Devils on Horses: In the words of the Anzacs in the Middle East 1916-19

by Terry Kinloch

Reunited with their horses in Egypt after the shattering experience of Gallipoli (a story recounted in Terry Kinloch's earlier book, Echoes of Gallipoli), the Anzac mounted riflemen and light horsemen were initially charged with the defence of the Suez Canal, then with the clearance of the Sinai peninsula, and finally with the destruction of the Turkish armies in Palestine and Syria. At last they could pursue the style of warfare for which they had been trained: on horseback. The First World War battlefields in the Middle East have long been overshadowed by those of Gallipoli and the Western Front. Yet the story of the mounted riflemen in Sinai and Palestine is a truly fascinating one. Using the soldiers' original letters and diaries wherever possible, Kinloch vividly describes every battle and skirmish in the long campaign against the Turks: the crucial Battle of Romani, the defeats at Bir el Abd, Gaza and Amman, and the successes at Beersheba, Ayun Kara and elsewhere. He explains the reality of tactical operations in the harsh desert environment, the ever-present necessity of securing water for the precious horses and the remorseless tenacity of the enemy. Devils on Horses is a gripping read that offers new information about a theatre of war that has been overlooked for decades. Based on original research, it is sure to be the standard reference work on New Zealand's Middle East campaign for years to come.A beautifully produced book ... This could be a model for how military history should be published. ... hopefully will be read more widely by many more New Zealanders.' ~ former Chief of New Zealand Army Piers Read, Journal of Defence Studies August 2008

408 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Brian Belworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable story with so much personal detail.
Gives some context about what is happening in the Middle East today.

[Michelle Ule · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the fascinating history of the Australian and New Zealand light brigade/mounted rifles during their WWI adventures in the desert.

This isn't for everyone and is heavy on military detail, but interesting all the same.