John Bogie with his horse Kookaburra.
Light Horseman John Bogie on his horse Kookaburra attracted a lot of attention at the Anzac Day commemoration in Parkes last week. John said the boots he tied backwards on the horse were to remember the fallen.
John, who is from Tichborne, and previously from Narromine, was dressed in full World War I gear, which he received in 2007. He went to Turkey and Israel for the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba of 1917 wearing the heavy woollen period uniform, slouch hat adorned with emu feathers, and a World War I issue rifle. John was part of the re-enactment of the famous charge of the Light Horse Regiments in the Battle of Beersheba, which is today the Isreali city of Be’er Sheva on the edge of the Negev Desert.
The Australian Light Horse Brigade, whose last-ditch, seemingly near-suicidal charge against the Turks on 31st October 1917 was a turning point in World War I and helped pave the way for the creation of the state of Israel.