-
Lawrence Mitten commented on cecil henry street
-
john rosanowski commented on Otira Gorge by Petrus van der Velden
-
Colin Gladman commented on Lounge on the Captain Cook immigrant ship
-
Anonymous grandchild commented on Wellington railway station
-
beth McGougan commented on On board Achilles during Battle of the River Plate
Memorial to Bess the horse
The memorial to 'Bess' near Flock House, Manawatu. During the First World War 'Bess', or Zelma, was the only horse to leave with the Main Body and eventually return to New Zealand. Her owner, Colonel Charles Guy Powles (1872-1951), erected this memorial in her honour.
The horse, born in Martinborough in 1910, was given to the then-Captain Powles by its owner when he left with the Main Body in October 1914. She remained with Powles for the next six years, serving, as the memorial stone recounts, in Egypt 1915, Sinai 1916, Palestine 1917-18, France 1918, German 1919 and England 1920. She returned to New Zealand in July 1920.
It was a remarkable tribute to both her stamina and her owner's consideration during those hot and arid periods in the desert. When Colonel Powles became principal of Flock House, he continued to ride 'Bess' until her death in 1934.
The Arabic inscription on the reverse side of the memorial means 'In the Name of the Most High God'.
There is another monument to 'Bess' – she is one of two horses on a statue to commemorate the Anzac mounted troops which was put up at Port Said in 1932. After sustaining damage during the 1956 Suez Crisis, it was re-erected at Albany, Western Australia. (Read more about this memorial here).
Jock Phillips and Chris Maclean (top image, c1986), Powles' collection; Imelda Bargas and Tim Shoebridge, 2010
The Bess memorial is a Category 1 protected object by the NZ Historic Places Trust. See more information about the memorial on their website.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Delicious
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Twitter
GoogleHow to cite this page: 'Memorial to Bess the horse', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/memorial-bess-horse, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 22-Mar-2011
THE ACTUAL DATE OF RETURN TO WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND WAS SATURDAY 6TH JULY 1920. FOUR HORSES ARRIVED ON BOARD S.S. WESTMEATH AND BERTHED AT KINGS WHARF.
THE HORSES WERE BESS(COLONEL CHARLES GUY POWLES)DOLLY(GENERAL SIR ALEXANDER HAMILTON RUSSELL)NIGGER(THE LATE CAPTAIN MAURICE GEORGE
KING)AND BEAUTIFUL(THE LATE CAPTAIN RICHARD ERROL WARDELL RIDDIFORD).
WE HAVE THE ARMY DISCHARGE PAPERS AND HAVE RESEARCHED S.S. MWESTMEATH TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS.
S.S.WESTMEATH DEPARTED LIVERPOOL 23-4-1920 AND SAILED VIA GLASGOW,BRISTOL,PANAMA CANAL(FIRE ON BOARD, NO.4 HOLD 6 DAYS OUT OF PANAMA DESTROYED THE HORSES FEED SO THE MEN FED THEM WITH THEIR OWN BREAD TO KEEP THEM ALIVE).
ARRIVED AUCKLAND 19-6-1920 AND ON TO WELLINGTON WHERE THE HORSES WERE DISEMBARKED.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT FRED. MACDONALD 063646616 0211468938 P.O.BOX 15013 OTAKI RAILWAY 5543 EMAIL fearless_fred@clear.net.nz.
WE HAVE THE ARMY DISCHARGE PAPERS AND HAVE RESEARCHED S.S. MWESTMEATH TO ESTABLISH THE FACTS.
S.S.WESTMEATH DEPARTED LIVERPOOL 23-4-1920 AND SAILED VIA GLASGOW,BRISTOL,PANAMA CANAL(FIRE ON BOARD, NO.4 HOLD 6 DAYS OUT OF PANAMA DESTROYED THE HORSES FEED SO THE MEN FED THEM WITH THEIR OWN BREAD TO KEEP THEM ALIVE).
ARRIVED AUCKLAND 19-6-1920 AND ON TO WELLINGTON WHERE THE HORSES WERE DISEMBARKED.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT FRED. MACDONALD 063646616 0211468938 P.O.BOX 15013 OTAKI RAILWAY 5543 EMAIL fearless_fred@clear.net.nz.
Fred,
Further to our talk this morning,
I will be looking at bringing down some fellow riders and their horses for next year's ANZAC service from Hawkes Bay. So keep in touch please.
Thank you very much Fred, you've been extremely helpful and it's greatly appreciated. It will be an honour to attend on Sunday. Kindest regards.
The Memorial service for Bess is to be held on Anzac Day 9.00am. Travel West from Bulls on Parewanui Road(towards Flock House) and turn right into Forest Road and the Memorial is a short distance along on the LEFT HAND side. I can be contacted on 063646616 or 0211468938 for any further information required. Fred Macdonald
Is anyone able to tell me please if there is to be an Anzac Day Service at the Monument to Bess this year, or at least put me in touch with someone who would know? Out of respect, I have wanted to attend for quite some time, but nobody has been able to tell me locally. Thank you for any help you are able to give me. Best wishes.
What do you know?
Other Ministry Websites
Community contributions