses. Shows how excitement of grand adventure turns into something more terrible than they could imagine.
April 30, 2015
Its a good book
August 19, 2015
Fairly gritty novel for older children about this young man's experience of war. I'm a fan of War Horse and I thought this was going to be similar but really it wasn't and yet I still enjoyed it.
March 9, 2016
I like the meaning of the book but just not type of book I would enjoy.
My teacher gave me this book and thought wow.
My teacher gave me this book and thought wow.
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October 2, 2017sad, disgusting(in a good way), great book if you like war stories
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews