The story of
Bill the Bastard - The horse that became a legend
Bill the Bastard was no ordinary horse.
He joined the Australian Army in Sydney in 1914. At 17.1 hands and around 750 kilograms, he was a massive Waler - more like a rhinoceros than a horse, with a temperament to match.
Most people who tried to ride him lasted only 10 to 15 seconds before being thrown. The exception was 14-year-old Ben “Bluey” Burke (he enlisted as Towers and said he was 17) from Cootamundra NSW, who managed to stay on for an extraordinary two minutes and ten seconds.
Bill was strong, stubborn and seemingly impossible to control, hence his nickname Bill the Bastard. Yet beneath that temperament was extraordinary intelligence, endurance and courage.
The Man Who Earned His Trust
Major Michael Shanahan became the one man who could ride Bill. While Bill was recovering from wounds at Gallipoli, Shanahan patiently gained his trust through quiet handling, companionship and even liquorice allsorts.
Their relationship continued in Egypt, where Shanahan eventually persuaded Banjo Paterson, head of the Remount Service, to allow Bill to become his mount. It was a partnership built on trust, a trust that would soon be tested in battle.
The Battle of Romani
At the Battle of Romani in 1916, Bill carried Shanahan and four isolated Tasmanian soldiers more than three kilometres to safety under enemy fire. Once the men were safely back at Romani, Bill had a drink of water and then returned to battle with Shanahan. He fought for approximately three hours, when the average horse could endure only 30 to 40 minutes. Later, when Shanahan was shot in the leg and collapsed onto Bill, the horse walked his wounded rider back towards the veterinary area.
Bill wasn't simply a war horse.
He was a lifesaver.
The Blue Cross
Bill's courage was formally recognised in 2018, when he was posthumously awarded the Blue Cross, becoming the first Australian equine to receive the honour. The medal was presented to Wing Commander Terry Shanahan, Major Shanahan's grandson, who later donated it to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Bringing Bill Back to Life
Bill's incredible story inspired me (Carl Valerius) to create a sculpture that would ensure he was never forgotten. Roland Perry's 2012 book Bill the Bastard helped bring his story back into public view. When support to create a life-size statue was not initially available, I decided to fund the project myself. The life-size maquette was unveiled on 16 August 2016. With the support of the community and government, the sculpture was eventually brought to life in bronze. Today, Bill weighs approximately 2.2 tonnes of bronze and stands as a permanent tribute to one of Australia's most remarkable horses.
Capturing the Moment
Creating Bill was about capturing more than his physical form. It was about capturing his character. A local equine veterinarian helped ensure the anatomy was right, but the head was the most important part. I spent 96 hours working on Bill's head. I knew that if I didn't get the head right, nothing else would be right.
The sculpture captures the moment when Shanahan places his complete trust in Bill. The reins are loose. Shanahan looks down at his horse as if saying:
“I trust you. I believe in you. I know you can do it.”
And Bill did.
A Story That Lives On
For many years, Bill's nickname seemed to help push him out of history as people found the word Bastard offensive. Today, it has become one of Australia's most recognisable war horse stories. Visitors travel from across Australia to see Bill, and his story continues to reach people far beyond Murrumburrah.
At the end of Roland Perry's book, under the heading “Where is Bill now?”, readers are directed to Bill in Murrumburrah, 162 kilometres northwest of Canberra. That address became very real to me when I received a letter from a woman in Western Australia addressed simply to:
The Mayor
Murrumburrah
162 kilometres northwest of Canberra
There was no postcode and not even a mention of New South Wales. The word “Mayor” had been crossed out and my name, Carl, written in. She wrote to tell me how deeply the sculpture had moved her and to thank me for bringing Bill's story back to life. For me, that said everything.
Bill's Legacy
Today, Bill the Bastard and the five soldiers stand Lifesize in bronze in Harden-Murrumburrah. 2.2 tonnes of strength, courage, intelligence and trust. He carried five soldiers to safety under fire. He returned to battle. He saved his wounded rider. And now his story is preserved for everyone to see and remember.
Bill the Bastard is no longer forgotten.
His story lives on.
Visit Bill the Bastard
You’ll find the Bill the Bastard opposite the Visitor Information centre - in Mill Park on the corner of Albury Street and Bathurst Street in Murrumburrah, NSW.