Bill the Bastard cover art

Bill the Bastard

The Story of Australia's Greatest War Horse

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Bill the Bastard

By: Roland Perry
Narrated by: David Tredinnick
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About this listen

Bill was massive. He had power, intelligence, and unmatched courage. In performance and character he stood above all the other 200,000 Australian horses sent to the Middle East in the Great War. But as war horses go he had one serious problem. No one could ride him but one man - Major Michael Shanahan. Some even thought Bill took a sneering pleasure in watching would-be riders hit the dust.

Bill the Bastard is the remarkable tale of a bond between a determined trooper and his stoic but cantankerous mount. They fought together. They depended on each other for their survival. And when the chips were down, Bill's heroic efforts and exceptional instincts in battle saved the lives of Shanahan and four of his men.

By September 1918, "Bill the Bastard" was known by the entire Light Horse force, who used his name not as an insult, but as a term of endearment. Bill had become a legend, a symbol of the courage and unbreakable will of the Anzac mounted force. There was no other horse like Bill the Bastard.

©2012 Roland Perry (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Military War
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A well researched and written book bring back to life Australian legends of bygone days.

Roland Perry again demonstrates his great skills as a writer and historian.

An Aussie hero

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This is a fantastic piece and well worth the time
It was also a good reference to the events in the Middle East

Amazing

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Amazingly written and heartbreaking at the same time, can tell it was written by and old Aussie bloke at times, but a true to heart story of the legendary Australian War Horse

Amazing Read

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great book and read out so well , easy to listen to, would definitely recommend!

fantastic, hooked from the start

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So with listening to this book! Not only a great story but gives the listener an unsure to a part of history of the war from the troopers side. Had to take some deep breaths when they were disposing of the horses though and saddened to know that’s what happens to them.
Highly recommend this book!

Really worth the listen

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fantastic read. every Australian should read this. more moving and real than most Australiana books. my heart went out to this horse. it didn't have the ending I expect.cted, but guess reality is like that

fantastic read.

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what a great road trip listen. Sydney to glen Innes. It kept us captivated the whole way.

road trip recommended

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Fantastic audio book from start to finish, I will be sure to read this one over and over! It really is hard not to pick it up again..

Fantastic story a must listen audio

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Loved it, all the way through.. Was so great listening to it while travelling Australia

Great Aussie story

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This is a great read!!. A Well written and easy read. It easily moves thru the personal story of Bill the Bastard and the people in his orbit to the war to end all wars. Sympathetically read and performed. Highly recommended

Tremendous Story

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